Anime on ice

At first glance, it looked like the SM Megamall Ice Skating Rink was transformed into an exciting anime character gathering.

After all, more than fifty members of the Anime Club Cosplayer’s World, an anime community for people in costumes came to have fun on the ice dressed as their favorite characters.

Inspired by the popular Japanese must-see animated features for teens and kids, skaters eagerly dressed the part from Anime on Ice’s costume contest. Some dressed as heroes and heroines, others as villains, but all cosplayers made sure their costumes made them look just like their animated counterparts.

The judges had a difficult time deciding who they would chose as the winners. The judges included Anime Club chat moderator Joel Enrique, Questor Magazine editor in chief Bambi Eloriaga, Anime Club Webmaster Richard Ibanez, and OVA ML president Paul Mendoza.

As the activity drew to an end, Noel Catilo as Hanya of Samurai X won the first prize, while Hazel Velas as Hide from X-Japan, and Chanty Wong as Jessica from Lunar, placed second and third, respectively. They won prizes from Culture Crash, magazines from Questor and prepaid cards from I-Web.

Other contestants who also impressed the audience with their costumes included John Galica as Shin Geta Robo of Super Robot Wars; Scott Gomiuco as Blackmaze of Final Fantasy Tactics; Erin as Rinoa Heartily of Final Fantasy and Ricky as Gienjo Sanzo of Glensomaden Geiyuki.

Skaters who had a lot of fun playing their favorite characters included Krizelle Uychinco as Alita of Battle Angel Alita; Carl Patrck Eustaquio as Chichiri of Fushuyugi Yuki; Richelle Tamayo as Fuu Housi of Magic Night Rayaearth; and Fauz as Benomerwulf from Assasin.