Fun, fantasy and creativity at 5th PHL Cosplay Convention

Many pedestrians' heads kept turning while they walked along Pedro Gil, Padre Faura and M. Adriatico Streets in Malate, Manila last Saturday when youngsters and adults clad in colorful and elaborate costumes rushed past them en route to the mall in the area.

Ground zero was the mall lobby, where fun and creativity were on full display at the 5th Philippine Cosplay Convention. A cheerful horde of about 150 fantasy enthusiasts paraded as their favorite fictional characters.

Among them was Nico Leo Arenzen (aka Nico Fresh) who guests on GMA Network's “Walang Tulugan” late night variety entertainment program. He came as Star Eclipse of the RF Online computer game.

“Actually four months ko ginawa ang costume. About three hours a day kasi meron pa akong ibang ginagawa...Na-e-express ko ang sarili ko through art kaya ako nagko-cosplay,” Arenzen said.

For Roxy Co, another anime fan, she takes cosplay seriously, saying, “I like it. It's fun. It's a really good way to get to know your anime and your character better. For me this is the best form of fandom.”

An admiring crowd gathered around her to take pictures of her poses while she brandished three long swords with each hand. Her costume took three months and she had to commission a friend who makes custom weapons.

"The execution itself is not as hard as it was actually putting it together. The hardest part of the costume is the props and the armor, but it's very fulfilling when you actually get it done,” she said.

Even more menacing-looking was 26-year-old Charles Hernandez who came as Black Heart of Ghost Rider. He teamed up with his friend in a Ghost Rider persona and they were to do a fight scene together.

“Black Heart is cold, deadly and at the same time, cunning...Been doing this since October 2006. Sumama lang ako sa kaibigan ko mag-assist sa mecha cosplay and I got hooked.”

A few feet away, waiting in line at the registration desk was Jeremiah Bigayan who chose to portray Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy—complete with the super-sized sword.

“We do this for fun,” was the unanimous reply of Irish Ingrid Santiago, Ivy Grace Mahinan, Laly Tolentino, Jocelyn Claire Oerlas, and Shiela Enriquez. They dressed up as female protagonists of Hell Girl, Black Rock Shooter and Vampires Knight.

Lyron Aquino, a cosplay artist since 2005, told GMA News Online that dressing up in costumes and impersonation of fictional characters “is all part of being a fan.”

“It doesn't really matter what your status in life is, as long as you have the passion for it and love it just like other hobbies,” he said.

Aquino had donned many costumes over the past seven years and teamed up with other artists. He observes that cosplay is gradually gaining more adherents.

“Cosplay is more likely becoming a trend now since there are different kinds of people getting into it nowadays. Thanks to the media, more and more people are now getting to know about cosplay. It is expensive. You'll have to buy all the materials needed for a successful cosplay, from wigs, contact lenses, costume, accessories, etcetera. All of it.”

He said the real hardcore cosplay artists go to extra lengths to hone their craft.

“Some take it to greater heights by making their own costumes. They study different ideas on how to build or make their costumes... finding out where to buy the right materials needed and other stuff. Others just go for commissions or have their costumes made by someone. For some it is simply for fun, others take it seriously as to get down to small details and get it right. And there are some who think of it as a challenge: the harder the costume, the more challenge to overcome.”

When the day drew to a close, a panel of judges handed down their verdicts on the various cosplay competition categories. 

Cosplay Costume of Year 2011 Winners

–KG, GMA News