Lately, news has reached me that some foreign Cosplay groups began to criticize our local Cosplaying scene. They tell that Filipinos suck at cosplaying, and that we are a disgrace to the Cosplay community worldwide. Alodia is just plain goddess’ shit, and monkeys are much better in cosplaying than we are. If true, then the blog of GamerTotoy and his friends would be justified.
Well, the question is, is it really true?
I know those who found the time (and endurance) to read this would react violently. Or go ballistic. Heck, who could blame them? We Filipinos are very nationalistic; one innocuous joke about our race would provoke an outrage that could even lead to the Philippine Congress declaring the offending party persona non grata here!
But then, on a second thought—without the nationalistic prejudices involved—are those criticisms justified?
Let me tell you the current scene of the cosplay community here in the Philippines. Ever since Alodia Gosengfiao came to the spotlight and is bestowed the title ‘Cosplay Goddess’, the word ‘Cosplay’ became the byword of everyone who wants to grab their own 15-MINUTES OF FAME. From a relatively obscure hobby to a mainstream madness, people from every walk of life found a new way to stardom.
Which is exactly a far cry from what it had been, years ago.
Never mind the cardboard props, or the soft, jingly rubber suits, Philippine Cosplay community today is plague by people who wanted to become popular or make money. Attitude has all but disappeared from the participants. Some cosplayers don’t even know the character they are cosplaying! And look, when they had their fill of their 15-minute fame, they act as if they’re the best among the elite cosplayers in the world!
Cosplay is a combination of two words: Costume and Play. Costume, in this case, means a set of clothes that is unique to a person or a character. Play here is translated as a dramatic performance. So in other words, Cosplay means dressing yourself after your favorite character and then giving out a performance. And when it says performance, it’s not just your typical sword-swinging, low-jumping, Indian-like screaming you see in most cosplayers nowadays. TRUE COSPLAY IS ALL ABOUT GIVING LIFE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER and not that character breathing life to your own pathetic existence.
In others words, YOU DON’T COSPLAY BECAUSE IT IS YOUR GATEWAY TO STARDOM OR GIRLS, BUT IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR ‘LOVE’ FOR THAT PARTICULAR CHARACTER THAT GIVES YOU THE COURAGE TO DON THAT COSTUME.
Unfortunately, however, instead of using those scathing comments as a ticket to improvement, many chose to become reactionary. They chose the path to idiocy; declaring a ‘COSPLAY WORLD WAR’ even though they haven’t got any idea of how the hell on earth will they wage that kind of war! For them, the quality of Filipino cosplay is all about cardboard props, rubber suits, and the worst of all—HALF-ASSED ATTITUDE ABOUT COSPLAY ITSELF.
Are you still wondering why those foreigners scoff at our cosplay?
