Tag: events

My Observations: Anime & Cosplay Expo 2019

My Observations: Anime & Cosplay Expo 2019

carlocarrasco

This morning, out of curiosity, I attended the Anime & Cosplay Expo 2019 held at one of the function rooms at the upper level of the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia (SM MOA) in Pasay City.

What I saw there was quite amusing. The large function room had just enough space for the exhibitors, the stage with sound system and lights and the food sellers. Of course, the available space in between was filled with many, many anime and cosplay enthusiasts! Some enthusiasts were seen seated some feet away from the stage waiting for the next event to happen like a cosplay contest, special guest appearances, etc.

20190608_111750.jpg
Buyers and enthusiasts searching for fun stuff.
20190608_111927.jpg
Another look at what were being sold.

Moving around got tight from time to time which reminds me how popular anime and cosplay have really gotten among locals as well as how interested buyers are with the products being displayed for sale.

As I saw some stickers (of pop culture icons and anime figures drawn by local illustrators) for buying, I had to stand behind a buyer who was searching for stickers and asked questions to the seller. There were three other customers next to him also standing right in front of the booth examining the stuff. After patiently waiting, I finally got to the front of the booth, quickly picked stickers (for some friends) and bought them.

20190608_111848.jpg20190608_112312.jpg20190608_112551.jpg

There was a lot of stuff that appealed to cosplay and anime enthusiasts. Cards, buttons, stickers, caps, shirts, costumes, cosmetics, dolls, action figures,  posters and a few publications. Those who purchased what they searched for clearly were happy. I searched from some Macross-related items but found none.

And then I took time out to photograph some cosplayers for your viewing pleasure below. Just click to ENLARGE.

 

A lot of people went on cosplay emphasizing their favorite characters from anime while some appeared as characters from computer games. These cosplayers really paid close attention to their craft with regards to capturing the looks of the characters they portrayed from the hair color to the make-up, the costumes, the shoes, the accessories and the like.

And among the cosplayers, I spotted someone dressed as Spider-Man. Specifically, the cosplay at the event was geared towards anime and computer games (like those online JRPGs).

Even though my interest in anime has waned a long time ago, it was still a nice experience to attend the Anime & Cosplay Expo 2019. More than twenty years ago, I was a very avid anime enthusiast and video collector and back in those days, events focused on anime and some related interests were not that popular and were not well publicized.

Today there are these local organizations focused on special interests like anime and cosplay which can emphasize their interests and reach out to many people around the country via the Internet. When an upcoming event gets announced, the enthusiasts will respond and prepare themselves (and their money) for attendance. Not only that, there are now many local businesses willing to sponsor these anime and cosplay events. These developments show that there is now respect and trust for these kinds of events. If you ask me, an anime and cosplay event is more interesting than a city government-organized beauty pageant.

By the way, the Anime & Cosplay Expo 2019 has one more day left tomorrow. There are some scheduled activities set to happen. If you intend to attend at all, click here.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

 

 

 

 

My Observations: Komiket South 2019

My Observations: Komiket South 2019

carlocarrasco

Yesterday around lunch time, I took time out to attend a geek and special interests event that targeted South Metro Manila and Cavite residents. It was the Komiket South 2019 event held at the ground floor of SM Southmall in Las Piñas City.

20190526_120313.jpg
The place where the creators, fans and buyers gathered.

To put things in perspective, Komiket is an affordable komiks and art market that aims to discover new creators, readers and launch new komiks. “Komiks” is a local term referring to comic books produced by local creators. Decades ago, there were several comic books (or pages published on magazines) published here in the Philippines that highlighted local society as well as the fantasy talents of local creators. Such comics were published in Tagalog, the leading local language here in the Philippines.

The event was a nice gathering of creative people, most of which were artists who showcased their talents through the forms of comic books, stickers, posters, post cards and other collectible items. Such items were offered to customers who passed by out of curiosity or with intention to buy.

20190526_120009.jpg
Pop culture art in the form of cards, pin-ups and stickers.
20190526_120530.jpg
This particular booth attracted a lot of young people.
20190526_120443.jpg
A view during my walk through.

Along the way, I met with Damy Velasquez III, one of the creators selling independently published comic books. We had a nice chat about what were displayed, he allowed me to browse a few of the comic books and I decided to purchase one of his comic books titled The New DI-13 #1 (pronounced as “dee-trese” which ironically rhymes with Dick Tracy). Once I read it, I’ll publish a review here.

20190527_093349.jpg
My copy of The New DI-13 #1.

There were other indie comic books from other creators also displayed nearby. Among those I checked had black-and-white and Tagalog language presentations. There were some comics with color though.

20190526_120610.jpg
An artist writing down something.
20190526_120807.jpg
Button pins and stickers of Don Fumar.

Komiket South 2019 was a lively event that took place on May 25 and 26. It’s nice to see such events get held here in South Metro Manila and I hope that more of these will be held in the near future. There is nothing like meeting the creative people behind the artworks, the comic books and other collectible stuff.

If another Komiket or something similar happens within the south, I would attend it.

 

PRESS RELEASE: SuBIT Part of 2019 One Belt One Road Triathlon Series

PRESS RELEASE: SuBIT Part of 2019 One Belt One Road Triathlon Series

carlocarrasco

subit2019

SuBIT Part of 2019 One Belt One Road Triathlon Series

Pasig City, Philippines – March 27, 2019 – The 2019 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Asian Cup slated on April 27 and 28 gained added significance as it ushers in the 2019 One Belt One Road Triathlon series.

This arrangement highlights the enduring relationship for decades between the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), the Chinese Taipei Triathlon Association (CTTA) and the China Triathlon Sports Association (CTSA).

Further, CTSA, for this year, will dispatch the Chinese national team to compete in the SuBIT with TRAP reciprocating with a team of triathletes seeing action in the 2019 Lianyungang ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup and 2019 Jiayuguan ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup. The latter events serve as the second and third legs of the One Belt One Road Triathlon series.

“For the past years, Triathlon Association of Philippines (TRAP) and China Triathlon Sports Association (CTSA) have been keeping a good relationship and communication. Thanks for the invitation and help from TRAP, Chinese National Triathlon Teams participated in Subic Bay ASTC Triathlon Asian Cups for many times and got good results.

“Meanwhile, our two national federations have always been supporting each other during ASTC Congress elections and other international activities,” CTSA Secretary General Chen Xiaoran stated.

For its part, the CTTA is sending the Chinese Taipei national team and a good number of age-groupers to join the SuBIT.

Registration for the SuBIT is ongoing with entry fees now set at P5,500 per participant for Standard Distance, P5,000 for Sprint Distance, P4,000 for Super Sprint Distance and P9,000 for Team Relay.

List-up ends on March 31 or earlier when all slots have been filled up. Online registration can be done at https://regonline.activeglobal.com/subit2019

Organized by the TRAP in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, the 2019 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Asian Cup is supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC,) NTT, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP) and Gatorade.

For more information, visit Triathlon.org.ph or send email at trapsecretariat@gmail.com

Vermosa Sports Hub Aquathlon 1 Pics and Insight

carlocarrasco

This morning the Vermosa Sports Hub Aquathlon 1 happened successfully at the very modern Vermosa Sports Hub along Daang Hari, Cavite Province. Hundreds of participants as well as their companions and family members clearly enjoyed the swim-run event organized by Bike King in partnership with Vermosa Sports Hub and their supporters.

The swimming pool was used for the swim while the run used an external road with a race path leading into the track oval where the finish line was located at.

For your viewing pleasure, posted are the pictures I took at the event.

Watch out for race results to be posted at http://www.bikekingphilippines.com

Action pics

IMG_20190310_063959~2.jpgIMG_20190310_082825~2.jpgIMG_20190310_082757~2.jpgIMG_20190310_083041~2.jpgIMG_20190310_091957~2.jpgIMG_20190310_082423~2.jpg

Awarding pics

IMG_20190310_092318~2.jpgIMG_20190310_095108~2.jpgIMG_20190310_093717~2.jpgIMG_20190310_100613~2.jpgIMG_20190310_094249~2-2.jpgIMG_20190310_094124~2-2.jpgIMG_20190310_094118~2-2.jpgIMG_20190310_100619~2.jpg

Other pics

IMG_20190310_093601~2.jpgIMG_20190310_095140~2.jpgIMG_20190310_092422~2.jpgIMG_20190310_095152~2.jpgIMG_20190310_092210~2.jpgIMG_20190310_064159~2.jpgIMG_20190310_063753~2.jpgIMG_20190310_074545~2-1.jpg

 

TRAP and TRI-Factor Sign Partnership Agreement, Duathlon Event Coming

TRAP and TRI-Factor Sign Partnership Agreement, Duathlon Event Coming

carlocarrasco
IMG_20190131_185021~2.jpg
Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) president Tom Carrasco (middle) shakes with TRI Factor founder Elvin Ting after signing the agreement for the March 31 duathlon event. Also present was TRI-Factor Philippines director Allan Majadillas (leftmost) who signed the said agreement, Tin Majadillas and Elle Adda.

On the evening of January 31 in Makati City, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and TRI-Factor signed a partnership agreement related to a duathlon event called TRI-Factor Run-Bike-Run Clark which will take place on March 31, 2019 at Clark, Pampanga.

The documents were formally signed by TRAP president Tom Carrasco and TRI-Factor Philippines director Allan Majadillas which was witnessed by TRI-Factor founder Elvin Ting, the guests from the media, the bloggers and from the multisports sector.

IMG_20190131_184725~2.jpg
The signing.
IMG_20190131_185329~2.jpg
The officials and the guests in a group photo.

The March 31 duathlon is a qualifying event for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). It is also the National Duathlon Championship.

Watch out for more details soon. Visit TRAP’s FB page, TRI-Factor Philippines’ FB page and their website.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this article, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to your fellow triathletes and other sports enthusiasts. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your project or business, check out my services.