Myrtle Sarrosa: ‘Cosplay is different from wearing a costume’

MANILA, Philippines- Cosplayers gear up as the fifth year of the “Hero Face Off” is here.

Cosplayers get to show  their passion and creativity as they portray their favorite anime characters in “hero Face Off 2014,” which will be held on September 21 at the Best of Anime event at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“PBB Teens” former housemate and cosplayer Myrtle Sarrosa will be one of the judges for this year’s competition.

Myrtle  said  cosplaying  is different from simply wearing a costume.

“The difference is learning the character by heart,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s different, e, kasi dapat alamin mo paano gumalaw ‘yong character mo, dapat alam mo how he reacts to certain things, at saka dapat alam mo rin kung paano siya ike-carry onstage.

There will be three categories for this year’s competition: The Kids Squad, League of Heroes, and Face Off category.

The participants for the Hero Face Off 2014 will be judged based on the following criteria: 40 percent costume, 40 percent performance, and 20 percent fidelity to the original character.

Asked which among the criteria has the biggest impact, Myrtle believes that it is the performance. “Kasi iba ‘yong mag-prepare ka ng mga skit mo, kasi it takes time and it takes effort. It really helps to study the character.”

She adds that for those who plan to join the competition, their costumes should be hand-made to add a little challenge to the cosplayers.

For the Kids League category, the prizes are P15,000 for the winner and P5,000 consolation prize for 1st runner-up; League of Heroes winner takes home P20,000 and 1st runner-up takes home P10,000; lastly, there will be two winners for the Face Off category and will be flying to Singapore to join a competition.

So for those who would like to try cosplay for the first time, Myrtle tells them that “at first mahihiya ka talaga kasi cosplaying is really something different, it’s really something new.

“So when you cosplay, you really should have the confidence, kasi kailangan mo ng lakas ng loob to show yourself to a lot of people na different ka, na kakaiba ka.”