CON REVIEW: Wargods Expo Gaming Expo 1.5 [7-12-2015]

OVERVIEW OF THE CON

Wargods Gaming Expo is the conventional brainchild of the Wargods Gaming Arena Cafe that aims to showcase the talents of different gamers with the support for the otaku world via the cosplay contest. The real essence of this con was one should be bold and brave like a Wargod/Wargoddess. It is divided into various contests including the Gamers' Got Talent and the abovementioned one (individual and group). The tickets meanwhile has various prizes range from PHP 150 to PHP 500 depending on what tier style that they choose from and all of these come with a free baller bracelet and some freebies.

Last July 12, 2015* (8 days before the splashing birthday of Minami "Cure Mermaid" Kaido from Go! Princess Pretty Cure), the event was held at Playland inside Fisher Mall in Quzeon Ave., Brgy. Sta. Cruz,  Quezon City. It's basically a few meters away from my home in Brgy. Paltok (aka the current All Pretty Cure Facebook Page main HQ) within the Frisco^ area of the abovementioned either by walk, blue trike (for the peeps surrounding Frisco), or take a jeep. It's also co-organized by the Otaku U Rule org of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila (the guys that brought us the Japanime Expo and the Invitational Open Photoshoot) which also the ones that provided marshals.

The event was hosted by Louise Betita and Koleen Mercado who're both cosplayers. Betita is an Imagineer at Cosplay Network Philippines while Mercado is part of Team M.A.R.C.H., the crew provided for the cosplay seminar at the start of WGX.

WHAT IS FISHER MALL'S PLAYLAND? (Credits to Deremoe)

STRUCTURE

Playland is a three-floor amusement area at the fourth level of the mall. At the ground and second levels are arcade games while the third level has a basketball court, an airsoft field, and a billiard hall. 

TYPE OF OPERATION AND ITS FLAWS

Playland’s operation is quite similar to that of Timezone where it uses cards and prepaid load to play games, but unlike its bigger counterpart, they use near-field communication (NFC) technology. If you want to play a game, tap the prepaid card into the reader and wait for a moment until the load gets credited into the machine. The card readers are connected to a local network, and the online system sets the price for each reader. The only downside of this system is the infrastructure of the network itself.

PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW FOR THE CON

As a congoer for almost seven years, it's a good and wise decision for the Wargods Team that they've gotta occupy the only nearest mall within the Frisco area although WGX 1.5 was also the 4th event overall that I've attended inside Fisher Mall. The event itself serves as my first big cosplay skit break as Yui Nanase, the current and youngest aide of a Pretty Cure team coming from the Blue Planet in the long-running Pretty Cure Series anime franchise.

Yui-Yui's most memorable moments from GPPC episode 11... minus the royal mascots Puff and Aroma (in live-action form) | © Aya Fujimiya

Before that grand royal entourage, I was put into a tough yet despair-like test because of the suspension of classes for three... No, four straight days due to typhoons Egay and Falcon that made my budget plans had been foiled up. Fortunately by the grace of G (God/Kami-sama) and with some random peeps who're lending up their bucks out for me on the event day, I was able to cover the event lately than the usual (because I was still then busy for the GPPC episode 24 coverage as well as taking up some updates for its upcoming movie this October). Anyways, the saying "better late than never" has proven even in WGX.

Speaking of the cosplay contest, I was one of the 49 contenders for the solo division. It was full of wild yet intense pressure with touches of nervousness, but everyone's keeping calm the situation (screw that Cure Twinkle reference!) in their own ways, especially the papapicture stuff and selfies from random people around the Playland root deck. I gave a Monster Energy Drink from Aya Fujimiya-niisan, who dresses as a ninja from the League of Legends game in which I was one of the few peeps from his side that recognize him (only the voice) before lending a parody endorsement pic.

Presenting, the new face of Monster Energy! (Note: This is only a parody ad pic.) | © Aya Fujimiya

The cosplayers (that includes myself) were carefully evaluated by Sir Christian Mack of arkadymac, Wargods ambassadress Mina Kim and an influential cosplay mate of mine that is kuya Lyron Aquino. In the end, only 1 winner from each category and a grab to take the overall big winner token in a surprise showdown.

Big winners:

• Best Chibi: Izaiah Buelos as Gundam Heavy Arms from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
• Best Male: Miko Enriquez as Razor the Lightning Revenant from DOTA 2
• Best Female: Snow Carranceja as White Walker from Game of Thrones
• Best Group: Dragon Ball Z Warriors as various characters of Naruto
• Overall: Nicki Roque as Korra from The Legend of Korra

Runners-up for the Solo Cosplay:

• RB Cheng as King Gojulas
• Nicki Roque as Korra from The Legend of Korra

So, I'll proceed to the wildest topic ever in the meantime! I ain't got the chance to taste the sweetness of Playland's arcade world because of the time lack, but what's crazily surprising for me was, yeah, being the only gal stood up for the Playpark Dance Contest. And since I was cosplaying as Yui-Yui (nicknamed by again, Cure Twinkle, herself. As in, Kirara Amanogawa.), I've already got the guts to do the challenge all by myself by doing the popular Nae Nae and Twerk like Miley dances in a not-so rated SSPG (Super Sadyang Pinilit at Ginagaya) showdown with screams and cheers from the audience. Anyways, here's the video courtesy of Deremoe!

In the end, that damned guy dressing as Hentai Kamen in long white ordination dress named Jego Daniel emerged as the winner of the said contest with a PHP 2,000 cash, a plaque and a loot bag courtesy of Thermaltake, one of the sponsors for this WGX iteration. However, the most braved one for being a Wargoddess (or in Cure Series terms, being a Pretty Cure heroine, although Yui-Yui is only a helper to the Princess Pretty Cures and literally has no powers) in this dance showdown was no less than myself with PHP 1,000 cash!

"This is MA STAGE!!!" (Not to be confused with Kamen Rider Gaim) | © Aya Fujimiya

And so, Hentai Kamen in priest clothing presents his tokens | © Playland Fisher Mall

After that, a too amazing performance from Jammy Reyes who sang the official Wargods theme song, "Mandirigma," followed by DJ Shin Boo as he introduced the three lovely ambassadresses of Wargods with giving freebies to the lucky audience.

Back to cosplay contest, I was approached and talked to a relative of one of the cosplayers who has been experience some technical flaws for her skit. And as the admin of a Pretty Cure-oriented social media page (and the representative of Prince Kanata of the Hope Kingdom) who's already experience some inconsistencies in various cons and events, specifically regarding the cosplay no sekai, I consulted the mom that something was terribly wrong with the chosen BGM itself yet I told her that maybe because of the USB which was suppose to inserted and already stored in the sound system hours before the proper. Fortunately, one of the sound technicians fixed the problem... At least.

She told me that it was her daughter's first time to join the cosplay contest, in which gives a huge nod, and also reminded that cosplayers should just wanna have fun even in competitions, which is very true. That thing also encouraged and inspired me as a cosplayer to give my all and win the audience's hearts no matter what.

The event wraps around 9 pm to the fact that WGX was totally a huge success and (in the style of Cure Flora) suteki sugiru (too amazing), giving what the audience are expecting and deserving in this awesome yet different con unlike any other, though again has a few flaws! Therefore based on my researches that the team will continue doing a series of events in the near future, and from what I've read from some sources that they're gonna plan to have another event this September (for as long as it won't bumped the upcoming Asian Pop Comic Con at the Manila World Trade Center and the Best of Anime at the SMX Convention Center, which are both in Pasay City). 

And to end this heck long review on WGX, here's our resourcing Yui-Yui doing the two splendid poses of her Cure partners!

"The dream entrapped in a frozen cage, I shall reclaim you now! Do prepare yourself?/I hope you decide!" | © Ryan Brosas Photography

"Open! The door of dreams!" | © Tom Huelva

* - coincides with the Go! Princess Pretty Cure episode 23 airing day.
^ - nickname for San Francisco Del Monte.