[Event] 4th Philippine Cosplay Convention (PCC): Robinson’s Place Manila

The place was crowded with cosplayers left and right. Unlike events held in Mega Trade Hall though, the venue wasn’t jam-packed. The program is at the atrium, an open area, after all.  There is always some space to breathe in. There were only very few booths and exhibits compared to last year’s PCC. Everyone appreciates the free admission and the program seems to have proceeded smoothly. The stage though is an utter disappointment. No runway. It was just a small piece of platform that would never allow cosplayers to fully showcase their costumes and to even do a bit of stunts. I think the Archer (Fate Stay Night) cosplayer went flying from one side to the other side and off the stage when he tried to accomplish a little feat... >_<

PAO has no claim to the ownership of the image.
Image is the official event poster of the 4th PCC.
Used for reference purpose only.

A hundred thirty or so cosplayers went onstage. I was wondering whether there was a system in place to estimate and to document the number of cosplayers who attended the event but did not register for the contest. It is a “cosplay convention” after all, a venue for otakus to express themselves through cosplay and photography. I think it is just natural to document such participants. I refuse to call such cosplayers  as “costrippers” – which is an entirely different issue to be discussed some other time. J

It does feel rewarding when ordinary people (again, by “ordinary” I mean the rest of the populace with no otaku inclination whatsoever) ask what such an event is all about and to have the opportunity to give a concise discussion of what cosplaying is, in an effort to spread animé awareness.

I went cosplaying Vocaloid Gakupo (Imitation Black version) yesterday. Every time I cosplay Gakupo, I never fail to get the opportunity to engage ordinary people into a talk about animé. I noticed that there are more ordinary people especially ladies than otaku con-goers who like taking photos WITH Gakupo. The reason?? They so love his hair (err.. the wig). XD I really find it pleasant when ordinary people get amused of and appreciates the costumes, efforts and otakus they find in events. All the more, that the PCC was held in Robinson’s Place Manila where a significant number of mall-goers are foreigners or tourists. We get to show these visitors that the Filipino youth are very vibrant and ingenious.

What made me extra happy at the event was the sight of otakus who met through PAO and kept each other company at the convention. It proves that PAO is on the right track to be of help to otakus. It is an attestation that PAO should continue to be instrumental in introducing otakus to other fellow enthusiasts – one otaku at a time. There must be no one otaku on his or her own as we are all one. ^_^

The PCC certainly once again demonstrated how a horde of otakus can become some sort of a thriving organism especially when the mob is viewed from the top floors of the mall. :D Photo shoots at every corner and everyone seems to be so alive, busy and energetic. I can’t forget how a foreign woman (American I assumed) tried to randomly gather some cosplayers (including me) to pose for a group shot. She was smiling so dearly, happy and apparently delighted. Such short episode made me feel contented on the event. J

admin.Hiro
for PAOtakus~

[Event] Cosplay Face-Off: SM San Lazaro

The Philippine Anime Otakus did not have an official meet up during the cosplay event at SM San Lazaro yesterday, 27 February 2011. There were, however, some PAOtakus during the cosplay event. ^_^

The event is merely a cosplay contest absent the usual stalls one will find during anime (and cosplay) conventions. As I expected, the event was held in the mall’s open area which made me wonder what the entrance fee of Php 75.00 is for on the first place. It is at a time like this when I fail to comprehend why the cosplay contenders even have to pay to compete when they already serve as an attraction for mall-goers at the day of the event. Well, perhaps considering that there are prizes at stake for winning cosplayers, it is just reasonable to solicit fees. The contest though seems to be an event sponsored by the mall itself so I hoped that there were no longer fees for participants and spectators. That would have added appeal for otakus to attend the event as to withstand the seemingly inaccessible location of the venue. It does qualify as “far-flung” for a typical otaku who regularly attends events in SM Mega Mall although the SM San Lazaro is actually just a couple of blocks away from the Tayuman LRT station. Everything just doesn’t add up. The usual mob of otaku con-goers did not and would not find sufficient reason to attend such an event that is labeled “minor.”

There were few participants but the audience was really amused. Some people in the mall were likewise curious of the event. I did not cosplay and just wore an Akatsuki t-shirt but an ordinary saleslady (by ordinary, I mean someone who doesn’t know otaku stuff) managed to surmise that I am an attendee to the event and asked who won in the cosplay competition. As usual, I engaged the saleslady and her friend into a short chat regarding the event. It is incidents like that that I take advantage of to spread anime awareness. J

Cosplay Face-Off Catwalk

One thing that is very notable about the event is the catwalk. The stage has a runway. Unlike other conventions, even major ones, the absence of a reasonably-sized stage and catwalk during the cosplay exhibition is really frustrating (and ridiculously annoying). Obviously, the space that a large stage and audience area would occupy will instead be allotted to booths making the venue really cramped or perhaps poor floor area planning should be blamed? Either way, this is the reason why I appreciate events that are merely for cosplay contests only. The stage, the cosplayers, the limelight… the show are given concentration.

I almost wished I went cosplaying yesterday but then again, I’m happy I didn’t. There were so few people and I didn’t like the idea of paying when you’re the one who is to entertain mall-goers. XD Except, of course, if I were there to compete and to win. But hey! Is not it a “cosplay contest” after all? At any rate, my going to SM San Lazaro was far from fruitless as I got to meet some PAOtakus again and new ones at that. ^_^ PLUS! I got the Code Geass Chibishies (chibi bishies) figurines that already run out of stock in other Comic Alley branches. Yatta~!

Chibishies~

admin.Hiro

for PAOtakus~

[Animé] Code Geass: Another Animé in my Heart

The following blog was first published online on 1 February 2009 at the my personal blogsite at multiply.com. I am republishing this as PAOtakus planned to do a group cosplay of Code Geass during the upcoming OzineFest 2011 in April. In the last part of this blog, I planned to cosplay Zero... well... it didn't happen. >_< Anyway, I am now keen on cosplaying Emperor Lelouch no matter what. In the event that PAO group cosplay of Code Geass dubbed as CODE PAO won't push through, I'll still definitely cosplay Emperor Lelouch later part of this year. ^_^ Although it is a dream cosplay of mine, I still prefer to cosplay with everyone else in a group. I'll upload next a report-blog on how PAO does group cosplaying. (admin.Hiro)

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I first watched this animé in TV5. I immediately noticed the manner the characters were drawn. They were edgy or pointy. They were also sleek and tall and their limbs are long. I knew that the makers were Clamp, the artists of Sakura Card Captor and Magic Knight Ray Earth. After I saw mechas (the Knightmare Frames) I became interested. And when I realized that the series has an underlying political theme, I just knew that I am in utmost pique. I love watching animé but Gundam Wing had always remained as my number 1. No other series came closer to my heart with Gundam Wing until I also fell in love with Code Geass. I guess the ideologies preached in the series took my heart away. I was surprised as the ideals and political attitude I always thought of seemed to have taken an animé form with a very good twist and astonishing depth.

The animé was about the wars that beset the world which divided it in three major powers. The Holy Britannian Empire, the European Union, and the Chinese Federation had divided the world in their own respective territories. Countries conquered by the Britannian Empire, the world power seeking world domination, were stripped off with rights and became their inferior subjects. Countries were renamed with Area Numbers and their citizens became Numbers. In the year 2010 ATB (Ascension Throne Britannia), Japan was conquered and was renamed Area 11 while its citizens are no longer Japanese but Elevens. There were various but ineffective resistances until the masked man Zero founded and led the Order of the Black Knights which aimed in liberalizing Japan. The Order posed a direct threat to the Empire and alongside the battles; the stories were unfolded to end up pointing to an unscrupulous culprit – the Geass.

The Geass was initially referred to as the metaphorical “power of the king” – the ability to mandate absolute obedience. The Britannian student Lelouch got this supernatural ability from C.C., a mystical girl sometimes called a witch. He infiltrated the Empire and controlled (both literally and figuratively, directly and indirectly) the people around him for his mission to avenge her mother’s death and for his quest to create a better world for his sister. For these reasons, Lelouch became Zero through his being a great strategist and tactician as well as cunningly using (of course) his Geass. In season two, it was revealed that there were various kinds of geass; hence, the “power of the king” is just one of it. Some of the geass are the following (with the users): the geass to see the future (the Knight of One), the geass to inscribe new false  memories (Britannian Emperor), the geass to cancel geass (Orange-kun XD) and, the geass to transfer one’s soul in another’s body (Lady Marianne, Lelouch’s mother).

All right… you must be thinking, “Supernatural powers? What the heck?!” Allow me to say that apart from the geass, I see reality in the series, more so the ideals that keep people doing what they do. Suzaku, Lelouch’s friend and Zero’s foe, fought to redeem himself for killing his own father, Japan’s Prime Minister, to stop Japan going into war. Suzaku intended to be a part of the unscrupulous system and change it from within. He became an honorary Britannian soldier despite being the Prime Minister’s son so he can stop the killings. Huh… talk about paradox. Suzaku was a big irony himself. Zero used armed resistance for liberation. He also resolved destroying the world and recreating it for the better. His mask became the symbol of the people’s desire for freedom, equality and justice. However, the face behind it had lived in hatred, deception and isolation. I think that this animé series is a huge reality itself. The geass is a representation of what people can do beyond their ordinary and hopeless state of being. The geass symbolizes desires and the undertakings to materialize the same. It is both the means and the end. It shows the infinity of what a person can do to achieve what he yearns for even to the extent of losing it.

Code Geass is simply beautiful. It definitely deserves the awards it earned. I already watched seasons one and two, 25 epidodes each, thrice already and I won’t grow tired of watching it over and over and over again. I love the lines. I sometimes find myself playing back quotable quotes. I love it when Zero gives orders in a moving emotional manner (especially that it’s in Japanese with subtitles of course) plus the awesome poses. I like Zero’s costume, I really intend to cosplay Zero this year in an anime convention. I’ll try to get a skillful tailor to get the suit done but the mask/helmet might be trouble (I’m thinking of making it using paper-mache). I understand why Britannia was made as the major antagonist in the series. Ironically, Britannian Empire does not include the UK islands in Europe. The empire instead has the entire American continents as homeland. America does not have the sophistication that royalties have and since it’s an animé series, the costumes must be very fascinating. So there goes Britannia.

Graphics were also great. They obviously have employed computer-generated images (CGI) in some scenes especially battle scenes. The operation of geass when casted must have also been CGI. It’s neat. The setting of the Ashford University provided the ambience for some humor and crazy stuff. The Knightmare Frame mechas were cool. Unlike Gundam series, the mechas do not overpower the characters. Characterization always surpassed mecha moments. It’s evident that “political linings” are always included in the “cloud of events”.

Gundam lovers would definitely like Code Geass especially those who are into mechas. Code Geass, like Gundam Wing, is politically themed that’s why I adore it. I am really waiting for the Original Video Animation (OVA). It should have one! And I bet Lelouch is still alive then *grins* (that’s one of the fans’ debates ~whether or not Lelouch died in the last episode).

Disclaimer: Images available and retrieved online.

N.B.

All PAOtakus are invited to have their reviews (previous or current) to be posted online at the PLOGsite (PAO Blogsite). Personally-written anime articles, otaku opinions, original photos and cosplay experiences, among others, are welcome to be published at the PLOGsite. Virtually anything that a PAOtaku would like to share to inspire and to help fellow otakus on anime and Japanese-related topics are very much welcome. ^_^

[Place] Meido in the Philippines

The maid café phenomenon has indeed finally reached the Philippines. MeiDolls Café started to serve its pastries, pastas, coffee and tea (and moe?) last 15 January 2011. PAO was among the firsts to visit the café and watch the Meidolls perform to the tune of “STRAWBERRY PIE” (yes! they’ll sometimes do a dance no. when the café is full. It’s a must-see!). XD

Its distance from Metro Manila does seem to be a set-back for patrons and otakus alike from the metro. We strongly suggest first-time goers to study the location well and familiarize themselves of the landmarks and routes. (TIP: Once you get past Junction, if you’re coming from Cubao. Be alert. You gotta alight the jeepney at Sea Oil Gas Station. The Saunterfield Bldg. where the café is situated is beside it.) However, one would realize that its location is rather accessible.

The overall feel of the café is light and quite relaxing. It may seem a bit small from the outside but it’s surprisingly roomy inside. One won’t feel cramped. The low tables and chairs make that possible. Those who are not accustomed to Japanese-style sitting (that is on the floor) would however definitely find difficulty in getting comfy. The trick is to extend your legs underneath the table. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. =)

I had a taste of their cappuccino, café latte, cream puff and curry rice. The constant thing I noticed is the “safe” flavor of the meals and drinks. They are all mild. The curry rice for instance is spicy but not fiery. It has a “kick”. The tang of curry is there but the spice is tolerable. Their coffee isn’t strong nor bland. Just right. People certainly have different tastes when it comes to this but one will appreciate the café’s effort to make their menu palatable to a wide spectrum of customers – from the young otakus and the daily walk-ins up to the professionals and coffee enthusiasts. What’s also interesting is the inclusion of the ingredient “Ganoderama” (go Google ^_^) in their coffee and beverages that is supposed to be a very healthful herb.

The PAOtakus I was with truly enjoyed their visit but as customers we do have our expectations and observations. The prices would seem plush to student-otakus who would visit to experience the maid café but they would understand that the prices are relatively affordable and reasonable. The café does seem to be a luxury for the budget-conscious otaku but this is where the unique services come in to make patrons feel they’re getting their money’s worth and  that it’s justifiable to be a regular customer. An LCD screen that plays animé keeps otaku patrons entertained. I think though that its position is rather troublesome. It should be displayed somewhere where everyone across the room can have a good view of what’s playing. Otakus watch. And when we watch, we’re hooked. Be it for someone alone, or for a group, the café would offer an experience without a moment of boredom. Books and mangas that can be read inside the café will provide another way of enjoying one’s visit. Hopefully, wi-fi gets to be installed for use of customers. ^_^

The staff cosplaying as maids are of course, only one of its kind. The sight of them is naturally notable in itself. Their secret ingredient that goes “MOE~ MOE~ KYUUN~!” is all the more amusing. ^_____^ The maids may add a little bit more of role-playing. When otakus talk about cosplay, it means beyond appearances… and more about character. Otakus might find themselves searching for that a little bit more of “moe factor”. The maids are all charming and adorable so a little more warmth and extra-extra hospitality would further boost their brand. Customers are masters whom fantasy maids are supposed to take extra good care. That is the concept of a maid café, it is what that sets it apart from any other café establishments. It is a sanctuary for the “extra-care-seeking” otaku and a haven for other “relaxation-wanting” customers.

The MeiDolls Café could be considered as a pride for otakus. It is truly the example of turning one’s hobbies and interests into bread and butter. The proprietor and the staff capitalize on their being animé enthusiasts to provide a whole new experience to others. They represent otakus who passionately pursue their interests in a society where the enthusiasm for animé, cosplay and gaming is looked down as immaturity and childishness. The café, even though it’s just starting, vows to donate up to 7.5% of revenue to local charities based upon customer choices. Such entrepreneurship with social responsibility is moving and is all the more reason to support it – a business that is not only interested for profit but is likewise committed for the well-being of the local otaku community and for social involvement.

So if you’re an otaku who intends to enjoy some leisure with your fancy maids who would provide good meals and drinks as well as fantasy service, you might want to consider paying MeiDolls Café a visit. Here are some house rules for your guidance:

1.       No body contact with the maids;

2.       No playing of bells;

3.       No intrusion of privacy of the maids, i.e. asking for shifts, stalking;

4.       Avoid unnecessary noise that may inconvenience other customers;

5.       No bringing of outside food;

6.       No smoking inside the café; and,

7.       Ask for consent when taking photos of the maids.

Enjoy! J

NB:

PAO is not directly connected nor affiliated with the management of MeiDolls Café. PAO did not receive any compensation in whatever form for this blog entry. The PLOGsite (PAO Blogsite) aims to share otaku experiences, information and opinions relating to the Philippine otaku scene.

Acknowledgement:

Inputs from PAOtakus DarkAngel, Pitpot Beam, Soran, Shinichi & El