PHL to join global Star Wars celebration on May 4

"May the Fourth be with you!"

Star Wars Day, as May 4 has come to be called, is when Star Wars fans from all over the world don their favorite Star Wars costumes, wield their prized lightsabers, speak Yoda-ese, or marathon the entire Star Wars movie series.

The Philippine Outpost of 501st Legion, an international organization of becostumed Star Wars fans, will celebrate Star Wars Day by holding a plethora of activities in Resorts World Manila from May 3 to 4.

This will include a costume parade, followed by photo ops with Darth Vader, the stormtroppers, and other Star Wars baddies, a costume contest for kids, a "Bring-Me Star Wars Items" game, and a trivia quiz for teens and adults.

Star Wars collectibles from Sideshow and Hottoys will also be in display from May 1 to 15.

All for charity

The 501st Legion is a 4,700-strong international group of Star Wars enthusiasts who share a common hobby: dressing up as Star Wars villains. But behind the sinister masks and makeup are kind-hearted people who don costumes for charity.

The group has given donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, research funding for various children’s diseases, hospital drives, schools, food drives, and more.

Last November, the Philippine Outpost of the 501st Legion teamed up with the Dark Knight from Gotham City and the Pirates of Black Pearl Philippines (BPP) to collect donations for Typhoon Yolanda survivors. 



The Force and the 4th

May the 4th was dubbed Star Wars Day by fans in reference to the popular phrase from the series, "May the Force be with you". One of the earliest known records of May the 4th used in popular culture is in 1979, as described here by author Alan Arnold while he was chronicling the making of The Empire Strikes Back for Lucasfilm:
 

"Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was 'May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,' further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all."
 
 

May the 4th kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May (25th, 1977). This year, principal photography on Star Wars: Episode VII will commence in May. The month also includes George Lucas’s birthday (May 14, 1944). It has also been the traditional start date of the popular Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort.