blackmage9’s article causing quite a rift in the cosplay community

One of the newspaper giants here in the Philippines recently interviewed the blackmage9 for her take on what it takes to be a standout cosplayer. The article was published both in print and on their site and quickly crawled its way on forums everywhere causing some minor flame and turmoil. I read the article wwwaaayyyy before it was posted in the community that I was in (cosplay ph) and never did I thought that a single article will cause so much distraught to the forums. Tons and tons of reply to the post were cast on their take on what the flaw(s) of the article was/were. Until the blackmage9 broke her silence and gave the low-down on what happened to the article (and am not gonna detail it here). Basically, the gist was she had no idea that the publisher would publish a separate article when she asked the blackmage9 certain questions regarding cosplay (let alone the title of the article).

Now, I respect very much the blackmage9’s take on things because that is how she sees it. We have different perspective on certain things and it is this differences that makes us human and this is what makes cosplaying fun. I guess what the community is hinting at is watch what you say because it will not affect only you but the whole community as well (especially having the status of the blackmage9). One of the major blows that were pinpointed in the community was cosplay being expensive (according to the blackmage9). I, for one, agree in this aspect with the blackmage9 but it doesn’t have to be as “expensive” as other people think. One can always use recycled materials and other stuff, you just gotta be resourceful. This point alone will drive the youngbloods away from the cosplay world instead of bringing them in. While the blackmage9 were born above us commoners (as I read from her deviantart), literally blood, sweat and tears were spent for her to be able to buy the things and accessories needed for her costume. This is the reason why she’s doing auctions and art commissions – to be able to spend her earnings on a hobby that she loves doing and is very passionate of.

All is well now and I hope the blackmage9 learn something from this ordeal. And I hope that she don’t stop from cosplaying/costripping.


Disclaimer: I am not one of blackmage9’s fanboy(s) nor one of the haters. I just wanted to share my sentiments on this issue. It would be a huge blow to the cosplay community (both us photographers and cosplayers) should the blackmage9 leave the scene. It will be a great shame if we are not to see the excellent craftsmanship and innocent face that is the blackmage9.

toycon 2008 aftermath

I recently attended the 7th Philippine toycon held at the SM megamall megatrade halls 2 and 3. this is the first time that I attended a toy and hobbyist convention and quite frankly and from my perspective, well…. I was disappointed. What I fear the most had happened – that the convention will be dominated by those western figures. Figures sold were mostly those justice league, star wars, batman and the likes. I only saw a couple of Japanese anime figs like deathnote and the meccha god’s known as the gundam saga. This prompted me to just sit on the presentation grounds as I am also there to see and hear the blackmage9 in person. I just sit there for roughly 2 hours awaiting the cosplay catwalk. For this convention, I have not taken a single photo of any of the cosplayers. This was the result of a couple of factors: 1. I arrived at the convention at roughly 2 pm and I’ve not seen any cosplayers upon my arrival. 2. I was major-ly disappointed on the figs that I saw.

As I wait for the cosplay catwalk, a couple of fellow-fan sitting behind me sez “this year’s toycon was a total disappointment” and I couldn’t agree with them more. Then the catwalk proper was officially underway and I finally, finally saw the blackmage9. I was also hoping to get a glimpse of the slumberdoll but it was not meant to be. The toycon’s cosplay catwalk marked the return of a couple of well-loved anime/movie characters. The incredible hulk, iron man, the joker (from the batman), jack scissors were all present but one of the highlights of the catwalk in my point of view was the crowd favorite hard gay cosplayer and the return of a visionaries (complete with music) cosplayer and it rocked!!! The catwalk made my day and those two exact fans sez “it’s a good thing that I didn’t go home (or I would’ve missed this great catwalk)!!” when the catwalk ended I decided to roam around for a couple of minutes in the hopes of seeing the riadox07 but instead I crossed path with blackmage9 and her sister orangeish (wtf! Talk about fate)… blackmage9 was in a hurry but a cosplayer managed to got a picture of orangeish (complete with her pose). I was literally in awe and starstruck by both of them that I forgot to take some pictures.. stupid me!!! T__T.

I only went on the first day of the convention since I didn’t saw anything worth spending my time or money on except for those wasabi toys (anime hats) which I bought for my lil’ sis. And just like that, the toycon 2008 ended.

upgrades!

We went to a nearby mall to do some canvassing for a new PC. I will give my old one to my sis since she will most probably do a home-based work. We went to this area where we usually buy all our pc and tech gadgets and I was left in awe when I saw the units and most especially the prices. The generic ones that am looking for were now all gone and had been replaced by the branded ones that packs quite a punch. Having all those muscle power comes with some seriously, seriously steep price! I was planning to buy a intel core 2 duo pc with some serious graphix punch as I will be experimenting on adobe lightroom for this photography and photography blog. I mange to have a couple of leaflets and brochures but after I read their packages… well…. I was disappointed… disappointed because of either the price or the package itself. *sigh*. Hopefully I will find a decent price with an above average performance on the next couple of days…

still faceless?!

I finally found her! After days and nights of searchin, I finally found the faceless femme and she is in the place that I least expect her to be! She’s faceless no more but I’d like to keep her pen name as is. I bet you’re wondering how’d I knew that she was the one when I claim that she is faceless in my dreams. Well she was not totally faceless, I recognized her as I saw her here in the 3d world! She was all what I expected her to be here in the 3d world and she was the exact carbon copy of the one that was in my dream. What I felt for her in the dreamworld is the same as what am feeling every time I saw her, every time I have the opportunity for some quick and small talks. Each and every day, I am most looking forward to seeing her or just walking side by side. In a surreal turn of events, I managed to find out a couple of things about her including her name (her real name). My only wish now is that I can see her and talk to her on a continuous basis.

Daisuki da yo faceless femme!!!!!

I long for the day that I can call you mine!!!

the ordeal!! the ordeal!!!

I went to the dentist today for a new set of dentures as the one am wearing is now crappy. This is the second time that I went to a dentist and the first one went really, really well but for some reason, today’s visit was….. different. As the dentist called my name, I went in and sat on his dentist-ish chair. We were chattin and from my observation, this is his way to make the victims… eerrr patients feel at ease. I’ve no problem at all since this is my second session and we started the “tweaking process”. He pulled out my false teeth, a little touch here and there and voila! Afterwards he told me that he needs to clean and “restructure” the rest of my teeth needing some anesthesia to make them feel numb. Upon knowing this, I almost literally fainted! The dentist told me that I look like sh*t, like a half-dead something. I looked pale, like my blood was sucked out by a vampire. To put it simply – I did look like sh*t. after a couple of minutes or so, we resume the “massacre” but he told me that we’ll just skip the anesthesia part and just rake my teeth out. And so it was done – at one corner, a set of life-reducing and pain-inflicting dentist-ish tools and on the other side was a helpless and lifeless sets of teeth. The ordeal wasn’t so bad for I have a high threshold for pain. The “operation” went for more than 60 minutes and pppoooofff!! We are done! I still have to go back this coming Thursday for my new set of dentures to be put on m rotten mouth!

Note: am only doing this so I can have my dentures fixed for free! Yep! Accenture will pay for my brand spankin new dentures!

a visit – the second coming

Last night, I dreamt about this very mysterious girl whom I love so much (well… am assuming based on my dream). This is the second time that she visited me and the feeling just keeps on getting bigger and bigger. To my surprise, this girl was not the jennesis nor the photographer and not even the sampaguita. I don’t remember anything about her other that she’s shorter than me (in terms of height) thus I’ll be quoting her in this post as the faceless femme.

I had the most wonderful dream and it didn’t bother me if I never woke up again. It’s kinda hard to explain how I felt and what am feeling right now. After a long while, the faceless femme let me felt how good it is to be embraced by someone. To know that someone’s always there for you. Someone that made you feel that you are significant, that you are loved. The dream that I had lasted for only a couple of hours (roughly 3 hours to be more precise) and this might sound as a cliché but those 3 hours felt like eternity. Never did I think of waking up and leaving her… I soooooo wanna meet this faceless femme here in the 3d world but until then, I can only wait in the dreamland until we finally meet again and finally know her name and who she really is…

Aaaahhhhhhhh!!! My mind is going crazy right now!!! Am looking forward meeting you again tonight my faceless femme.

meeting with the photographer

last Sunday, the photographer and I finally see eye to eye. But before that, let us trace back the things that led to a series of unfortunate events.

Before I leave the office each and everyday, I make it a point to call her and talk to her since am so bored here. The last time we talked, she asked me to accompany her to this church thing entitled PREX. It’s basically a whole day event worth of talking to the pastor and reflecting. Eh?!?! I know that you must be laughing your assess off right now. How can a self-proclaimed devil go to such gathering?! I dunno if she just don’t get it or I dunno… she was very persistent in pursuing me but never did I fold until she finally gave up. I thought that my ordeal was over until she uttered the words “come to church with me this sunday”. I was like “wat da pak!?”. Are you sh**tin me?! We had a long conversation bout this one and I finally told her that I’ll think about it.

I dunno what happen last Saturday that led to me saying “yes! I will see you on Sunday”. Probably I was thinking that this is the moment of truth (and probably since I’ve nothing better to do)! The hour neared on Sunday and I’ve doubts whether to go or not but I eventually did. She saw me holding my camera (as usual) and I was in my snobbish-don’t-get-close-to-me attitude (wearing my poker face). We entered the church and then we left after the mass. I was like “thank god the mass was over”.

Should she asked again to go to church next time, ill stand firm on my answer… whatever it will be T__T.