The biggest cosplay event in the Philippines this year, Cosplay Mania ’12, the fifth such event in the country, was held on two consecutive weekends, September 29 and 30, 2012 at the grand SMX Convention Center Function Rooms 3 to 5, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. It was such a jam-packed event with over 5,000 attendees with a long itinerary last from 11:00am to 9:00pm for both days. As expected, it was a crazy even filled with all sorts of people: stunning celebrities, curious onlookers, crazed cosplayers, screaming fangirls, baffled tourists, and of course, there was me, Xtian Mack, in my cosplay debut, 35 years of age and dressed up as a ninja. You know why? Because it’s fun, that’s why.
The people organizing the event, Cosplay.ph Organization, Inc. has lived up to its promise of hosting Cosplay Mania 12 as the biggest and most memorable gathering of cosplayers indeed as they have invited internationally-renowned professional cosplayers: Jesuke, Kaname, and Reika–all of whom were stunning and gracious as guests and judges for the different events. They were really nice and loved the warm reception of Filipino fans, particularly Kaname, who had screaming fangirls all over her and fantasizing many yaoi things with him.
As for the tickets, the full access pass was worth P250 while the hall entry pass was P150. It might have cost a bit, since other cosplay events are usually free but for a whole day’s worth of zany fun and crazy sights and surprise celebrities, it was well worth the cost.
As an event that may as well be the last sign before the apocalypse, this is one event that this site certainly cannot forgo, which is why this site’s best writer, coincidentally it’s only writer, Xtian Mack, went to cover Cosplay Mania ’12. Because of the perils of mass hysteria, crazed yaoi fangirls, overcrowding and diarrhea, Xtian Mack set off to the venue armed only with a pack of kropek, leather armor, a kunai, a scroll of petrification, and a scroll of turn undead into friends. May the gods have mercy on his soul.
Many thanks to the writer’s brother, Buraimaku, for the absolutely wonderful pics for absolutely free. If that ain’t what makes him the best brother in the world, I don’t know what will.
- Xtian Mack makes his cosplay debut at the grandest cosplay stage of them all: Cosplay Mania ’12.
- I asked Edward to cut a loose thread on the sleeve of my costume and in a flash I lost an arm. “Ooops!” he said.
- All of them, especially the Riddler, was clueless as who I was supposed to be.
- Pretty folks dragged me into the All Nippon Airways booth and gave me free stuff even though I looked like someone who’ll never be allowed on a plane. I love ANA!
- My happiest moments as a cosplayer were times when little girls come up to me and tell me they like my cat ears and touch them and ask to take a picture with me, like this adorable darling.
- It’s funny when crazy people get together: Left to right: Naruto, Azuma, Kakashi, generic ANBU and someone who appears to be Momochi Zabuza. I’m not really sure.
- Two Tobis and me.
We’ve got more pics of the event itself, particularly those of the contests and the special foreign guests, so please visit us again in a day or two. Thank you for visiting.
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