Jul 25, 2006 00:35
Online gaming is big in the Philippines. So is anime. And where these two passions rule, can cosplay be far behind?
Short for costume play, cosplay refers to the practice of dressing up as a character from manga, anime and video games. In the Philippines, one of the online communities that have sprung up over the cosplay subculture is Pinoy Cosplay.
Asked why he founded Pinoy Cosplay, blogger Mike Abundo replied: "Cosplayers are among the greatest of media customer evangelists. Filipinos are natural adopters of social media. Pinoy Cosplay is the natural result of those two observations."
Interestingly enough, Abundo also happens to be the VP for Emerging Technologies of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society.
Abundo is a proponent of having actual gamers endorse video games, instead of the traditional method of hiring models who, more often than not, know next to nothing about gaming.
Why do people cosplay?
"I cosplay mainly because it is fun. It is a very interesting hobby that promotes creativity and craftsmanship while also building character," said Jerry Polence (her stage name), who is a popular cosplayer in the Philippines. In fact, she has been dubbed a cosplay celeb.
Meanwhile, Chloebs de Asis said cosplaying is already becoming an art form.
"Cosplaying has become a fashion trend in the world of Japanese anime culture and I want to experience becoming the character I admire. Cosplaying is also a form of art.
"Imitating different characters on stage is no different from acting. And I like to entertain people that way. I also want to show people that cosplaying is not only a fun hobby, it's a tool for mingling with others who have the same interests as me," De Asis shared.
US-based Filipina cosplayer Marikit Bautista described cosplay as "fanart in fabric".
"It is taking your favorite anime creator/manga-ka's art and making it real. It is almost the ultimate tribute you can do and, of course, it is fun!
"I have been in theater for years and costume making and being in one is a fascination for me. I was thrilled to be able to make my own and wear my own costumes and be the character for at least a day," she said.
For Bautista, the best thing about being part of Pinoy Cosplay is that it is an "open community of friends and colleagues".
De Asis shared her sentiments.
"I love interacting with fellow anime/video game enthusiasts. Cosplay plus communication through this forum helps me meet new people everyday. This way I learn about each individual's insights on Japanese culture," De Asis said.
Polence said the community makes her feel at home because she gets to share her passion for cosplay with fellow enthusiasts.
"Besides that, it also allows open source technical knowledge and information to be available to anyone who wishes to see it; lets us mingle with an international array of members; and provides us a great variety of ideas and information, be it about technical assistance or personal points of view about cosplay coming from all over the world," she added.
And what of Abundo's vision for Pinoy Cosplay?
"Cosplay is conversation. It's saying 'I love this character!' Pinoy Cosplay serves as a forum for the Filipino cosplay community to be heard in the global conversation."
Like Abundo, I believe that cosplay can be a powerful social networking tool. In fact, I'd say that manga, anime and video games are among the most compelling new myths we are creating for the Information Age.
One thing's for sure: Cosplay is here to stay.
Cosplay away!
Posted by babelmachine Online gaming is big in the Philippines. So is anime. And where these two passions rule, can cosplay be far behind?Short for costume play, cosplay refers to the practice of dressing up as a character from manga, anime and video games. In the Philippines, one of the online communities that have sprung up over the cosplay subculture is Pinoy Cosplay.
Asked why he founded Pinoy Cosplay, blogger Mike Abundo replied: "Cosplayers are among the greatest of media customer evangelists. Filipinos are natural adopters of social media. Pinoy Cosplay is the natural result of those two observations."
Interestingly enough, Abundo also happens to be the VP for Emerging Technologies of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society.
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| Mike Abundo cosplaying Akio Ohtori |
Abundo is a proponent of having actual gamers endorse video games, instead of the traditional method of hiring models who, more often than not, know next to nothing about gaming.
Why do people cosplay?
 |
| Jerry Polence playing a Priestess from the massively multiplayer online game PristonTale Philippines |
"I cosplay mainly because it is fun. It is a very interesting hobby that promotes creativity and craftsmanship while also building character," said Jerry Polence (her stage name), who is a popular cosplayer in the Philippines. In fact, she has been dubbed a cosplay celeb.
Meanwhile, Chloebs de Asis said cosplaying is already becoming an art form."Cosplaying has become a fashion trend in the world of Japanese anime culture and I want to experience becoming the character I admire. Cosplaying is also a form of art.
"Imitating different characters on stage is no different from acting. And I like to entertain people that way. I also want to show people that cosplaying is not only a fun hobby, it's a tool for mingling with others who have the same interests as me," De Asis shared.
US-based Filipina cosplayer Marikit Bautista described cosplay as "fanart in fabric".
"It is taking your favorite anime creator/manga-ka's art and making it real. It is almost the ultimate tribute you can do and, of course, it is fun!
"I have been in theater for years and costume making and being in one is a fascination for me. I was thrilled to be able to make my own and wear my own costumes and be the character for at least a day," she said.
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| You saw her as Yuri from SNK vs. Capcom at the start of this blog post. Now Marikit Bautista strikes a pose as Naruto's Inuzuka Kiba. Since she's dressing up as a male character, this is an example of crossplay. |
For Bautista, the best thing about being part of Pinoy Cosplay is that it is an "open community of friends and colleagues".
De Asis shared her sentiments.
"I love interacting with fellow anime/video game enthusiasts. Cosplay plus communication through this forum helps me meet new people everyday. This way I learn about each individual's insights on Japanese culture," De Asis said.
|  |
Polence said the community makes her feel at home because she gets to share her passion for cosplay with fellow enthusiasts.
"Besides that, it also allows open source technical knowledge and information to be available to anyone who wishes to see it; lets us mingle with an international array of members; and provides us a great variety of ideas and information, be it about technical assistance or personal points of view about cosplay coming from all over the world," she added.
And what of Abundo's vision for Pinoy Cosplay?
"Cosplay is conversation. It's saying 'I love this character!' Pinoy Cosplay serves as a forum for the Filipino cosplay community to be heard in the global conversation."
Like Abundo, I believe that cosplay can be a powerful social networking tool. In fact, I'd say that manga, anime and video games are among the most compelling new myths we are creating for the Information Age.
One thing's for sure: Cosplay is here to stay.
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