HAVE you ever had a “little boyfriend?” You may be wondering why young adults or Gen Zs have been toting around little figurines called Sonny Angels and collecting them avidly. 

Sonny Angels have been around since 2005. Created by toy manufacturer Toru Soeya, Sonny Angels are meant to be “little boyfriends” helping women get through difficult times in their lives. They’re 3-inch figurines of a little boy dressed in different costumes and meant to heal the heart and remove stress from the soul. 

Perhaps the Sonny Angel is Gen Z’s box of chocolates because with them being sold in blind boxes, you never know what you’re gonna get.

What started it all

Many collectors of Sonny Angels found out about these little figurines through TikTok or Pinterest. 

Kyra Maxine Gomez, a 22-year-old student from De La Salle University, discovered them through these apps and thought it could be her and her boyfriend’s “baby.”

“I thought, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be so cute if my boyfriend and I had a little baby version of ourselves, and we brought it on dates?’” she recalled. 

Though she wasn’t that interested in collecting figurines and art toys at the time, she now has over 40 Angels in her collection.

Angel Soriano, a 22-year-old 1st-year student at Adamson University, also discovered the figurines through TikTok. At first, all she knew about them was the fact that they were little angels that came in blind boxes.

She later found them appealing.

“Some things I like about Sonny Angels are their super cute headgear and little outfits,” Soriano said.

She also loved that they were small and she could carry them anywhere. 

Allen Malapaya, a 21-year-old student from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, enjoys Sonny Angels because she is a huge fan of all things cute.

“Anik-anik enjoyer talaga ako. Kahit walang purpose or hindi entirely functional, basta cute and gives me good juju,” she said.

Sonny Angels ticked all these boxes and make her happy. 

For 18-year-old H’leina Hidalgo, Sonny Angels are a comfort and a reward to herself. 

“I’ve accustomed myself to treating the Angels as rewards or stimulants for when I’m bored,” she said.

Popular angels

At present, the Sonny Angel hashtag on TikTok has over 105 million views. Many of the clips with this hashtag feature unboxing videos, or some taking their Angels out and strolling around with them in different places.

Hidalgo said these little angels have become a way for young people to express themselves and define their individuality. One of the ways they do this is through their collection. 

“Through items, one can give themselves an identity. Especially on TikTok, where people have a relentless hunger to be part of communities, collections become both an expression of self and a sort of extravagance to flaunt,” she said, 

Though this growth in popularity is what helped many of these girls discover the Sonn Angels in the first place, Soriano said this has also made buying them harder, because of how quickly they now sell out. 

“Though on the plus side, it’s a lot more fun because I get to talk about Sonny Angels to more people who like them; I can also sell or trade them easier now since there’s a bigger market than before,” she added.

19-year-old Cebu Institute of Technology student Shanne Baricuatro also sees this as a good thing because, aside from having new members in the Sonny Angel Community, more online shops have since started selling the figurines, adding to the convenience of local collectors.

Mystery and surprise 

All Sonny Angels come in blind boxes, which means that you don’t get to pick the design you’re going to be receiving. While some may like the mystery aspect that comes with buying a figurine, others may be scared that they won’t get one they like, or that they will get a duplicate of one they already have. 

For Soriano though, the blind box aspect isn’t a problem.

She shared that opening a blind box is fun and exciting, especially when done with her friends or her boyfriend. She could also sell or trade duplicates, she noted.

“There’s a market for Sonny Angels, so I just sell my dupes or ones I don’t love so much. Also, not knowing what’s inside means I could get the secret or the Robby!,” she said, referring to the rare, mouse-like figurine that can be found in some of the blind boxes. 

Malapaya loves the thrill of the chase when it comes to blind boxes, so much so that it makes her want to buy more.

“It makes purchasing collectible items more dynamic since the anticipation-surprise factor adds value to the buying experience,” she said 

Hidalgo said the item being a blind box makes it a two-in-one experience, with the first being the unboxing or the “unveiling of the mystery”’ and the second being the ownership of the Angel.

Tips for collectors 

If you want to collect Sonny Angels, Soriano recommends going slow and not spending all your money in one go. The money she saves up from her allowance, for example, is what she spends to buy Sonny Angels.

She also said you could involve friends and loved ones when unboxing them so that they would understand the fun of collecting figurines.

Hidalgo’s strategy is to get one item from each available collection to lessen the risk of getting doubles. She also said you should let your friends know that you’re collecting, so that when it comes to giving you gifts, they’ll know exactly what to get for you. 

Also, be responsible in your buying!

“Time won’t run out for you, and you can collect any time you can,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Baricuatro recommends collecting at your own pace.

“It might get overwhelming seeing other collectors that have a much larger collection than yours, but collecting is more than just buying,” she said.

“It is a journey meant to be enjoyed. Collecting should be a fun and relaxing experience,” she added. 

Where to get them

The price of Sonny Angels ranges from P489 to P649. However, some places may sell these, especially the uncommon designs, at a higher price. 

Some places you can check out,  according to Gomez, are Lazada, Carousell, Fully Booked, and Facebook. 

Soriano also recommends selling or trading your Angels through Twitter if you want discounted figurines, or if there’s one specific Angel you’re looking for.

And if you want to delve deeper into the world of Sonny Angels, you can head to Alabang Town Center on April 29 for Sonny Angels in the South, an event where you can do blind box pulls, trade and sell Sonny Angels and any other art or merchandise, or even just hang out and talk with fellow collectors. 

Remember: with this hobby, the priority is that you’re enjoying yourself.

As Soriano noted: “Collecting Sonny Angels is a super fun hobby! As the box says, ‘he may bring you happiness.’”