On its second spectacular day, one of the grandest cosplay experiences in the Philippines opened its doors in grand fashion to the public as Fantasy Quest 4: An August Wayfaring welcomed guests from all over the world for its festivities. Far from being the usual convention that cosplayers have gotten used to, Fantasy Quest would be bringing together cosplayers, photographers and enthusiasts from all over the country and beyond for a truly unique social affair, with an impressive roster of special guests and a special lineup of activities in store for everyone to enjoy to their heart’s content.
A much-awaited spectacle two years in the making, the Fantasy Quest series was already on its fourth installment, brought together by Romeo Encisa Jr. and Fernwood Gardens in partnership with Cosplay Network Philippines. Set in the majestic Fernwood Gardens in Quezon City, a sense of wonder and excitement filled the air as attendees, who have been anxiously waiting for the day to come since it was announced earlier this year, flocked to the venue that fine Sunday afternoon, with quite a number already in costumes they have prepared for months on end.
arkadymac.com is an official media partner of Fantasy Quest 4, and helping us cover the event was our Features Writer Jillian who was also one of the hosts of the program, with our Photographer Kami and Cosplay Models Yanna and Arren, who were as excited as everyone to partake in the festivities.
Guests were free to roam, explore and enjoy most areas of Fernwood Gardens, touted as one of the best event venues in the country. Photoshoots have always been a big part of the Fantasy Quest series and people started as early as opening to make the most of this rare opportunity to have the best shots in their best cosplays.
But far from just any photoshoot, Fantasy Quest remains a social event at its heart, with every opportunity for participants from all over the world to meet up old friends or make new ones. Our two new friends from Malaysia flew in to the country curious about FQ, and they were not disappointed as they got to enjoy he event and met lots of new friends who, like them, enjoyed their passion for cosplay.
Even while waiting for the program to start, attendees could be seen introducing themselves to others, a bit awkward at first but definitely eager to make new friends despite differences in language and nationality as some of the guests have flown in from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan to be part of Fantasy Quest. Everyone was in a friendly and accommodating mood as they bonded through their common passions in cosplay and photography.
The program started in earnest that afternoon with greetings and pleasantries shared by the hosts and welcoming everyone to Fantasy Quest, doing interviews with guests and asking how they were enjoying the event so far.
Special guest cosplayer Liui Aquino then made his appearance on stage to the delight of the attendees. He was then interviewed by the hosts and the floor was opened to questions from the press and from the audience. He happily answered a wide variety of questions, from his thoughts on being an internationally acclaimed cosplayer, on his choice of games, even on his skin care regiment.
Later that afternoon, a unique fashion show took the stage, everyone amazed at the collection of creations and models.
Cosplayers were then invited to join the Cosplay Catwalk. They got to show off their amazing cosplays in style with a red carpet reception all the way to the stage.
The international guests then made their appearance, with official guest cosplayers Jun and Neru amking their entrance as well. These outstanding Japanese cosplayers had many fans in attendance and they reciprocated the warm welcome with warm smiles for everyone.
After their interview, they the Japanese cosplay couple treated their fans to a rare autograph signing session. Fans lined up with their official photobooks and postcards as they waited their turn for Jun and Neru to make their souvenirs even more memorable.
Jun and Neru were also gracious with having their photos with their fans, and they were tireless in sharing some moments with their admirers.
The One-Shot Kill Project then held its awarding ceremony. It was a project where cosplay photographers got to be recognized and appreciated, with the best submissions made into a photobook. Outstanding photographer and cosplayer Jovi Claire got to win the championship, claiming a near-perfect score from a team of esteemed judges. The oranizers then took the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and they told everyone of their wishes of having a more harmonious cosplay community.
Capping off the great event was a grand cosplay ball where participants got to enjoy light-hearted dancing and music with the people they got to share the weekend with. Some felt romantic, others silly, others crazy, but all having a great time with people they got to share their passion with.
Congratulations to the organizers for successfully putting together such an amazing affair. We appreciate all the pains and hard work that went into such a spectacular event that the community truly enjoyed. They tell us that the next one will be in Fernwoods Tagaytay, and we already excitedly look forward to it.
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