Promoting respect and consent in the cosplay community
“Cosplay is not consent.” The goal of the three-day 2024 Cosplay Mania held Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 at SMX Convention Center was to promote a culture of respect and consent within the community of cosplayers in the Philippines.
“I would like to emphasize cosplay as a wholesome hobby. What we want to do as an organization is promote it as a family-friendly activity,” said Pablo Bairan, cofounder of Cosplay PH, the largest cosplay convention and Japanese entertainment events organizer in the Philippines.
Bairan also talked about how the cosplay narrative in the country has taken on a more “adult-like” slant, which led them to start the movement. “This ‘Cosplay Is Not Consent’ campaign is something that we are actively promoting. We put up reminders and signages everywhere. The idea is, if you see cosplayers, ask for permission first before you take pictures with them. Don’t just suddenly hug them,” Bairan stressed.
“This means you’re showing respect. And it shouldn’t matter if they wear sexy clothes, they’re still people. They never asked you to try to grope them. They’re dressing up the way they do not for malicious reasons, but because they want to portray their characters accurately,” he added.
International cosplayers
The event featured international cosplayers like Taryn from Italy, Lea from Malaysia, Byoru from Vietnam and “Honkai: Star Rail” voice actor Su Ling Chan from Malaysia.
“I’m really in love with the Philippines. Being here for the first time is such a dream. The Filipino community is so sweet and welcoming. It feels as if I’m home,” said Taryn in an interview.
The venue was bursting at the seams, with cosplayers sporting costumes from various genres. Everyone—children, teenagers, adults, whole families—had smiles on their faces, eager to get a photo with people dressed as their favorite characters.
Displays of mutual respect between the cosplayers and their fans could be seen throughout the convention hall, with fans ensuring they weren’t causing any distress to those in cosplay.
The cosplayers themselves were very willing to have their photos taken, happily posing for everyone’s cameras, and some of them even offered details of their social media accounts so they could see their pictures with the fans.
Personal space
“It’s crucial that when we ask to take their photos, we aren’t ruining their convention experience. This is why, before anything, we have to make sure we don’t intrude on their personal space, and we ask for their permission before taking and posting any of the photos,” said Jose Villanueva, one of the photographers present in the venue.
Also an event highlight were the performances of artists behind anime titles like “Gundam,” “Vocaloid,” “Sword Art Online,” “Yu GI Oh,” “The Rising Shield Hero” and “Digimon” during the Japanese Anime Music concert.
Popular virtual YouTubers Vestia Zeta and Anya Melfissa from Hololive Indonesia and Hololive EN’s Octavio and Jurard T Rexford were also present at the event.
Local cosplay stars Liabear, Diane Sabandeja, Zackt, Roxanne Kho, Prince De Guzman, Jane Yu, Pomponmy and Katiecaky were also there to support the event.
Attendees from all around the globe flew in to participate and witness what the different booths, stations, stores and performances had to offer.
Cosplay PH will continue its goal of fostering a more wholesome environment in the cosplay community at “CosMeet: Verdant Story,” happening today and tomorrow at Cove Manila. It promises a game-themed adventure for attendees.
