The Philippine Online Chronicles

One of the hallmarks of a comic, science fiction or anime convention is the sudden increase in the population of winged warriors, un-stealthy ninjas, and full heads of spiky hair. The phenomenon is called Cosplay (short for “costume play”), and while it has existed in the Philippines in one form or another since the nineties (no, Halloween does not count), the rising popularity of anime caused a similar explosion in the popularity of the hobby (which the Japanese take to another level entirely), in large part due to the fact that anime and manga conventions were ideal venues to engage in Cosplay. With most cosplayers changing their costumes from convention to convention however, many pinnacles of the art vanish from the public eye after their first and only appearance, existing only in pictures of the event. Now that need no longer be the case.

On January 8, 2010, Friday, the nation’s first Cosplay Museum will open along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City. A joint project of Cosplay.ph and Diliman Preparatory School, the Cosplay Museum will, according to a post at Cosplay.ph, serve as “an educational beacon to enlighten the general public about Cosplay, its roots and historical landmarks in the Philippines and to educate the youth on the various aspects of Cosplay. The museum is also a venue for allowing Cosplayers to congregate and have their own small activities with the frequency that is impossible in most large-scale conventions.” The Cosplay Museum “will feature historical cosplay costumes, a cosplay historical gallery and an extensive gallery from premier cosplay photographers.”

According to the site, the ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. but cosplayers and other visitors are welcome to arrive earlier. The Cosplay Museum is housed in a white building next to Diliman Prepatory School—you can also check this map from Cosplay.ph for a more detailed guide to the venue.

(Image source: Paolo Chikiamco, photo of the "History of Cosplay" exhibit at the 2009 Manila International Bookfair)