MorningMiracle

Hello everyone!

Recently, I made a WorldCosplay.net account. Someone over at Facebook told me about it and it seems to be a pretty cool site so far!

Here's my account in particular: Monique Dimanlig

I think I'll be uploading more cosplay photos and things here, but of course I won't be neglecting my Dev. XD I've got a couple of new kimono in the works, one of them being a character which I will debut at the Legend of the Five Rings tournament (Crane Clan, woohoo! ). Thank you for all your support so far!


Also...

I will be updating Dalton soon. I am grateful for everyone who continues to support me in this area, but most of all, I want to thank my family for what they have done for me for the past five months. The support, the love they have given to me is priceless. I feel blessed to have such a loving and supportive family.


See you soon!


,
Monique

Hi everyone!

Wow, it's been a while! Before I create my massive update, won't you please sign-up to Animax-Asia.com and leave me a five-star vote on my entry? animax-asia.com/ugc/image/hong…

The winner will get a trip to Hong Kong~! Never been overseas before. Won't you please vote for me and help me spread this around?

LOVE YOU GUYS!

I got lots to write about next entry!

Hi everyone! I went to two events in one day last Saturday. I went to the Grand Finals of the J-Pop Anime Singing Competition at SM North sponsored by the Japanese Embassy, and then went to pose for the Saturday Group of Artists at Shangri-La Mall.

The J-Pop Anime Singing Competition Grand Finals

I tried to channel a hime yesterday in my costume, and right after getting ready, mom and I romped off to SM North Edsa to find the Finals of the J-Pop Singing. We got a bit lost--I was first told it was going to be held at the Sky Garden, but then was told that it was at the Annex. So we went all the way up to the Annex and we were guided by the sound of J-Pop blasting from the band that was already performing.

I ran into Katsu, one of my fellow Hinotori girls, who was in the process of dressing. Kuya Archie was also there and I greeted him, standing with him to watch for a bit before I wandered off to find some people. But because I got there late, I didn't get the chance to meet the people from the Embassy sponsoring the event. I also didn't get to see Miss Rochelle (www.magnetic-rose.net) who I was hoping to greet. I was, however, able to catch the performance of ANIBEAT, one of the members being Romi, a girl I cosplayed with during the Prince of Persia premiere night. They won second place overall and I'm so proud of them. Congratulations, girls!


Art at the Shang: The Saturday Group of Artists Exhibit

The Saturday Group of Artists is the Philippines' premier art group, with (according to a source I read about) seven national artists in their roster. They are considered our art elite, and the fact that I was invited to pose for them is an honor in itself. My mom's friend, Tita Anna, had invited me to pose for them and bring along another cosplayer or two. Due to some complications, had to bow out, and so did . Fortunately, rose to the occasion and the two of us trooped to Shangri-La's atrium to the event.

In the middle of the exhibit, the chairs were already set up and since I was already dressed (Kia went off to fight the endless line in the ladies room so she could change), Ms Anna put me in the center first, under the glare of a powerful light, to pose for the artists. They had out their canvases and easels and soft pastels (the day's medium) and began to draw me. Kia and I held our poses for approximately 3 hours or so (but with some breaks) as the artists created their pieces. My mom, who was watching them work, was visibly bubbling with excitement as she watched them, and even took me aside during one of the breaks to take a look.

All of them were just too amazing for words. I mean to even think that these awesome artists were even sketching us was beyond comprehension. And to add to the wonder of the day, they actually handed me their artworks of me! MG: I have quite a few now in my possession, quite a staggering collection of art from these great artists, and I look forward to buying frames and putting them around our house.

It's truly a great honor and I'd like to than Ms Anna and the Saturday Group of Artists for giving me and Kia this wonderful experience and these fabulous works of art.

Edit: The wonderful JM Cruz has posted photos of the event! See me trying to keep my balance and some of the works of art here: tinyurl.com/2fdnu2t


See you next update!

Hi everyone! ^^ I'm alive! It's been a while since I last updates, and quite a few things happened. I'll do my best to recount them all here.

Warning: Long post.

Adventures in Toycon 2010

As I said in my previous post, I was very fortunate enough to be part of the Otacool 2 book signing at the Maxicollector Booth this Toycon. It was my very first time doing anything like that, and to say that I was bewildered is quite an understatement. and , the two new Ani-Mates of the Animax channel, handled it all pretty well. , who had flown in from Cebu with her family to be here, and I just took things as they came. And boy did they. There was a veritable wall of photographers and people that circled the entire Maxicollector booth during the signing (some people tell me that no one dared to go near the Maxicollector booth for a while because of the bedlam).

This went on for quite a few hours. During our break, yay! appeared, having flown in all the way from California for a visit! (We you, Jan! Come back soon, we miss you!!) Jan joined us in the madness at the Maxicollector's booth. When the book-signing finally ended, Jessica had to go home with her mom, and Alodia and Ashley had to go to the Animax booth. I am humbly grateful that Animax had named me a member of their Animax Youth Council, and since I was also required to go to the booth to report in as well as get an Animax shirt, I decided to go along with the two Ani-mates and Jan, who was also looking to seek shelter in that booth from the crowd.

It went wilder in the Animax booth, since there was no barricades. Another impromptu signing was held, with a line that stretched all the way to the end of the convention hall. To our utter surprise, people asked autographs from me and Jan too, and we were very grateful to them for even considering it.

Anyway, it was an incredibly long day. Much love to the for being our protectors during the two signing sessions, as well as taking lovely photos of the event. Thank you also for all the help, Toycon marshalls for trying to keep order amidst pandemonium! It must have been tiring... For a more elaborate account of what happene please see here: araboth.multiply.com/journal/i… and for photos of our dazzling day, please go here to 's facebook gallery: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid…

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Fulltime Moms

I appeared in QTV's show called FullTime Moms as they were doing a segment on cosplay, cosplayers and their parents, part of a theme that revolved around the new hobbies that people of my age were getting into here in the country. Joining us for that was Mr. Freddie Tan, owner of Neutral Grounds Philippines, a very famous trading card store with many branches all around Manila. He would be explaining why, compared to other more dangerous pursuits, playing Magic: The Gathering was harmless in comparison, and nothing parents should really worry about when their teenagers start getting hooked.

I got to explain what cosplay was all about and how I got started in it, and then my mom explained about what it's like from the parents' perspective. My mom had founded a facebook group called Philippine Cosplay Parents Association, which helps parents of cosplayers understand why their kids cosplay and why they're so obsessed about it. I feel very lucky to have such a supportive family. The entire taping was a lot of fun as I got to chat with Mr. Tan about the convention community in the country. He also gave me two cards! A Reya Dawnbringer and a Lotus Bloom.

The episode airs at July 15 at QTV.


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Neutral Grounds Philippines Magic: The Gathering 2011 Pre-Release

Last Saturday, three events happened at the same time: I Ai Anime convention in Megatrade Hall, E-Life Cosplay Genre Wars' Comic Book Category leg at Eton Cyberpod Corinthian, and Neutral Grounds' pre-release party for Magic: The Gathering 2011 also at Eton.

Since I'd already been to cosplay cons a lot, I wanted to go to Eton for the Neutral Grounds pre-launch party. Mainly, what happens at these pre-launches are that Magic players would get a sneak preview of the cards for next year. I must have arrived there only an hour after the event (and the location) actually opened, but there were literally hundreds of people already there lined up and registering to get cards. The long table nearby were also filling up rapidly with players ripping open their packs and looking through the cards, preparing to play.

I got to meet with Mr. Tan again and chatted with him about the Magic community in the country. I noticed that the crowd was predominantly male (according to Mr. Tan, 95% of them were male), but I did spot a few girls.

Right after this event, off I went for rehearsals for yet another event!


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PO5 Cosplay Catwalk for TV5

The gang was back together again for TV5's noontime variety show, PO5. A few journal entries back, I told you guys that our group had appeared for TV5 for their Grand Relaunch. This was sort of the same thing, except on a smaller stage and it would be live on air (meaning no mistakes, or national television would see us sprawing. ).

Rehearsals at Saturday with the airing on Sunday. The group was comprised of Alodia, me, Cykah, Ryan, his brother Jake, Mary Grace and Sir Guy (congratulations on winning E-Life Cosplay Genre Wars Comic Book category with your Mandarin Spawn~! ). We went to the rehearsals with little trouble and with a lot of good spirit. Every time the group of us got together we would just talk and banter endlessly. I love you guys. Our chatter went on all afternoon and into the evening when we devoured our dinners, catching up on things we have been doing. My brother was there too as an understudy for Sir Guy. This wasn't his usual thing, but I was glad he had a good time.

Sunday had us running to studio bright and early. We shared a dressing room with the powerful vocalists of Aegis, legendary singer Mr. Basil Valdez as well as other big names. They seemed to really like our costumes and would often ask what they were made of and how they were created. Backstage was packed with dozen of famous actors and actresses--and we got some photos with them.

To be honest, our performance went by really quickly. It was quick and painless. Mary Grace and I didn't show up onscreen so much, but our boys in armor really worked it! Yeah!


Anyway, to see a more elaborate telling of the last three events as well as a video of our TV5 performance courtesy of Pef Decena, please see here! araboth.multiply.com/journal/i…


And so that's it for my adventures for now! I'm so grateful that I even get to be in these things, and I continue to love the community~ Thank you so much for inspiring and supporting little old me in spite of my still lack of...muchness...

See you next update!