CONQuest Festival apologizes for long lines, overcrowding; opens refund portal

CONQuest Festival has apologized after "questers" complained on social media about the long lines and overcrowding during the event last weekend at the SMX Convention Center.

The organizers posted an official statement on Facebook, Wednesday, addressing the concerns of the con-goers.

"Questers, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and discomfort that many of you experienced during CONQuest due to the long lines outside the convention," the statement read.

"We recognize that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we will make amends starting with the release of the refund details for those not able to enter the venue on Day 2 and Day 3," it added.

The festival opened a refund portal through www.conquest.com/refunds, where participants can also check the full refund policies.

"One of our critical oversights was the overwhelming response to the event despite the tireless efforts made by the City of Pasay and our venue partners," the statement further read.

"They swiftly deployed all the necessary resources to the best of their abilities for us to comply with health and safety protocols inside the venue, mitigate disaster risks, and manage the growing number of event attendees throughout the weekend," it added.

The organizers acknowledged the issues being raised and promised to resolve them "one by one in the following days."

"Our objective is to do right by our community and enact sweeping changes and remedies to deliver the convention experience you deserve," the statement ended.

CONQuest Festival is a convention that celebrates gaming, music, pop culture, comics, anime, and more.

—Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News