This blog post is soooooo long overdue but I needed some time to gather all my thoughts and feels to sit down and write about the magical experience I had in Singapore. I don't think that my writing will ever give justice to the beyond amazing experience I had having the opportunity to be part of a most fantastic event, surrounded by such talented, welcoming and sweet people. I have never received so much love from a community of wonderful strangers before and I would never have traded it for anything else in the world. I am beyond grateful and happy to share my magical time in Singapore with you.
It all started when I was chosen as a winner of the migme and Cosfest Asia online Cosplay Photo Competition. I did not expect to win whatsoever but I am so glad that I was able to be part of this and fixed all necessary travel documents in time. It wasn't my first time traveling out of the country alone, but it was my first time ever traveling for cosplay! It was such a new experience and I was so blessed to be given this opportunity and hope that I can do this again in the near future. However, I was very new to traveling with costumes and with my line up being Elsa and my Vaporeon Gijinka - I had some trouble transporting my armour. My mom had to make me a custom box that would fit my Battle Canon and armour pieces. It was really large but incredibly light, I got so many weird looks in the airport: such a little girl with such a gigantic, suspicious box...... but it everything went well and I was off to Singapore!! hehe
I had a super comfortable flight and no one sat next to me so I gave it to Sischu, my partner in crime huehuehue. I was able to cuddle with her and stretch my legs and get a good sleep. Except, my flight got really delayed which really sucked because I apparently missed the migme party at the migme headquarters huhuhuhu So so sad.... but it's okay, when I arrived, I was able to meet Bummy (Vietnam) and Yuuki (Indonesia) - the wonderful people whom I spent this trip with, since they won the competition too!! Liui, the celebrity guest for this year's event, was there too and after a quick dinner together we had a small pajama party at Bummy's room hehehe. I knew that I had met people who have quickly become great friends! We're very close and miss each other all the time huhuhu
However... the next day marked the first day of the event: Christmas Cosfest Asia 2014!!!
I was honestly soooo nervous, it was my very first time being a guest at the event, cosplaying in another country and going on stage for an interview. I was shaking!! But I was also very excited and we woke up and quickly got ready after some breakfast together. Here's some photos of us getting ready and traveling to the convention area!
Once we arrived in the event area, we were brought straight to the backstage. I was able to have a glimpse at some of the people attending the event - everyone looked absolutely spectacular! The Singapore Cosplay Community truly blew me away. I got very excited to meet them, but was also terribly shy... waiting backstage with everyone and more people from migme really helped ease my nerves. We took plenty selfies and goofed around a lot heheh. I met some more amazing people from the team and they were really encouraging. We also had lunch backstage - I will never forget the chicken rice we ate. I miss it so much!! But before going on stage, I was sooo nervous - Bummy and I were screaming together and shaking. Yuuki was very calm... which was good because she went out first! Hehe, I hope that I did well in my interview. Looking at the Singapore Cosplay Community made me feel so welcome though, so once I got on stage I felt very comfortable.
Afterwards, we were allowed to go around and meet everyone and it was the most heartwarming experience. Meeting the wonderful and talented people of the Singapore Cosplay Community really made my heart sparkle! Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I felt so loved by people I had only met and I miss everyone so much already. I can't even fathom on how blessed I was to meet the people I did during the event. I felt like a real Queen being treated so nicely. It was the best environment I had ever been in, cosplay-wise. We got to chat a lot and have lots of fun together, even playing games with everyone!
I was also able to have my photos taken by the talented photographers of Singapore, including Yasu Goh Photography, Shutter_Fingers Photography and Vaxzone !
We had a wonderful dinner after the event, all together as a team and then we went back to our hotel and I can't seem to find the photos but we washed up and got into our jammies then went around again after, actually. To a convenience store to grab some ice cream. We walked so far.... hahaha! We also ended up sleeping all together in our room. We pressed all the beds together at the side and had our own sleepover! Hehe. Sischu was very happy to meet everyone else, except I don't think the others were so happy to meet Sischu... She had gotten the name of "CreepyChu" hehehehe
The next morning, we were all very tired and sleepy but we needed a lot of time to get ready!! We were all wearing larger costumes, especially Yuuki and I who had some armour going on. We actually have a ton of silly photographs and videos from this morning but maybe I'll save that for next time. We were derping around so much since we were all sooooo sleepy! But once we got to the event, it was all smiles and energy again!
During the second day's event, the game we had was suuuuuper fun! It was a race or relay type of game and we got to pick our teams. I didn't win, but I was so proud of my water team!! Being Vaporeon, I think it was very fitting for me to pick my Free! team mates huehuehue (also because Free! gives me so much life omg wahhhh)
Wrapping up the day was soooo heartbreaking. I did not want to say goodbye to the incredible people I met and shared so many fond memories with at this convention, but we were able to take a lot of photographs together that I hold so close to my heart! It was incredibly sweet of them to send me some presents during the second day that I all kept (except for the candy, that I obviously devoured hehehe). I miss them so much as I write this down, I really hope that we can meet each other again soon! I really have no words for how special this convention was for me. It is one that I hope to visit or perhaps be part of again because I will never forget the experiences and relationships I've built during the Christmas Cosfest Asia 2014. The community was composed of such incredible, welcoming, sweet and friendly people who radiated with the love and respect for cosplaying. They have all truly inspired me to continue doing what I love as they do as well.
After the amazing event, which again was so heartbreaking to leave and realise it was over, we stayed up almost all night together and bonded and chatted since this was basically the last time we would be together as group - at least, in a long time. We went to convenience stores at 2am in our pyjamas, chatted nonstop and enjoyed so much company.
After almost no hours of sleep, we went for a short time of shopping. I wanted to get some stuff for my family and boyfriend from the trip. It was the last hoorah for our group to spend time together an although it wasn't too much time, we had a lot of fun going about as a group. Shoutout to Liui for being our guardian, we would have gotten so lost and distracted (especially me omg). He also took us to the legendary Garena Stadium! It felt so cool to sit in the seats and be part of this environment. I think we could have kicked real digital butt as a group together hehehe
Sadly, right after the short shopping trip, it was time for all of us to say goodbye to each other and part our ways. It was really sad, I cried for sure, but I knew we would all keep in touch. It was just incredibly heart breaking and I won't ever forget Yuuki and Bummy and the crazy family we formed together with Liui. Liui was our papa who took care of us very well, then Yuuki was our momma who put us in the right place and made sure we behaved while Bummy and I were the crazy twins who were laughing way too much and always doing something crazy. I love these guys soooo much!!
The last surprise we had, that really made me smile from ear to ear was when Ryuto and Miki surprised us at the airport! They gave us all art pieces, and that made my heart flutter because I had never received art of myself before and this was so overwhelming. As well as the fact that they went out of their way to send us off at the airport. They were with us all the way until we were off to our waiting gates. I miss you both so much and you both have special places in my heart. I can't even fathom on how thankful I am to meet you guys. Love you both so much!! I really hope we can meet again soon!!
I went back to the Philippines with a heavy heart - one: because I was so sad to leave such an amazing place with incredible people but more so: because my heart was filled with so much love, sparkles and happiness after this trip. I was truly fortunate to be part of this event - thank you so much migme and Cosfest Asia for allowing me to be part of this. This has truly changed my life and I there is no words to describe just how special this was for me. And for the millionth time, thank you so so much Singapore for welcoming me with open arms despite how awkward and derpy I can be. I really hope that I can go back soon and experience something like this all over again.
TRULY ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE YAAAAAS
