The cosplay community celebrates Philippines-Japan friendship month at IOP 7, or Invitational Otaku Urule Photoshoot 7, the latest in a series of photoshoots for cosplayers and photographers alike. Organized by Otaku Urule, a student-based organization which promotes Japanese pop culture in the country, hundreds of cosplayers, photographers and enthusiasts alike gathered at the scenic Japanese Gardens at the historic Rizal Park, all excited at the prospects of another great time, with the only rule being: to have fun, meet friends, respect one another, and enjoy.
The latest edition of IOP stays true to all others that have come before it: an event where cosplayers and photographers work together and have a great time. Otaku URule has always maintained that the goal of these activities is to reinvent the system of cosplay networking in the country where all participants have closer ties and as they maintain old friendships and foster new ones. This aim has been carried out well by its well-trained members who act as guides, organizers and facilitators at the event. Leading by example, the staff are friendly, courteous, and accommodating to the needs of the participants, making sure that everyone gets to fully enoy and appreciate the event.
The event officially started nearing noon with the registration as well as announcements and reminders from the Otaku Urule staff. As always, cosplayers took the opportunity to don their chosen attire in homage to the characters they have come to love and admire. Photographers busied themselves with the necessary preparations for the demanding needs of an outdoor shoot. Everyone was everywhere, having pictorials all over the garden with all its interesting places and sights to see.
A particularly brazen downpour happened by early afternoon, with participants scrambling for cover. This, however, failed to deter some of the more enthusiastic cosplayers, who went all-out in having fun in the chilly rain. The photographers also carried on, taking shots whenever they could. It would seem that the participants didn’t really mind getting wet as long as they were having fun.
The event officially ended at 5 pm, although before that, final group pictures and words of gratitude were given by the organizers for the support and enthusiastic participation of all who came that day, and stated that there will be studio shoots for participants to make up for the disturbance the rain caused. Everyone who attended seemed to have left the Japanese Garden with smiles on their faces after an exhausting but nevertheless fun-filled day at IOP 7.
Our heartfelt thanks to Otaku Urule for yet another successful affair and making it all possible. Do visit their Facebook pages for more information about them and their upcoming events.
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