I heard that the registration for the Cosplay Solo Showdown contest had been extended, so I thought of joining. I registered while not being sure whether I would qualify, given that I didn't hand-make my costume, but I qualified regardless.
What was left for me to do was to prepare my live solo performance skit. I prepared a cut of the BGM that I would use for my skit as soon as I received news of my entry qualifying into the contest. I even planned on making a big Sega Saturn to help my skit, but thanks to glorious work, I didn't have the time nor the energy, so I settled with the real console I have, and I was able to make another, smaller prop with the little time I had left.
And just like that, CosMania arrived.
Day One
While in the ticket booth, I remembered that there was a scheduled meet-and-greet session that I bought a ticket for, so I had to excuse myself from the two and rushed to the meet and greet session with Goldy and Orochi X.I was honored to have met both of them who are awesome at what they do. I'm glad I made it for the meet-and-greet, or else I would've put half a grand down the drain. Meeting them made me wonder if I'll be able to craft and cosplay as good as them someday in one way or another.
I had ample time to practice properly, but instead I roamed around and took pictures; I just had to have my own photodocumentation of the event. I just practiced the skit in my mind, and somehow I was able to play out the scenes in my head; I thought that was enough.
I guess I'm glad I decided to maximize my time around the event, because if I chose to practice, I wouldn't have had the chance to see another one of my international cosplay friends, Vio, again.
At least I got the crowd reaction I wanted, especially from the people who were reminded of their childhood by the character I cosplayed.
But as a matter of fact, I had already won in a different way before the contest even began. Goldy, one of the international guests I met earlier in the day, approached me backstage before the contest after he recognized who I was cosplaying. His and his interpreter's reactions were priceless. It was as if they, especially Goldy, couldn't believe someone else would know Segata Sanshiro and pay tribute to him. Goldy said, as his interpreter translated: "Your cosplay is awesome!"
I briefly talked about that encounter on Facebook, and lo and behold.
Now that I've got the Segata Sanshiro story out, I go back to my merrymaking adventures.
The current trending cosplay theme going on was Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan, so it was understandable that 1 of 5 cosplayers you would see around was either a member of the Scouting Legion or a Titan. I've made it a point to take a meme-exploitable picture in the events I attend, and I just couldn't let the day pass without doing so.
We parted ways at around 1AM, and I arrived home at 3. It was the reason why I arrived late on Day Two.
Day Two
I arrived at the Mall of Asia at roughly 3PM the next day. I crossed paths with Drefan, Kenneth and Sharlene, who were currently looking for a place to have lunch. Because I wasn't really able to accompany them the day before, I chose to hang out with them and eat lunch before heading to SMX.
We had a hard time looking for a place to dine in, but we settled for a sushi restaurant after we heard from the usher that we were next in their queue. And when we were done, we rushed to the event.
We first took a little stroll around the booths before we looked for our spots to watch the Tournament of Champions. I was able to look for some merchandise I could take home, but I decided to buy it at the end of the event.
The program went underway as soon as we found our spots. The hosts were looking for audience members to interview, and I was one of the chosen interviewees; it was thanks to the interview that I got separated from my group, but on the bright side, I got a better view of the stage.
As soon as I got picked for an interview, the international guests entered, and my fifteen-second spotlight got outshone. Well, that was understandable. I'm not a real celebrity anyway; only my colleagues keep calling me a senator.
They had an intermission number before the TOrCH began. Among the songs the band Moonspeak sang was SnK's ending song, cinema staff's great escape. It was only fitting, because three of the guests, Jesuke, Reika and Kaname, were cosplaying as Mikasa Ackerman, Levi and Eren Yeager, respectively.
They even did the Scouting Legion's signature salute.
There were nine teams in all, including the wild card team. The costumes were worthy of praise, but there were teams that I found lacking in the performance department, though I'd rather not name names. Still, generally, it was almost everyone's ball game.
I was able to record eight of the nine performances. My memory card didn't have enough space to record the ninth team's skit from start to finish, that's why I'm wondering whether to upload them or not.
When all was said and done, the champions have been crowned: TOrCH Manila's Team Cuddle Buddies Again will go to Singapore.
The announcement of winners marked the conclusion of the program. It was then that they allowed some of the audience to join all the hosts, the contestants and the international judges on stage for a grand photo-op. Of course, I wouldn't miss that opportunity. Tough luck that I had a low-quality digicam.
Cosplay Mania wasn't a blast; it was an EXPLOSION!
I took that opportunity to get introduced to them and trade cards with them. It was cosplayer networking at its best.