The freshest summer event for the cosplay and otaku community, O-kun Fiesta by Otaku Asia Anime Magazine, was a big hit as thousands thronged to Function Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia last weekend. Everyone who loved Japanese pop culture was invited to this festive spectacle as our esteemed friends and partners over at Otaku Asia Anime Magazine hold their first ever event, and as their official media partners, we at arkadymac.com was there to give our full support and were there to cover and bring you the highlights of the event.
Helping us cover the event are our Cosplay Correspondent Stephanie and our photographer Kami. It was their first time pairing up for an assignment, so they were pretty excited to do this special coverage. Stephanie did the rounds with us while Kami took photos for us.
With a school summer festival as their theme, O-kun Fiesta 2015 emulated Otaku Asia Magazine’s sections of anime, food, fashion, music, games, culture and entertainment into a festival where all sorts of activities could be experienced. As PSICOM’s leading otaku lifestyle magazine, Otaku Asia brought to life O-kun Fiesta 2015 as Filipinos have created their own idea of Japan based on their knowledge of anime, manga, media and the internet, and that they had wished to celebrate the idea of Japan along with our Filipino traditions.
Special guest cosplayers graced the event to keep things exciting. Liui Aquino, Jia Gold Bustamante, Marky Ilano, and our very own Cosplay Model Ashley Misaki were there to delight the crowd as they presented the winners for Cosplay.ph’s Cosplay Costume of the Year, as well as did autograph signings for Otaku Asia Magazine and judge the cosplay competition.
Inside Function Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center were lots of fun activities and attractions for everyone hosted by cosplayers Naru and Rey, which included a kimono show, special guest performances, a Cosplay Competition, a Karaoke Contest, a Drawing Contest, and Toy Photography contest.
Floor activities included exhibitors with a wide array of services and merchandise, a Tanabata wall which was a freedom wall in the style of a festival tradition of writing wishes on a tanzaku, and Mini-torii challenge, a tradition in Awashima shrine during summer. Talking Apples Café was also there to take part in the festivities as they served cupcakes, cookies and other splendid treats with the great service and courtesy from the meidos and butlers that they have been known for since they started their pop-up cafes.
Celebrity cosplayer Liui Aquino was at the Cosmic Bytes Cosplay Shop booth to do signings for his first-ever international photobook journal. Liui has become quite the prominent cosplayer, being invited to many international cosplay and anime events in many different countries. Lots of fans turned up to get copies and share some moments, selfies and groupies with the cosplayer who they truly admired.
Our correspondent Stephanie also took the opportunity to get her copy and have it signed at the booth. Getting his autograph and having a photo with him was quite an experience for her.
From all over, cosplayers came in droves to take part and have fun at the event, and they go to have a good time having their pictures taken with the crowd and with each other.
The event came to a close after the announcement and the awarding of the winners of the different contests, all happy to have taken part in the event and be recognized. They got to take home some really great prizes from the organizers and sponsors.
We’d like to congratulate the staff of Otaku Asia Anime Magazine for doing a great job organizing O-kun Fiesta, as guests remark that it has been a fun, enjoyable event. It was indeed the fresh and exciting summer event they promised it would be, and with such a successful first event, we already eagerly look forward to their next event.
Thank you for dropping by, and do visit us again for more features here at arkadymac.com.
Please click on an image to view slideshow.
About The Author
