FilJap Magazine June 2014

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June 2014 Issue 18

Sainthood

The World’s Beloved Pope is Now a Saint

Spider-Man

Swings Into Tokyo

President Obama

The ‘Annestoppable’

Anne Curtis

Arrives in Manila for 2-Day State Visit

Top 7

Spots in

Shimokitazawa

Contents 4

In Focus President Obama Arrives in Manila for 2-Day State Visit

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Cover Story The ‘Annestoppable’ Anne Curtis

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Celebrity News Filipino Celebrities Spend Holy Week in Japan

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Special Feature Spider-Man Swings Into Tokyo

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Spotlight Sainthood

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Faces ‘PBB All In’ Kickoff

FilCom Watch Are You the Next Miss Philippines-Japan?

Travel Japan Shimokitazawa Ichiban Culture & Arts Tracing the Origin of Cosplay

FilJap M A G A Z I N E Publisher: Yonei Toshikazu Editor-in-Chief: Florenda Corpuz Associate Editor: Nel Salvador Photographers: Din Eugenio Oliver Corpuz Arlene Donaire

Editor’s Pick

Advertising Executive: Judith Takahashi

Cherry blossoms fall and the kids play Photographer: Din Eugenio

We Want Your Photos!

Send your submissions to the editor at dang010@yahoo. com or filjapmagazine@yahoo.com. Resolution must be 300 dpi at actual print size. Please include applicable credits and captions.

Editor’s

NOTE

Distribution Executive: Genie Omata Layout Artist: VerJube Photographics Tokyo Office: 114-0004 Tokyo-to

Kita-ku Horifune 1-26-14-501 Telephone: 03-6903-2100 Fax: 03-6903-2101 Toll-Free Fax: 0800-919-3633

E-mail: filjapmagazine@yahoo.com Manila Office: 407 Adalla Street, Palm Village, Makati City, Philippines Telephone: 63(2) 403-42-06

Digital Edition: issuu.com/filjapmag Facebook: facebook.com/FilJapMagazine FilJap Magazine is published by FilJap Consulting. All rights reserved.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher.

Our way of saying thank you We’ve been receiving a lot of positive feedback from our readers since the magazine started circulating in March 2012. And we’ve been getting messages and comments on our social media sites as well.

So what better way to mark this moment than by releasing two cover editions of this issue of FilJap Magazine with no other than Anne Curtis on the cover. The print edition is set for distribution all over Japan while the digital edition can be viewed on our Issuu site and Facebook page.

We follow that with our coverage on the highly successful Japan premiere of “Amazing Spider-Man 2” that was attended by the film’s cast and crew including Hollywood A-listers Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx.

Then we also have a news story about the recent state visit of President Obama in the Philippines and a feature story on the canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.

Florenda Corpuz Editor-in-Chief

We know for a fact that one mark of success of any publication is the degree of engagement with its readers, and we are getting it about right. Thank you, FilJap readers!

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

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IN FOCUS

President Obama Arrives in Manila for 2-Day State Visit Text and photos courtesy of PCOO

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MANILA, Philippines – U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Manila on April 28 for a two-day state visit to the country aimed at strengthening strategic relations between the United States and the Philippines.

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bama arrived on board Air Force One at 1:26 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where he was welcomed by several government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay. From the airport, he boarded the helicopter, Marine One, and proceeded to Malacañang to attend the official welcome ceremony.

After the ceremony, President Benigno S. Aquino III invited Obama to enter the Palace for the signing of the guest book at the Reception Hall. After the signing, the two leaders proceeded to the Music Room for the meet-and-greet before their expanded bilateral meeting.

In a press conference with Aquino, Obama said the newly signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the U.S. and the Philippines will benefit the two countries, particularly on military readiness and response to calamities. He said that both countries have maintained strong alliance for many decades and Monday’s signing is an update on that partnership.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

“I think this is going to be a terrific opportunity for us to work with the Philippines to make sure that our navies, our air force are coordinated; to make sure that there is information-sharing; to allow us to respond to new threats and to work with other countries—ASEAN countries, Australia, Japan,” Obama stated.

Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin and U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg signed the agreement that allows a bigger U.S. military presence in the country. The 10year deal is only a framework agreement.

Details on the duration and number of U.S. troops staying in the country still have to be negotiated.

The U.S. and the Philippines have also agreed to further strengthen their economic cooperation. Obama said he and Aquino discussed the steps so that the Philippines could position itself for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). He announced that he is sending U.S. Commerce Sec. Penny Pritzker to lead a delegation of American business leaders to the Philippines this June to explore new opportunities in the country.

Obama expressed his gratitude to Aquino for the hospitality and kindness given to him and the members of his delegation in his visit to the Philippines.

“I’ve only been here one day but the kindness that you’ve shown me and the extraordinary hospitality that has been extended to us leaves us with very warm feelings and reflects, I think, the legendary spirit of the Filipino people,” he said in a message during the state dinner in Malacañang.

The U.S. leader also praised the Aquino family to their contributions to Philippine society noting that there is no greater nobility than offering one’s life to the nation as what the President’s father did during Marcos’es martial rule. He also mentioned the role of the President’s mother, former president Corazon Aquino, as the country moved on following the Marcos dictatorship.

Obama also recognized Filipino talents like Manny Pacquiao and Cris Comerford, the White House’s executive chef who was born in Manila.

Also, Obama said Americans are inspired by the Filipino’s resilience and determination to rise from any adversity like the devastating typhoon Yolanda that hit the Philippines last year.

Meanwhile, Aquino also expressed his gratitude to Obama for U.S.’s assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda last year. “On behalf of my countrymen, I thank the United States of America once more for being a true friend to our people,” Aquino said in a statement he read.

During the state dinner, Aquino conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Raja or Grand Collar on Obama, in recognition of his “leadership and policies that assisted the Philippines in times of natural disaster.”

Obama went to Manila American Cemetery to pay his respects to the fallen American soldiers who fought in World War II. He hailed Filipino war veterans who fought alongside American forces.

He also reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to defend the Philippines against any external armed attacks. “Our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad and the United States will keep that commitment, because allies never stand alone.”

Aquino and Obama discussed bilateral relations on three major fronts: strengthening political and security cooperation; expanding trade and investments, tourism and development cooperation; and, on deepening people-to-people ties.

The country already has a strong tie with the U.S. as there are an estimated 2.27 million Filipinos living in the States. While, some 670 thousand tourists from the U.S. visited the Philippines in 2013.

Obama left the country on April 29, ending his four-nation Asian tour, which also took him to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014 5

COVER STORY

’ e l b a p p o t s e n n ‘A tis The

ANNE tesy s cour Photo

N BS-CB c. & A n I , t men ertain A Ent V I V f o

The public just couldn’t get enough of Anne Curtis. Whether the beguiling actress acts, dances, poses, endorses, walks the runway or sings, she is a wellsought celebrity who reaps a cult following.

She is the first and only Filipino celebrity who got the most number of Twitter followers at 6.36 million to date, way more than Hollywood stars Madonna or Adam Levine have.

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r u c

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ith her mestiza look brought by her Filipino and Australian mix, flirty and pouty lips, curvaceous figure, flawless skin, bubbly disposition and unapologetic attitude, Anne caught the fancy of the adoring public. That despite a slew of negative publicity the past few months – allegedly slapping a few personalities in a bar when she had one to many drinks and telling her sister’s boyfriend upfront that he’s not classy enough to be in a party – Anne’s career continues to soar high and she remains to be a well-loved personality.

There is no denying that the public is under her spell.

‘Annebisyosa’ The charm probably lies in the fact that in spite her “malaDiyosa” looks, the 29-year-old Filipino-Aussie is never afraid to show her infallibility such as her fondness for singing in public despite being out of tune – and how she can surprise the viewing public by having a concert at the Araneta Coliseum and packing it to the rafters.

Her “Annebisyosa” concert in 2012, the same title of her first music album under Viva Records, was attended by thousands of her fans that merited a sequel – “Forbidden Concert Round 2: Annekapal” held last month that was equally successful as her first. It showcased a more comfortable and more daring Anne on stage that demonstrated an improved singer and performer – confident and unabashed.

She has also endeared herself as one of the affable hosts of popular noontime show, “It’s Showtime,” where she let the public sees the comical side of her, exchanging funny banter with A-list comedians Vice Ganda and Vhong Navarro, and sometimes unafraid to let go of her glamorous image in exchange for laughter and candidness.

Her weapon is her ability to be a chameleon where she can be glamorous in a minute and rugged in the next; she can be a goddess in one instance and a flawed human being in another.

She can transform in any way she pleases and gets away with it effortlessly.

Showbiz Sweetheart Anne is now considered Philippine showbiz’s most prized sweetheart. From being the English-speaking mestiza who always played as a balikbayan in TV shows and movies, she has honed her craft and metamorphosed into the bigger star that she is today landing major roles entrusted to her by the Kapamilya network.

She bagged her first title role as a hunchback via the TV remake of “Kampanerang Kuba” followed by a meaty role in drama series “Maging Sino Ka Man” that showed her versatility as an actress. She also starred in the fantasy series entitled “Diyosa” opposite Zanjoe Marudo and Luis Manzano under the direction of Wenn Deramas.

She has also appeared in a slew of movies such as “Where the Love Begins,” “Wag Kang Lilingon,” “No Other Woman,” “In Your Eyes,” where she got her first best supporting actress award from the FAP Luna Awards, and “Baler,” where she received her first best actress trophy at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Currently, Anne is starring in a soon to be released Hollywood film entitled “Blood Ransom” opposite Alexander Doetsch directed by Filipino-American Francis dela Torre. She is also playing the role of half-human, half-mermaid in Mars Ravelo’s “Dyesebel” where she recently made headlines when she was stung by a box jellyfish while shooting the series. The Dyesebel star, who was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center, admitted to have feared for her life when she couldn’t feel her legs and couldn’t breathe properly.

With a showbiz career spanning 17 years, Anne has conquered the public consciousness and she will stay visible for the long haul because there is no escaping the fact that whatever TV show, movie or concert she stars in, sells; whatever product she endorses, the numbers go higher; whatever magazine she covers becomes talked about; whatever she tweets is heard; whatever she does, the public stops to watch.

Anne is definitely unstoppable.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014 7

CELEBRITY NEWS

Filipino

Celebrities

Spend Holy Week in Japan

TOKYO, Japan – Several Filipino celebrities spent the Holy Week break by flying to Japan and visiting some of the famous landmarks and popular tourist attractions in the country.

Photos courtesy of Instagram @maricareyespoon, @mina_villarroel, @missizacalzado, @therealmarian, @richardpoonph

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apamilya host Carmina Villaroel and husband Zoren Legaspi along with their twins Mavey and Casey enjoyed the cherry blossom season at Mt. Fuji and Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens.

They were also spotted in Shibuya paying homage to Hachiko’s statue.

The happy family also bonded at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Big band crooner Richard Poon and his wife, actress Maricar Reyes,

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FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

got to experience the tail-end of Tokyo’s cherry blossom season at Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens.

They also went to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba to see the RX-78-2 Gundam statue up close. Moreover, the couple enjoyed their train rides and food adventures in Ueno and Shinjuku.

Multi-awarded actress Iza Calzado together with non-showbiz boyfriend Ben Wintle toured Tsukiji

Market and Ginza. They also went temple and shrine hopping in Kyoto where they visited Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kinkaku-ji.

The “Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition” host was also seen jogging around Tokyo Imperial Palace Gardens.

Kapuso royal couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera also took the opportunity to spend some time with each other exploring Ginza, Odaiba and Omotesando Hills.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Spider-Man Swings Into Tokyo Photos by Florenda Corpuz

TOKYO, Japan – Marvel superhero Spider-Man swung into town last March 31 as the cast and crew came out for its Japan premiere.

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ollywood stars Andrew Garfield, Jamie Foxx and Emma Stone, together with director Marc Webb and producers Matt Tolmach and Avi Arad, attended the “Amazing Spider-Man 2” press conference at Toho Cinema 7 in Roppongi Hills.

Garfield said it feels great to be back in Japan following the world premiere of the first installment of the Marvel series in June 2012.

During the press conference, the 30-yearold actor said he is elated to return to the country and promote the sequel because it is a chance for him to be reunited with his Japanese fans and supporters.

“Spider-Man does have super strength. But what makes him really strong, I think, is that he’s just a regular boy. He’s just an imperfect, regular boy, trying to figure out how to live and how to be the best man he can be. And I think that’s why we all love him, that’s why we all want to put on that costume, that’s why we all want to put on that mask, because he wasn’t always strong,” Garfield told a fan who asked if Spider-man was strong.

“He didn’t use to be strong. He used to just be like me, like everyone. And it’s his compassion and his heart and his goodness that allow him to use the power he gets for good. And that’s what SpiderMan is all about. Thank you for the best question

ever,” he added.

Stone, on the other hand, shared some anecdotes that specifically happened while they were shooting in New York. “It’s completely fascinating to shoot this second movie in New York because the crowds were so enormous that there were barricades in the middle of the scenes, holding people back from storming the set, which was really energizing and slightly terrifying.”

Meanwhile, Foxx who played villain Electro also revealed his excitement about the sequel. “I was really excited to be part of this film. My part, I believe was to be the best villain that I could be.

It’s beautiful to join a big blockbuster film with real thespians.”

Kabuki actor Shido Nakamura who voiced Electro in the Japanese dub version also made an apperance at the event.

After the Q & A, the cast and crew started releasing fake spider webs into crowd of fans as well as to each other.

About 400 fans were invited to the event including two boys wearing Spider-Man costume who were called on stage to meet their idol.

Japan was the last stop of the “Amazing Spider-Man 2” global promotional tour. Distributed

by Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) lnc., the film opened in theaters on April 25.

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SPOTLIGHT

The world’s beloved pope is now a saint.

Sainthood Photo courtesy of L’Osservatore Romano (http://www.vatican.va/)

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ope John Paul II, alongside Pope John XXIII, was canonized recently by Pope Francis in front of thousands and thousands of faithful gathered at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. John Paul II’s road to sainthood was the fastest in the history of Vatican fulfilled nine years after his death.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI beatified the Polish pope after his death in 2005 and waived the fiveyear waiting period to start the beatification process. Meanwhile, Pope Francis decided to declare John Paul II a saint without the necessary second miracle required for the canonization.

An estimated 800,000 people trooped to St Peter’s Square to witness the canonization of the two popes led by Pope Francis and in the presence of his predecessor Benedict XVI. It was the first time two popes were declared saints simultaneously and two living popes held mass together in their honor – a historical feat in the books of the Roman Catholic Church.

In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the kind of faith and courage that John Paul II and John 12

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

XXIII exemplified throughout their respective lives (and leadership) that he hopes will inspire and encourage the faithful.

“Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II were not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus, to touch his torn hands and his pierced side. They were not ashamed of the flesh of Christ, they were not scandalized by him, by his cross; they did not despise the flesh of their brother (cf. Is 58:7), because they saw Jesus in every person who suffers and struggles.”

“These were two men of courage, filled with the parrhesia of the Holy Spirit, and they bore witness before the Church and the world to God’s goodness and mercy.”

“They were priests, and bishops and popes of the twentieth century.

They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful; faith was more powerful,” said Pope Francis.

The double canonization was seen as a step to unify the Church since it brought together a pope touted as a reformer and a pope known as a conservative.

Around 150 cardinals; 1,000 bishops; 6,000 priests and at least 24

heads of state attended the historic event including delegations from more than 100 countries.

Pope John Paul II, now called as Saint John II, was born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland. He was the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 to his death in 2005 and was the second longest-serving pope in modern history.

An enigmatic pope, he was the most travelled pope who visited 129 countries, including the Philippines in 1995 that drew the largest crowd at four million, during his 27-year pontificate. He was regarded as a conservative pope who upheld the Vatican orthodox stance.

Saint John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli and became a pope in 1958 until he succumbed to cancer in 1963. He was the pope that introduced reforms in the Vatican including holding Mass in local languages instead of being confined in Latin.

Not all can be saints but sainthood as Pope Francis aptly puts should teach us “to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of divine mercy, which always hopes and always forgives, because it always loves.”

FILCOM WATCH

Be Be Published

D

o you have the knack for writing? Do you have something in mind that you want to Share? This is your chance to be heard!

FilJap Magazine is inviting you, our valued readers, to submit informative, entertaining and interesting articles (must be written in 300-500 words, MS Word format) and photos (should be in high resolution, 100 dpi at the minimum), which are original and never been published in other newspapers or magazines.

Announcements of events are also welcome.

You can send them to filjapmagazine@yahoo.com.

FILCOM WATCH

Embassy Announcement

R

Replacement of the NSO by the PSA

epublic Act No. 10625 (Philippine Statistical Act of 2013) was signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on 12 September 2013. The law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations took effect on 29 December 2013.

It merged the National Statistics Office (NSO), National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) and the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) into the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA shall serve as the central statistical authority of the Philippine Government. It shall also administer the civil registration functions provided under Act No. 3753 (Law on Registry of Civil Status).

All civil registry documents (i.e. birth certificate/ROB, marriage certificate/ROM, death certificate/ROD, CENOMAR) are now issued by the PSA. However, until the full merger of the abovementioned agencies, these certifications may still be obtained from the NSO.

Schedule of Consular Missions (June 2014) All applicants for passports and other consular services are requested to coordinate with the contact persons for details of the consular mission.

Date

Venue

Contact Persons

Contact Details

Jun 7 Morioka Miss Cecilia Nishimura 090-5847-6774 Miss Ofelia Takahashi hachi_0809@yahoo.com 090-3125-0137 Jun 28 Nagano Miss Grace Bermudez 090-7710-7446 02-6235-1124 Ibaraki, Gunma, Hokkaido, and Tochigi consular missions are tentatively scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2014.

Are You the Next Miss Philippines-Japan?

We want to hear from

YOU!

FilJap readers!

Let us know what you think of our issue.

Send us your feedback or suggestions to filjapmagazine@ yahoo.com.

T

he search for Miss Philippines-Japan 2014 has begun! Auditions for the next batch of beauty queens will take place on April 27, May 18 and June 22.

For more information, call 090-1778-3759, 080-9469-8165, 080-5641-5424, 080-4099-4262 or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ MissPhilippinesJapanPageant.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014 13

Shimokitazawa Ichiban

TRAVEL JAPAN

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Shimokitazawa, commonly called “Shimokita,” is a small but trendy district in Setagaya that is highly popular among young Tokyoites. It is also famous for its novel local variation on the celebration of Setsubun (bean-throwing festival).

Text by Ashley Dy Photos by Din Eugenio

Fast Facts: “Shimokitazawa Ichiban” is the town’s current tagline, which means “Shimokitazawa Number One!” Shimokita is also known as a “theater town” bacause of the many small theaters and live concert houses in the area.

The town usually hosts a Sunday Market nearby, which specializes in handmade goods or zakka.

Street art is very popular in the area.

Instead of the usual beanthrowing during setsubun, a bright red tengu head is being carried on a parade around the town. It is accompanied by children wearing oni-themed (monster) masks.

Aside from shopping vintage clothes, ladies also go here for salon visits.

Writers and prime ministers have lived in the town’s residential area since 1920’s.

Currently, there are development plans to renovate the city as the alleys and streets are very narrow.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

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n the surface, Shimokita looks a bit like Harajuku and Shibuya but looking further, you’ll realize that there is so much more about the place. It takes only 3 minutes by train from Shibuya via KeioInokashira Line and 10 minutes from Shinjuku via Odakyu Line.

Arriving South Exit of the station via Odakyu Line, there is McDonald’s, which is a very convenient meeting place for people who are not familiar with the area.

Following that route, you’ll find an arcade, a purikura establishment and some random stores that will remind you of Japanese subculture mori kei. While on the north side, a two-story Muji store will be your landmark. The narrow town streets are often crowded with local and foreign tourists alike.

Top 7 Spots in Shimokitazawa 1. Café Hammock Tribe - A hammock café inspired by the beach. They serve the best green Thai curry in town and other Asian favorites. Its laid-back and relaxing nature make it a must-visit hangout place in Shimokitazawa.

2. Rabbit Café - A unique hangout spot just right next to Café Hammock Tribe. Make a reservation ahead of time because they are always packed.

3. Darwin Room - Where you can find a real otter, zebra, butterflies, among many other animals preserved.

They also have a small café area where you can dine. The store’s atmosphere is just magical as if you are in a museum.

4. Flamingo - A store that sells authentic vintage clothing from the 1940’s to the 1980’s.

5. (Nichome Sanbachi) - A toy store that sells used items from the 1990’s or even older. They collected and maintained children’s toys such as Sailor Moon, Star Wars, Hello Kitty and a lot more! Their items are usually 50% off on weekends.

6. Cateriam Cat Café - A place for the feline lovers.

Cat-shaped cookies are popularly served here.

7. Rainbow Café - This café offers a good variation of omorice (omelette and rice). Aside from the traditional tomato sauce, they have one with white sauce and mushrooms.

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CULTURE AND ARTS

T

racing the

C

Origin of

osplay Text by Herlyn Alegre Photos courtesy of Japanexperterna.se & Jacob Ehnmark

C

ontrary to common belief, cosplay did not originate in Japan. Truth is, its earliest recognized practice started in the United States some seven decades ago. It was popularized in Japan in the 1990’s and was then readopted in the West with a renewed enthusiasm.

The Origin of the Term The term “cosplay” was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi of the Japanese publishing company Studio Hard when he wrote about the highlights of the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles, California. His writings attracted the young Japanese generation who became instrumental in popularizing cosplay, which boomed in the 1990’s. The word is a portmanteau of the words “costume play.”

To cosplay a character means to replicate a fictional character from anime, manga, movies, comic books, video games and even novels. It not only involves copying the character’s outward appearance such as the color of the hair and eyes, clothes, shoes, accessories and weapons. It also involves adopting the character’s manner of speaking and acting.

Though the term was invented by a Japanese, the practice originated on the other side of the globe.

The Origin of the Practice Cosplay or costuming, as it was originally called, started as early as 1939 when a science fiction fan Forrest J Ackerman attended the World Science Fiction Convention in New York dressed in a

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FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

Cosplay nowadays is understood as synonymous with Japan because of the proliferation of images of young Japanese dressed as anime or manga characters with bright-colored hair and armors, if not, cute maid outfits and medieval gowns.

futuristic space pilot outfit with a cape. This bold move sparked the interest of other fans and instigated them to do the same the following years. The conventions of this time centered on discussing and marketing science fiction anthologies. During this time, most of the convention attendees were men. Not very many women graced such events because they were either not interested or they were prohibited entry to the halls. This gender imbalance gradually changed since the 1940’s.

The earliest organized cosplay competition documented was in 1950 when a masquerade was first conducted.

Cosplayers participated in the masquerade, a cosplay competition, which serves as one of the highlights of the event, by presenting and parading their costumes on stage for judging. Other cosplayers who did not intend to join the masquerade dresses up for the the hall costuming, wherein they can just attend the event in their desired costumes.

Why Cosplay is Different Cosplay is different from other forms of costuming like dressing up for halloween or joining the mardi gras because it is centered on impersonating a particular character rather than just celebring a festival or an occasion.

Looking at Cosplay Cosplay can be approached using several subjective angles. For some, it might only be a childish hobby, a result of too much fanaticism or an insane

patronization of fetishism. But for others, it might be more than just these.

Cosplay Fosters a Sense of Belongingness. Many cosplayers start cosplaying because of their fascination with a particular character from their favorite genre. More than just the act of dressing up, it is their way of fulfilling dreams of bringing these imagined characters to life.

By finding other people who think the same, the enthusiasts create a community of likeminded people who get along well.

Cosplay as a Form of Art. For others, cosplaying is an expression of their creativity. Although there are a lot of physical shops in Harajuku as well as online shops that sell ready-to-wear costumes, many cosplayers still prefer to make their own costumes. Some of them tailor their own dresses, customize their own footwear and create their own weapons and accessories.

Cosplay as an Act of Revolution.

Cosplay represents a veering away from the mundanities of everyday life and exercise creative power, freedom of choice and the creation of self-identity. It also serves as a bridge from imagination to reality, the impossible to the possible, the dream to the fulfillmet of that dream. As cosplay gained popularity in the 1990’s, it served as a form of self-expression for the young Japanese and an act of rebellion from the rigid and contrived society that thrived in the period of the Bubble Economy in the 1980’s.

Cosplay might commonly be viewed as an uncommon hobby of this generation, but it can also reflect the development of the field of costuming, not only in Japan, but also in other parts of the world.

FACES

‘PBB All In’ Kickoff Marks Firsts in Introducing 18 Teen, Regular and Celebrity Housemates In a season of many firsts and tremendous revelations, “Pinoy Big Brother All In” finally revealed on April 27 in three different ABS-CBN shows its 18 official housemates that include one of its hosts, Alex Gonzaga, the last housemate to be introduced at its official grand kickoff outside the famous PBB house.

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lex’s entry into the famous house shocked not only viewers but also her sister and co-host Toni Gonzaga. Inside the house’s confession room, Big Brother told Alex, dubbed as the season’s “Sassy Sister of Rizal,” that he wanted her to experience being a housemate so she can be a more effective host.

“PBB All In” started unleashing surprise after surprise when it first revealed in “ASAP 19” the “Jock-NextDoor of Taguig,” Axel Torres and “Rising Celebriteen of Quezon City,” teen actress Jane Oineza.

Also saying goodbye to the outside world via “Buzz ng Bayan” are the “Biba Rakitera of Valenzuela,” Cess Visitacion who used to sell pirated DVDs and played bit roles in TV shows and commercials; the “Simpatikong Salesman of Camsur,” Chevin Cecilio, who is now trying his luck in real estate sales to help his family; and 15-year-old Nichole Baranda, the “Sweet Revelation of Makati,” who joined “PBB” so she can find and prove herself and to make her mom Phoemela Baranda proud.

Presented at the grand kickoff were the “Dancing Bombshell of Boracay,”

Aina Solano who is training to become a mermaid-swimming teacher, and “Devoted Daughter of Las Pinas,” the 23-year-old and religious Jayme Jalandoni, a licensed nurse.

Joining them are 16-year-old Joshua Garcia, the “Tatay’s Boy of Batangas,” an out-of-school youth, and Manolo Pedrosa, the “Wonder Son of Quezon City,” who is also 16 and has never had a girlfriend despite being a certified heartthrob and popular among girls in different schools.

There is also the “Singing Sunshine of Davao Maris Rascal,” a teenage passionate about music and knows how to play the piano, ukulele, and guitar, and the “Maginoong Marino of Quezon” Ranty Portento, a seaman and this season’s oldest housemate at 26.

Celebrity housemates also include volleyball superstar Michelle Gumabao, the “Spunky Spiker of Quezon City,” the daughter of actor-politician turned pastor Dennis Roldan.

Also introduced were Fourth and Fifth Pagotan, the “Brad Bait” and “Brad Kulit of Pasay,” who joined the show as individual housemates who can be nominated and evicted separately. Fourth

is a chef at a five-star luxury hotel, while Fifth is a businessman and owns a humble hamburger stall.

Completing the cast are theater actor Jacob Benedicto, the “Cutie Crooner of Paranaque;” freelance model and Mutya ng Pilipinas International 2011 Vickie Rushton, the “Lady Mahinhin of Bacolod;” and 15-year-old student Loisa Andalio, the “Talented Darling of Paranaque,” a member of group 3G that performs in mall shows and fiestas.

The grand kickoff was hosted by Toni, Bianca Gonzalez, John Prats, Robi Domingo and Alex, and was graced former housemates Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Zanjoe Marudo, Ejay Falcon, Jason Gainza, Nene Tamayo, Jason Francisco, Ryan Bang, Keanna Reeves, Yayo Aguila, James Reid, Gaby Dela Merced, Beauty Gonzalez, Myrtle Sarrosa, and Yves Flores.

Viewers and netizens warmly welcomed the new housemates as the grand kickoff recorded a national TV rating of 20.5%.

“PBB All In” and its housemates also dominated 10 out of the 10 trending topics on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

FILJAP MAGAZINE | JUNE 2014

17

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