2 Pinoys represent country in Japan cosplay summit

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino cosplayers John Vincent Estapon and Erika Jean Garbin will be joining the World Cosplay Summit to be held in Nagoya, Japan from August 3 to 4.

Estapon and Garbin will be sent to Japan via anime channel Hero TV this Thursday, August 1.

The World Cosplay Summit, an annual international cosplay event, is the Mecca of cosplayers in the world. The event started out with four participants in 2001. This year, 23 countries will join the event.

Cosplay is short for costumes play, where participants wear costumes to represent a character from cartoons, movies, or works of fiction.

This is the first time the Philippines will participate in this event.

Twenty-three-year-old cosplayer Garbin is excited to represent the Philippines in the world stage.

 â€œNapakalaking honor na nabigay sa akin ang opportunity na ito,” Garbin said in an interview with press days before they leave for Japan.

Garbin will go to the event donning a Freya (from the anime Zangeri No Reginlein) costume.

The Philippines will join the summit as an observer, along with Hong Kong and Taiwan. This means, Garbin explained, that the Pinoy representatives will not be able to compete for the event’s Grand Champion Prize.

Estapon's and Garbin’s performances will determine whether the country will be allowed to permanently join and compete next year.

““At the same time, malaking responsibility din kasi ito yung unang impression nila sa cosplayers from the Philippines so I really need to step up my game. Gusto ko ipakita yung creativity and craftsmanship ng Filipino female cosplayers,” Garbin said.