The Lily Cat

Event Report – Otakufest 2020 CEBU Day 1

Otakufest 2020 Stage featuring The Lily Cat logo on the LED

Otakufest is one of Cebu City’s popular anime, cosplay, and hobby conventions. It is also the first highlight event to kickstart the various upcoming cosplay and anime events in the city.

The popularity of Otakufest has grown over the years. Now on its 13^th year, cosplayers and attendees coming from different parts of the country travel to the Queen City of the South just to attend the weekend. I am one of those people and I have to say, day one of Otakufest was awesome!

The venue for this year’s Otakufest is still the same as last year, which is at SM Seaside Cebu. The final venue was announced just a few days before the convention weekend due to some factors as mentioned in their FAQ here. Regardless, the organizers have Otakufest still put a great show offering some cool mini-events and contest that everyone can enjoy.

After realizing it, this is the first cosplay convention that I have attended this year and indeed it was a good kickoff.

While going through the entrance area of the official event venue (which is the Maze garden), me and my fellow media partner Gary Montejo first went to another side of the mall to cover the meet and greet of International guest cosplayers DD Tenka and Hikarin. As per instruction by the Otakufest organizers, we were not allowed to take videos of the Q and A portion. However, we took pics of how it went. Prints and merch of the guests were also available on sale. Those who got the meet-and-greet package will be able to get their prints signed and half a photo-op. This is also the time when I have finally met with Jay Agonoy of keepsakes. Almost for the rest of the day, I tagged along with both Gary and Jay taking pictures of what is happening on the epic first day. Here are some of my favorite photos.

The rest of the day I have met up and passed by some known cosplayers like GICOF 2019 winner Sergio Sta. Ana, saw the WCS PH 2019 Reps Team Class S, WCS PH 2017 Rep Pirate Ellie, Sean Price, and King Rusydi (who had cosplay crafting workshop). I had a roundtable podcast discussion with Jay and Max of UNITY Productions on the discussion of an Esports Curriculum in the Philippines. And yes, I will not forget meeting again idol group PASTEL MIX. I bought their awesome lightstick!

I ended my day with the team eating at Chowking. Coincidently, we sat on the same area in which we had our first hangout together in Otakufest 2019.

There is still more stuff to share but I would like to let people know that it was all positive. Otakufest 2020 Day 1 was awesome and I am looking forward to what’s going to happen on Day 2 as the Central Visayas Qualifiers of the World Cosplay Summit Philippines will be held.

Congratulations to Otakufest and let’s keep the fun going on Day 2!

The Lily Cat is one of the official Media Partners of Otakufest 2020.

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Cosplay, Games, and Fun are Happening at Otakufest 2020 in Cebu!

The first quarter of anime events in Cebu City will officially start this weekend with the most popular and long-running anime, cosplay, and hobby convention Otakufest! The said event will be happening on February 22 and 23, 2020 at SM Seaside, Cebu City. This is the 13th season and one of Cebu City’s longest-running otaku conventions. The theme for this convention is Studio Ghibli.

This year’s Otakufest will be one awesome weekend for anime fans, cosplayers, and hobbyists alike as a lot of events, programs, workshops, and competitions await everyone who will be joining in the fun. National and International cosplay guests like Hikarin, Pirate Ellie (WCS PH 2017 Representative) , Ae Ri Cosplay, DD Tenka, Sean Price, and King Rusydi will also be in the event and looking forward to meet their fans. Aside from our cosplay guests, awesome groups will also be present this year to perform like Juan Paasa (Summoning Eru) and idol group PASTEL MIX.

Otakufest will also be the venue for the highly-anticipated Central Visayas Qualifiers of the World Cosplay Summit Philippines. The winner of this qualifier will compete in the World Cosplay Summit Philippines Grand Finals which will be announced soon.

A complete list of workshops, mini-events, and competitions can be found in the Otakufest official Facebook Page. You may also check the page for their FAQ and more information.

About Otakufest

Photo taken during Otakufest 2019. Photo by The Lily Cat

Otakufest, formally UP Otakufest, was first conceptualized in 2007 as a simple dream to organize an annual event for anime fans and cosplayers. In 2017, it had a record of more than 5,000 attendees and is considered as one of the most highly anticipated anime and hobby conventions in Cebu City.

See you all in Otakufest Cebu 2020 at SM Seaside! It’s going another awesome weekend of awesome fun!

The Lily Cat is an official Media Partner of Otakufest 2020.

Otakufest 2019 [Cebu] – Day 2 Report

After almost a week of being sick, I’m finally back again with a summary of the updates from last week’s epic Otakufest 2019 in Cebu City.

As a first-timer in the convention, it was indeed a worth it weekend to go especially if you are from Cebu. Same as Day 1, various booths were selling a lot of stuff and the artist alley was also awesome as well!

Now on to the primary highlights. The second day of Otakufest was also the day of the grand finals of Pop Culture Hiroshima – Philippines and the World Cosplay Summit Philippines – Cebu Qualifiers. Team Weapon and Mask Destruction bagged the first place in Pop Culture Hiroshima – Philippines with their very nostalgic skit from the anime DNAngel.

Team Class S, who were World Cosplay Summit – Philippines grand finalists last year, won this year’s World Cosplay Summit Philippines – Cebu Qualifiers and is officially Cebu’s representative for the upcoming grand finals which will be announced soon.

We wish you best of luck to the chosen teams and congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Otakufest. It was definitely the convention to kickstart the year filled with otaku and cosplay events in Cebu.

About the Event

Otakufest, formally UP Otakufest, was first conceptualized in 2007 as a simple dream to organize an annual event for anime fans and cosplayers. In 2017, it had a record of more than 5,000 attendees and is considered as one of the most highly anticipated anime and hobby conventions in Cebu City.

Stay tuned to more features related to Otakufest and my trip to Cebu only here in The Lily Cat!

The Lily Cat is one of the official media partners of Otakufest 2019.

Otakufest 2019 [Cebu] – Day 1 Event Report

It was quite a windy day on Saturday but Otakufest 2019 Day 1 was really awesome as everyone had a great time.

Held at the maze garden of SM Seaside Cebu, you will be welcomed with hundreds of attendees as they showed up in their awesome costumes, a variety of booths where you splurge your money on cool anime items, and be amazed with the various art prints on sale in the artist alley. It was also one cool day to catch up with friends (or meet new ones)!

The main stage in the morning and afternoon had performers singing to some of the classic and popular Japanese songs from well-known anime series like Naruto and My Hero Academia. People got sing along with Pizzicato Five’s hit song Sweet Soul Revue. There was even a band that performed songs from Makoto Shinkai’s your name and the crowd went wild. A Saberstrum tournament also happened in the afternoon which was then followed by the Asian Pop Dance competition that was held in the evening.

Two main competitions will be happening on the second of Otakufest: Pop Culture Hiroshima (in which the qualifiers and grand finals will be held) and the World Cosplay Summit Philippines-Cebu Qualifiers.

If you really want to see all the action, be sure to get your tickets to Otakufest today and experience great fun here in one of Cebu’s most popular anime and cosplay conventions.

Full post and recent updates on Otakufest can be found on their official Facebook page. You may also check The Lily Cat official Facebook page for updates on Otakufest as well.

About the Event

The Lily Cat is one of the official media partners of Otakufest 2019.

Fun and Excitement Await at Otakufest 2019 in Cebu City!

This year’s Otakufest 2019 in Cebu City is going to be an epic one as various competitions, performances, merchandise, and fun await you in the weekend-long event that will happen on February 23 and 24, 2019 at SM Seaside City Cebu Maze Garden.

Otakufest 2019 Poster | From Otakufest FB Page

Cosplayers can compete in the two main competitions: The World Cosplay Summit-Cebu Qualifiers, and Pop Culture Hiroshima where winners have the chance to represent the Philippines in the respective events’ grand finals that will be held in Japan. International cosplayer Reika and WCS 2018 Philippine Representatives Team SeKai (composed of Sergio Sta. Ana and Kai Raito) will be this year’s guests. Other competitions and activities this year include a Japanese singing competition, Saberstrum Competition, Music, Artists Alley, Merchandise, and so much more.

Tickets for Otakufest 2019 are at 150php per day. More information can be found on their Facebook page and you may visit their official website. It is an event in Cebu City that you don’t want to miss out!

Source: Otakufest (Facebook)

The Lily Cat is one of the official media partners of Otakufest 2019.