When I look back on my younger years literally a decade ago (yikes), I remember a college student helping out in his sister’s booth, wandering around wearing a certain bear, then Totoro, and then Snorlax kigurumi—or onesie, as it’d be called these days. He’d often attend all sorts of events, from cosplay to anime, to gaming, to art, and even some regular bazaar events meant for normies. What stuck with him the most, though, were the cosplay and anime events—not just because he was a weeb, but because of the people, the community, and the camaraderie that comes along with being a weeb.
The Event Itself
Cosplay Carnival this year was held during the weekend of March 22 and 23 at Halls 1–2 of SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. Part of the “Seasons of Cosplay” series of events by the Cosplay.ph team, it’s a celebration of cosplay bringing together the community. And with this being the event’s 7th year, there was sure to be a lot of experience at the table when it comes to organizing the event—whether it be through ticket sales, venue handling, merchant selection, and more.
The Con
Before anything else, the one aspect of events organized by Cosplay.ph that I’ve always come to appreciate over the years was how it put the safety of its community as a priority above anything else. Normally, you’d find an issue with cosplay events—especially with how volatile the cosplay community is in the Philippines, with each issue escalating and spreading like wildfire—but days following the event, there’s no issue whatsoever. Marshalls were also roaming around the venue with signs to check your belongings, and there were online reminders and warnings on Cosplay Not Being Consent.
Another aspect of the event that’s definitely worth commending was how organized the queueing system was. One issue that oftentimes plagued events was how the need to line up for tickets would take up too much space at a venue, and this is highly evident during peak hours. Not only did they clear this up with online ticket selling—and with various tiers as well—but for patrons that wanted to join at the last minute, they still had onsite ticket selling.
While on the topic of tickets, having all these options like a “Heart Pass” offering a discount for parties of two at P599 instead of P798, and especially the “Shopper’s Pass” at P99 with limited entry times, was also a boon, as each congoer wouldn’t necessarily want to spend for the full ticket price. Sometimes a congoer goes to conventions for con-exclusive discounts, and the caveat of not being able to go in until 6 PM isn’t so bad when you remember you’re literally near a mall and could stay there until it’s time to get in.
So Wholesome
As you enter the venue, you’d be greeted by a Mountain Dew booth, and behind that—directly beside the All-Star Avenue featuring prominent cosplayers both in and out of the PH scene—was the District 1 Cosplay Studio booth. While I’m not a cosplayer myself, it’s always a nice scene seeing someone so passionate about their hobbies, and District 1 offering a pop-up studio setup for not just established cosplayers but even aspiring ones was always a heartwarming experience no matter how many times I’ve seen it.
We look kindly on who we were in the past, on how there are so many “we could have” or “we should have” moments that pass us by, but the service that they offered is always reassuring. Between affordable rates and even professionals that could help, it just shows how community and camaraderie go a long way.
There were so many moments that showed how even strangers were welcoming to one another with this year’s Cosplay Carnival. But while there are way too many to count, one of my favorite moments was how the hall literally sang “Beer” by Itchyworms during Open Mic Karaoke on Day 2. Imagine how much energy was contained in that room—and even if it was just a quick moment, that was definitely a core memory for somebody out there.
The Not So Great
The event overall was a success for me, but not without a hitch. There’s always this unavoidable issue with foot traffic whenever an event happens at SMX, and Cosplay Carnival was no exception. The halls were packed with cosplayers—which is always a telltale sign of a cosplay event in the vicinity—and the restrooms were cramped as well. While it’s understandable that people can change in the restroom, there still has to be that level of decorum followed, especially with non-event goers in the vicinity. Not everybody can wait 15 minutes just to pee.
Another aspect that’s unavoidable with these types of events is how cramped walkways can be, especially during the peak hours of a convention. I kid you not—my companions and I were able to move in and out of the area with no issue on the first day, but come the next day, there were moments where we couldn’t even get past the crowd to reach the artists’ alley towards the end of the hall. It was nice seeing that the artists are highly respected in these sorts of events, but wading through a crowd for merch does get tedious.
More To Come
Cosplay Carnival was the first of six events under the Cosplay.ph team for its Seasons of Cosplay lineup of events, and with FanFes coming this May, I can’t wait to see what’s in store. I genuinely enjoyed Cosplay Carnival—and I’m not just saying this because I won my gacha—but because it really is a fun event. While cosplay may not be for everyone, it sure as heck is fun, and there’s this charm behind it all. If there were any event I’d be comfortable bringing a newbie to, it’s definitely one with a safe environment—something this event absolutely made me feel.
