The Christmas Party that almost was

Every year we manage to pull off one of the traditions of the FC-Cosplay.ph community is to set up a Christmas party.  It's unique in a way for the costume-clad cosplay community because this is the gathering where we discourage visitors wearing costumes so that a more meaningful interaction can be done between members and their guests. A sort of team building seminar, where people mingle with one another and team together to win games.  And so far it has not produced any bloodshed of sorts, but I digress.

I'm Not Most People

This was originally written back in 2006 in my now defunct Vox blog and was republished in the first CPH mini-magazine during the 2006 National Cosplay Competition held by the people behind Ozine and CPH. I've edited some grammar but the info is mostly intact and original. If you change the dates from 2006 to 2011, you'd be surprised the gist is still the same.

Recovered this file using the Waybackmachine, just thought I'd publish it here.


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"Hi, my name is Robert, and I'm not most people."

Unfortunately this line, which was a statement of non-conformity back in 2000 to 2002, has lost its unique appeal given to the fact that what a few people did then has become the norm now. What am I talking about? Cosplaying of course.

Cosplaying has been one of those very unusual hobbies in the Philippines due to the fact that it involves people dressing up in garments similar to 2D cartoon characters and acting like them... in public. Yep, these little bunch of crazies would arm themselves in little groups, go to the mall during conventions, and wear costumes of their favorite anime idol. Its not what most people would do, or even touch with a ten foot pole. This hobby is within the realm of the underground minority at that time: the misunderstood, the rejected, the geeks, the freaks. Yep, they're called Anime Otakus.

Cosplaying is like the next step, a loud if not alarming statement to the public at large: "I'm wearing a costume, I love my anime, kiss my ass or bite me fools!"

So like i said, we were not most people.

Is there life after Goddess?

With the community currently abuzz by Alodia quitting cosplay, I find a lot of people swearing off cosplay forever because their idol did the same. She is known in the cosplay community as the media-labeled Cosplay Goddess (via her Glode Telecommunication endorser stint).

I find it sad really, because to me it goes to show that the hobby/interest was always second to them. But its their choice and I wont stop them from doing so. But if there is any silver lining to the whole thing, it brought up to light issues that had always been suspected but never discussed: was cosplay really your genuine choice?

Reactions from her quitting had opened up a can of worms. Many commentators had implied that they only cosplay because she did, because they were inspired by her, and so on. Idolizing is not uncommon, although with the hobby, it sure is strange to realize that a whole lot of people cosplay not because they love the characters they emulate, but they love a fellow cosplayer. If they used cosplay only as a means to attract her attention or find an excuse to get close to her, I'll never know.

As I read back and forth the comments publicly posted on her social network account, I am not surprised at the amount of apathy and rabidness these skirmishes produce. Ive encountered my share, but in fairness to some of her fans, I do encounter those who are intelligent, rational and well-meaning ones, and now are even my trusted friends. Respect:quid pro quo, as the saying goes.

Why taking and giving criticism is pretty much hard to swallow

Its actually hard to criticize anything (in cosplay) without hurting anyone's feelings even if the critic itself was well intentioned, especially if its towards a person being criticized who has loyal peeps who often (and amusingly) gets hurt in their stead, so the actual helpful intention gets muddled under all that trolling from defenders.

I remember having one amusing critic who said I had kick-ass costumes, and then saw a pic of me unmasked and said "ay tabatsing pala (omg he's a fatso!)". Hehe, i guess you can't please everyone.

Critics have one goal in mind: to find out what they feel is wrong with you or your presentation. How they say it is always open to debate and interpretation. And the most important part of is how YOU take the criticism. The best way to do it is to first find out what was your real intention of doing what you did. Then check out their comments and find out which ones you feel is relevant to your intention. And when you identify which comment would help you improve, thank them and ignore the rest you deem as trolls. This is not a perfect system, mind you, it depends on your mindset. If you look at the comments with a narrow mind, thinking that only good comments are worth looking at and ignoring what you or friends or loyalists felt as negative comments/trolling without really thinking it over, then there is really nothing a good or civil criticism can help you.

Cosplay: a many strangest thing

This was originally a reply to Geneakizuki's post regarding his blog topic "The Cancer of the Cosplay Community" a year ago, where other parties who cosplay have developed their own meaning for cosplaying. This isn't recent, and i have even talked about in my old Vox blog (gone now, should have saved that one) and was even published in a local cosplay mini-magazine back in 2005-2006.

There has been talks of cosplay being interpreted in so many ways other than just "cosplaying for fun". Its because people are willing to interpret cosplay the way they feel most comfortable with.

Cosplaying and the Law

Cosplaying your favorite character has always been the basis for dressing up in conventions, but there are times where some people may have stepped over the line without knowing it. Fun as it may seem, there are certain cosplays that may get you into trouble, and here are some tips to get you as far away from, the very least, an embarrassment, and the worst being jail term.

Toycon Thoughts: Toys and Cosplay

I hate going to Toycon. Because of the fact that, no matter how hard you try, no matter how long or how much, you will not be able to leave the premises without turning your wallet into a desolated wasteland (read: spending until you have just your commuting money left. Not even enough for food).

So I will rant my "hate" by showing you some of my thoughts and stuff I got on the first day of the convention.

GENERAL THOUGHTS
I arrived quite late around 3pm but the place is still packed with the usual cosplayers. That was the thing that bothered me actually, there was a huge increase of cosplayers this year, and most of them were there for social reasons, and not to join the event's contest. It proved both boon and bane: the costumed characters attracted a lot of attention from bystanders by their colorful costumes but made that part of the building wing almost impassible by mall goers. In the point of view of a con goer (i didnt cosplay this year, i went there to look around and check out toys) I had a hard time trying to get from point A to point B. It even came to the point that the mall admin decided to clear out the spaces in the immediate vicinity of the entrance/exits and would only allow those who actually want to go in the con to enter the area. I cant blame the cosplayers hanging outside the venue, because once i got inside, i saw there werent any space for them anyways. It was packed full of toy booths and people mingling and buying.