The biggest anime-themed event in the Philippines came back strong for its 7th straight year as The Best of Anime 2016 excited everyone in attendance for the second straight day at Function Rooms 2-4 of the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. With a solid and spectacular lineup of guests performers, artists and cosplayers, coupled with amazing attractions and activities for attendees, this year’s BoA has been the biggest one to date. arkadymac.com is an official media partner for BoA 2016, and we are glad to bring you our coverage of the second day of this event. For our coverage of Day 1, click here.
arkadymac.com has been The Best of Anime’s official media partner for the fourth year now, and this year our Cosplay Correspondent Kuini helped us cover BoA 2016’s second day.
For the past six exciting and fun-filled years, The Best of Anime has undoubtedly become an annual haven of fans and enthusiasts. Last year, the two-day event had approximately 30,000 visitors who trooped to the venue to experience and witness once more what “The Best of Anime” showcases and offers – an impressive roster of talents, cosplayers, activities, and much more.
Lots of fun activities were held on stage. Congoers got to watch anime movies on the big screen as well as enjoy various games.
Highly-anticipated by attendees was the Hero Face Off Cosplay Competition hosted and judged by prominent celebrity cosplayer Myrtle Sarrosa. The country’s best cosplayers vied for top honors and huge prizes at this yearly contest, showing the BoA crowd what Filipino cosplayers can do through their elaborate costumes and spectacular performances.
Named Champion of the Kid’s Squad Category was our Chibi Cosplay Model Ashley Misaki for her spectacular performance as Batman. She got to take home 10,000 pesos cash and many other goodies from Hero TV.
Sergio Santa Ana got to win the top prize of 20,000 pesos and many other goodies as he was named champion of the Face Off Category for his performance of Gaara of the Desert.
The Hero Faceoff segment was also livened up by great Filipino bands like Gracenote, a synco-pop-punk-electro-rock band led by Eunice Jorge who is the band’s lead vocalist, and also frontman, pianist and violinist.
Prominent Filipino performers Callalily took the stage to the delight of the crowd as they played some of their greatest hits. They have been an alternative rock band performing locally since 2006 and have had a strong following, and the BoA crowd was very receptive of them.
Performances by international cosplayer guests were one of the many highlights of this event, like Misa’s Pokemon Go song routine on stage. Special meet and greet sessions were also held that weekend wherein participants could ask the guest cosplayers questions. Misa Chiang(TW), Liui Aquino(PH), Jun Kaise(JP), Team Balance(HK), Sara Tousa Bao(SG), Chun WX(PH), and Suzume (PH) had a blast meeting all their fans and exploring what the Filipino cosplay community has to offer.
Popular Japanese artists namely INKT with Koki Tanaka, former member of the idol group KAT-TUN managed by Johnny’s Entertainment and, of course, up-and-coming AniSong singer Haruna Luna would be performing for the very first time in the Philippines at the second day of the Convention and had a special Meet and Greet Session with fans before that.
Unchesentai:NOIZ came back to BoA louder than ever, and they made sure to make their ardent fans happy as Angel Taka, Masato, Kotaro, Yamato and Kyo got to talk to them, do autographs, and took pictures with them.
Popular Japanese artists namely INKT with Koki Tanaka, former member of the idol group KAT-TUN managed by Johnny’s Entertainment and up-and-coming AniSong singer Haruna Luna got to perform for the very first time in the Philippines at the second day of the Convention at Function Room 1 of SMX Convention Center, and it was one of the most-awaited events by fans from all over ever since BoA announced their participation many months ago. And on that night they got to have their wishes fulfilled as the room was opened to them by 6pm and were welcomed by a dazzlingly lit and wonderfully prepared stage. Haruna Luna got to perform her hits for about an hour, with fans singing along as they went crazy with their glow sticks. INKT with Koki Tanaka got to perform next, and their loud and frenetic set of songs had the fans jumping and shaking and moving and head banging, and it was indeed a memorable performance for the fans as well as the performers who swore on stage that they will be back to the Philippines to perform again.
With these and more, The Best of Anime 2016 has proven to be one of the biggest and most exciting events this year, as we already wonder what even grander things they have planned for next year.
Thank you for dropping by, and do visit us again for more cosplay features here at arkadymac.com.
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