[Event] Cosplay Mania PH 2017

Weeks after my last event post, I am back with another (albeit late) event post!  This time, me and my bro went to Cosplay Mania PH 2017.

Source: Cosplay Mania Facebook page

Founded in 2008, Cosplay Mania boasts to be the largest cosplay convention in the Philippines.  Managed and organized by Cosplay.PH, the event boasts of a large event premise (this year, they were able to book the entire second floor of SMX Convention Center), several contests including the Hall Cosplay Masquerade, Cosplay Solo Showdown (which I took part in last 2014), Cosplay Mania Cup and Ultimate Cosplay Championship, meet and greets with international guest artists, cosplayers, and anime directors, producers and voice actors and lastly, an anisong concert to cap off the activities of the day.

Due to financial constraints, me and my bro were only able to purchase the cheapest tickets (silver), but that did not stop us from enjoying the event altogether.  We went on the second and last day of the con as Jiroutachi and Taroutachi from Touken Ranbu as if we are not yet that deep into sword boy hell.

Me as Jiroutachi and Reo Ouji as Taroutachi.

 We had the costumes made from Cosplayer Secret Shop instead of going about our usual way of making everything from scratch because of time constraints (me being busy with graduate school and Reo being busy with work).  The swords were commissioned from BALT Creation also for the same reason.  The rest of the props, we made ourselves.  For me, that would be the headdress and the sake jar (maybe I should make a progress log post for those).  I also made an arm guard, but figured at the last minute that it would be too hot to wear under all the layers of clothing and decided to wear the fabric version that came with the costume instead.

We were able to enter the event premises and get our bracelets at around 12AM, when it was not yet so crowded due to the bulk of event goers still stuck in the queue outside of the convention center.  We immediately went about our business shopping for merch since we figured out that it would be hard for us to do so with our costumes on once more people start coming in.  We also met a lot of our friends and had a lot of pictures taken as we did so.  I haven't seen much of our pics from the photographers that day, but then that may just be me being lazy in browsing Facebook.  So while we are waiting for photos, here are a ton of selfies!

With Miki as Kashuu who was the attendant of our Cheese Saniwa

We dropped by our Cheese Saniwa's booth at the artist alley

I was finally able to pose with Todoroki!

Another Jiroutachi found us and of course, we had to take a pic with them

Channeling the Otokomichi spirit

Speaking of merch, here's my haul plus some gifts I got from that day.  I was not able to buy a lot as the halls quickly got filled up with people and we were not able to check out the other booths because of our costumes and bags got in the way.  I mainly got Haikyuu and Touken Ranbu key chains and JoJo stickers.  I also finally got an ita bag to showcase my weab collection of rubber straps at the next con that I will go to.

Cosmania day 2 haul and gifts!

And see those two big boxes right there?  I also picked up my Izuminokami Kanesada and Horikawa Kunihiro pre-ordered nendoroids from WattaToys! 

breaking character because my ship is sailing!

Needless to say, I was a happy little Touken Ranbu fan girl that day.  Also, expect unboxing videos for Kane-san and Hori-chan!

While our experience with Cosmania this year was nothing short of enjoyable, I would also like to address some of the complaints we have heard first hand from our friends during the con or through posts or chats. 

First, and the bulk of the complaints I saw about the event is the long lines just to get inside the venue.  As I have also noticed upon arriving at SMX, there was already a huge line outside of the convention center way before the opening time.  While this was gradually dissipated and a bit more organized on the second day,  It was apparently not the case during the first day.  People reported waiting in line to be let into SMX for hours, only to wait in line again so that they can get on the escalators that will take them to the second floor where the convention is being held.  Lastly, they would fall in line again to exchange their tickets for event bracelets.  The people complained about the long lines to the extent that some reported missing their meet and greet times as well as the guests themselves feeling upset upon seeing an almost empty queue because most of the people for that schedule were still outside waiting in line.  Cosplay Mania management has already released a statement that addresses this issue, so let's hope that by next year there would be a better way to get inside the con without falling in line for long periods of time.

Another complaint that I heard about straight from a friend of mine was the behavior of the staff.  There were reports of the staff being rude to the event goers, shouting at them and blaming them for the disorganized lines at the event as well as the improper handling of the guests.  I did not experience these myself, but this is the second year that I've heard reports of the staff of this particular event behaving in an unprofessional manner.  What I can just say about this is that the number one in any business etiquette list is for you to treat your clients (in this case the con goers) and guests (guest cosplayers, anisong artists, seiyuus, directors, producers, etc.) with the highest priority and care.  Hopefully, this has been brought into the attention of the Cosplay Mania management and hopefully, better orientation when it comes to handling a large scale event like this could be provided to their volunteers and staff for their future events.

On a lighter note, Cosplay Mania still holds a special place in my heart.  This is the biggest con I've ever went to and where I got to meet some of my cosplay idols.  It is not a lie that they were one of the first conventions that were able to bring international cosplayers and artists on Philippine shores which was until recently, just in the middle of nowhere for most foreign artists in the anime and cosplay world. 

Also, because my first convention never got a second run, I treat Cosplay Mania as my anniversary convention.  That being said, I am happy to say that this year is my 8th year in cosplay!  Hopefully, I can still do this for a few more years. :)

Queue a narcissistic photo of Jiroutachi.

Thanks for reading this far!  See you on my next post whenever I make it :)


XO's
Saltsuki

[Event] Best of Anime PH 2017

Hello everyone!  The CosCon season is in full swing again here in the Philippines.  I managed to free up some time in my schedule to attend one of the biggest cons in the country: The Best of Anime.

The Best of Anime is an annual convention that runs for two days and features exhibitors that caters to toy collectors, Japanese fashion enthusiasts, cosplayers and the like as well as an artist alley that features local anime and manga fan artists.  The event also boasts its wide array of international guests from international cosplayers, to Japanese music acts.  Years ago, they were the first to bring a Japanese Visual Kei band, Uchusentai:Noiz to the Philippines setting a trend in the local convention scene as other conventions stepped up to the plate and brought Japanese bands and AniSong artists to our shores.

This year, BoA 2017 was held from September 9 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.  Their guests include international cosplayers Liu and Hana from Taiwan, Yuegene Fay from Thailand and Reika from Japan.  Musical acts included Starmarie, who are already BoA regulars and Spyair, a Japanese rock band who popularized songs from animes such as BLEACH, Gintama and Haikyuu!!

Personally, I was looking forward to seeing Yuegene Fay and Reika.  Since I started cosplaying 7 years ago, I have looked up to both of them in Cure World Cosplay and DeviantArt respectively. They have guested in several cons I used to attend, but due to some incidences that are out of my control, I never really got to see them.  Weeks leading up to this convention, I was debating on whether I should buy their fan meeting tickets or just hope that I get to see them on stage even just for a bit (guest performances are usually pushed up to later in the evening at conventions), knowing that I had to leave early for the day.  Eventually, I decided not to buy the tickets and just hope that I could sneak a glimpse of them even just for a while.

Me and my friend went on the second and last day of BoA dressed up in causal cosplay.  My friend was Bakugo Katsuki from Boku no Hero Academia while her sister opted to just go as her normal self.  I decided to go as a very casual Jolyne Cujoh from JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Part 6: Stone Ocean.

I was Jolyne Cujoh for the day

When I arrived at SMX, my friend was already in line outside of the convention center, waiting to be let in.  We decided to ditch the line when I arrived though, as the first agenda of the day was actually to meet up with a prop maker who we commissioned to make our weapons for our upcoming cosplay since we figured that we wouldn't have enough time between work and school (for me) to finish up everything.  So, we left the line and went inside the Mall of Asia which is right beside the convention center for our meet up.  Most of our selfies later on are photobombed by our huge bubble-wrapped props. hahaha!

It turns out that ditching the line was actually a good idea because when we returned, everybody has already been let inside the convention center and we were able to get past the bag checks smoothly.  Upon arrival, we queued up to get the tickets we purchased online verified at their ticket booth which was also unexpectedly quick.  I heard stories from my friends who went on the first day that the line for tickets, online or on-site was horrible and so I prepared myself for the worst.  

Another improvement by BoA that I noticed and kind of liked was the ID check that happens during ticket verification.  You see, as with other events with limited tickets (BoA meet and greet tickets are limited) there is a tendency for people to buy tickets and then re-sell them at a marked up price.  I liked the ID check because it somehow prevents that as there is no way for you to transfer the ticket holder name after you have paid for it.

The stage was showing Kimi no Na Wa when we entered and me and my friend's sister was having way too much fun sitting at the audience area and spoiling the whole movie that my friend decided to drag us to see the booths instead.

There was a big booth by Animax, one of the big anime networks in Asia and we had a bit of fun with their displays.  First was the Boku no Hero Academia standees featuring our favorite guys from Class A: Todoroki, Tsuyu, Bakugo, Ochaco, Tenya, our protag Deku and of course, All Might!  I was only able to take one pic because I was too shy and a lot of people were crowding the area.

It was supposed to look as if Todoroki was touching my shoulder but w/e.

Then, there are the posters of their current shows.  I had way too much fun posing with the JJBA: Stardust Crusaders poster.  Thanks to my friend and her sister for directing the pictures and the Animax staff for 'enhancing' the lighting via their phone lights. xD

When you see your dad's high school picture.

I really did not feel the need to shop for merch at that time because I was  only carrying a small amount of money with me and besides, I pre-order most of my merch.  However, it was really nice to see the artist alley (I hope I see those Gilgamesh and Ozymandias R-18 posters next con because I'd have the money to buy them next time for sure).  After a bit of shopping, we stepped outside to have some lunch.

The real fun for me began when we came back after our meal because that was when more cosplayers began coming to the con and I spent a good time chasing after my friends and some Touken Ranbu cosplayers and being chased by JoJo fans as well.  Here are some pictures I managed to take.  Most of them are selfies, though. you've been warned.

My friend BOMA as Ichigo Hitofuri

Nikkari Aoe and Heshikiri Hasebe cosplayers.  I forgot to get their names, tho :(

My friend Jun Tao as Souza Samonji

Now, queue the JoJo-ness.  There was one funny incident that happened.  Me and my friends were busy fangirling over the performance of the cosplay guests and then when I turned around, I almost bumped into this girl and she said "please don't be scared. I was just fangirling over your Jolyne from behind."

Anyway, here are the JoJo's that I managed to take pictures with:

Ceasar and Kakyoin.  They ran away before I could talk to them. Maybe me and my friend scared them with our Touken Ranbu fangirling ^^;

You know I've got to take a pic with this part 2 DIO after he menacingly said JoJo when he saw me coming.

The highlight of this event for me was when the guest cosplayers went up on stage for their performances.  First up is Reika who was cosplaying Mikazuki Munechika from Touken Ranbu for that day.  She went up on stage and sang anime themes - Hohoemi no Bakudan from Yu Yu Hakusho, Yuzurenai Negai from Magic Knight Rayearth and Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis from Evangelion.  Her performance made me think that she really was jiji-like because she sang all those old-school anime songs.

Reika on stage during her performance

Next up was Liu and Hana.  Liu, cosplaying Prompto Argendum from FFXV opened up their performance with an acapella of Stand by Me.  She was later joined by her partner Hana, who was cosplaying Noctis Lucis Caelum for the fan service and later on as the...accompaniment which was kind of funny.  You'd have to wait for the fan videos to be uploaded to find out. They closed up their performance with their duet of History Maker as they went around the audience to shake our hands.

Liu and Hana during their performance

Last is Yuegene Fay cosplaying Tsurumaru Kuninaga from Touken Ranbu.  She was joined by Reika for her performance, which by the way gave me and my friends a heart attack.  We were all calm and fine when the AVP started with the sakura petals falling and jiji speaking in the background but then the music started and we went wild.  Yuegene chose TouMyu music for her performance, starting off with the titular Touken Ranbu.  She and Reika even did the dance routing that the Touken Danshi in the musical were doing.  After that, they went and did Kimi no Uta and by that time, I was half crying from happiness.  Not only did I get to see two of my favorite cosplayers together, they even did a musical-like performance for the audience.

Kimi no aitakute

Demo ainakute.. (sorry, my hands were shaking so much)

We left right after the guest performances since we still had places to go to, but overall, I feel like I still had the full con experience despite spending such a short time there.  I got to see my friends and finally saw my dream guests on stage (dressed up as my favorite characters, even!) and that was enough already to make me happy and continue going to CosCons no matter how old I get.

Mandatory pic of me and my con buddies: Reo and Raius Ouji

I hope the next con will be just as fun too!

XO's,
Saniwa Saltsuki