Top entertainment brands turn to cosplay couple Awie and Prince de Guzman

Prince de Guzman as Thor Odinson and Awie de Guzman as The Mighty Thor (Jane Foster) from Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. Images from Awie de Guzman and Prince de Guzman.

Who knew that a couple’s love for dressing up as their favorite characters would make them the faces of marketing campaigns of pop culture brands?

Awie and Prince de Guzman, fiances in real life, have been the top of mind for a number of entertainment brands whenever they would need to tap cosplayers to bring to life their characters. Among these successful campaigns were Warner Bros.’ Shazam!, Netflix’s Stranger Things, The Witcher and Trese – the latter becoming a marketing hit during the pandemic in 2021.

“We went viral and made a lot of noise in the media during that time,” Awie recalls when she cosplayed the main character Alexandra Trese for Netflix. “I felt a lot of pressure before deciding to cosplay her because the komiks have been around for many years and the Trese community is very protective of their fandom! I read the komiks so I can properly portray Trese, and I’m happy that the creators noticed my work too.”

TOYCON PH 2022 – The Big Show Returns For A Grand Homecoming

For long-time TOYCON fans, it’s no secret that Voltes V holds a special place in this convention’s heart. This iconic robot has never missed a spot among the collage of colorful characters on our poster since the very start, and on special milestone years it has even become the central symbol of our show, with the huge Voltes V statue in 2016 when we first moved the convention to the SMX in Pasay, the fleet of Voltes V ships gracing our 2017 merchandise, and TOYCON’s launch of the Tamashii Nations Super Electromagnetic Machine VOLTES V, Bandai Spirits DLX Soul of Chogokin in 2020. 

It’s been too long since the community of pop culture fans and collectors have come together since the pandemic struck. For many, this long drought without any gathering to celebrate our common love for all things creative, innovative and collectible has gone on way too long. And so with the effects of CoVid winding down, we just cannot wait to see you all, our fans and loyal community, finally come home. 

MUSIC LYF: 12 Stone Records Welcomes Alodia Gosiengfiao

Music is about to get more exciting with the addition of Cosplay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao to the roster of talented 12 Stone Records artists.

Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao is the country’s most popular and influential cosplayer. Due to her huge following, she has been chosen to endorse for several beauty and tech brands both here and abroad. She’s also a model, an actress, and a singer. This beautiful young lady has been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and TV shows locally and abroad. She recently graced the cover of FHM Philippines, and was ranked as the 20th Sexiest Woman of the Philippines. She was named by UNO Magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in the country.

TOYCON 2014: The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention

The Philippine TOYCON: The Biggest Pop Culture Event in the Philippines celebrates its 13th year.

What's bigger than dinosaurs? Giant robots. What's bigger than giant robots? Godzilla. What's bigger than Godzilla? Freakin' outer space! Where a bunch of aliens are busy guarding the galaxy.

There's nothing that can compare with bigness. But sometimes, even the thought of "bigness" is an understatement when you find something that can contain all these things and add in a huge dose of fun and thrills. Prepare for the biggest one yet! It's time for TOYCON 2014!!

The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention, or TOYCON as it's more widely-known, is Asia's biggest and longest running convention for collectibles, toys, anime, comics, cosplay, gaming and anything and everything related to hobbies and collections. The convention has been ongoing since 2002 so it is now on its 13th year of thrilling fans and aficionados alike. It is, simply put, the biggest pop culture event in the country.

This year's TOYCON will highlight the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics caped Crusader, Batman with a huge Batman display area, a life size Batpod, a kids' activity area and a gallery of art and collectibles of the Dark Knight Detective.

Also catch the Samurai X fever as Warner Brothers previews the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film trilogy Parts II and III with a display of original costumes from the sensational Japanese hit movie.

Get ready to be blown into space with Marvel's latest epic movie, The Guardians of the Galaxy with awesome displays, sneak peeks at the movie's behind-the-scenes, special fan activities, and the Marvel roster of superstar artists.

The TOYCON also gives you the biggest gathering of toy collections with the following prominent toy exhibits -- The G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary exhibit, Philippine Lego users Group exhibit, the Coca-Cola Collectibles exhibit, One Sixth Republic and Pinoy Sixth Scale collectors exhibit and the awesome Toycon Gallery exhibit area which showcases the best of the local toy group community.

The TOYCON also features the biggest in Cosplay with the Philippine Finals of the World Cosplay Summit happening at the event and TOYCON's own Cosplay Universe unleashes a barrage of individual and group cosplayers led by Asia's Cosplay queen, Alodia Gosiengfiao.

Gaming takes center stage also at the TOYCON with the biggest game companies, like Level-Up, War Gaming, Cherry Credits and Uplink releasing their top games.

And off course, TOYCON would not be complete without the biggest exhibitor floor of all pop culture merchandise in terms of apparel, collectibles and memorabilia, graphic novels and comics, cosplay paraphernalia, and toys, toys, TOYS!

The Philippine TOYCON 2014 will be held on June 20-22, 2014 at the SM Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

This is co-presented by Collectibles Unlimited and the SM Megatrade Halls, and sponsored by Maxi Collector, Toy Kingdom, Toy Empire, Warner Brothers Pictures and Pacific Licensing. With special thanks to Big Boys Toy Store, Great Toys, Arigatoys, Authority Hoodie, Otaku Asia, War Gaming, Uplink, Level-Up, Cubizone, Canon, Level-Up, Cherry Credits, CIIT, Loctite, and Resorts World Manila. With media partners, ABS-CBN, Flip Geeks, Reimaru Files, WheninManila.com, Chalk Magazine, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and 99.5 PLAY FM. Also supported by Anime Alliance and World Cosplay Summit.

Tickets are now on sale at SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com)

For more information on schedule of activities and event details please visit:

www.toyconph.com

www.facebook.com/toyconph

13th Philippine TOYCON

June 20-21-22, 2014

Megatrade Halls 1-2-3, SM Megamall

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines

10am-9pm

Ticket price: PHP 130 per day

Buy your tickets in advance via SM Tickets.

visit: https://www.smtickets.com/event/details?event_id=2485

For press and media coverage

email us at toyconph@gmail.com

Myrtle's Cosplay Supporters Converge Like The Avengers!

Dressed  in their costumes, Myrtle’s fellow cosplayers, friends and fans seemed like the “Avengers” when they converged outside of the PBB House. They showed their support for the #3 most popular cosplayer in the country next to Alodia Gosengfiao and her sister Ashley. Myrtle’s fan page has reached over 200 thousand already just a week after entering the house. With placards that read “Let’s save our Cosplay Princess!”, they went on full force to campaign for their PBB favorite. For them, this young lady deserves to stay inside the house. “We love Myrtle! We watch PBB Teen Edition everyday because of her, ” said one of the cosplayers.

She comes from a good family in Iloilo and is currently an Accounting student at UP Visayas. Intelligent and fun-loving, she’s also a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) President  who can balance her academics and extra-curriculars quite well. According to her family and friends, Myrtle is a breath of fresh air - kind and sweet to everyone around her. Joining PBB was something her parents didn’t support at first. Being a responsible lady, her parents were convinced when their daughter promised them that she will not let anything get in the way of her studies. 

A Shining, shimmering Christmas at THE 6TH CHRISTMAS TOYFAIR and the 1st PHILIPPINE DIE-CAST AND CUSTOM CAR SHOW

Deck the halls with the most awesome array of toys, rare items and collectibles and get a peek at the world of collecting die-cast cars and vehicles, as Collectibles Unlimited, the SM Megatrade Halls and Die Cast Philippines (DCPH) brings you the 6^TH CHRISTMAS TOYFAIR and the 1^st PHILIPPINE DIE-CAST AND CUSTOM CAR SHOW.

The Toyfair features a huge exhibitors’ floor of around a hundred of the country’s top toy merchants selling the most sought-after toy lines from Hasbro, Mattel, Sideshow, Hot Toys, McFarlane and NECA, and pop-culture collectibles from movie, sci-fi and anime properties.  

The main event is highlighted by a Christmas toy drive for the benefit of cancer-stricken kids of the National Children’s Hospital.  There will also be a Christmas Cosplay Parade around the SM Megamall and in the event venue.  There will also be a collectibles auction and other segments featuring the country’s toy collecting clubs like Pinoy Toy Kolektor, Toy Soldier 1:18, Flip Geeks and more.

FASHIONISTA: Bea Binene In Her First Fashion Show

Bea Binene, one of GMA 7’s youngest teen star together with ABS-CBN’s Empress Schuck and Dino Imperial will join BUM apparel’s biggest fashion show called “REVEAL YOUR DARKSIDE” on November 25/Friday, 6pm at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

As BUM’s latest celebrity endorser, BEA will strut the runway wearing the latest Holiday Collection of BUM with “Cosplay” as theme of the show as culminating activity of BUM’s online Cosplay Contest launched last August 2011.

FASHIONISTA: Bum Holds Fashion Show With Cosplay as Theme

Local clothing brand BUM brings the Cosplay trend to the fore with a one-of-a-kind fashion show at the SM Mall of Asia. If you have a story to tell, don’t keep it to yourself. Flaunt and let the world know through fashion.

This has been the youth’s battle-cry these days. Not only are they daring, wearing their colors on their sleeves proudly, they are pushing the envelope when it comes to dressing up, as well.

Even the term “costume play” or “cosplay”, which is the act of dressing up as a fictional character inspired from an anime TV series, or a character they idolized, has found its way into the youth’s wardrobe. Cosplay is no longer a style but it has become a “trend” that is normally seen and worn on the streets.

FASHIONISTA: Bum makes the growing COSPLAY trend part of everyday fashion

Fashionistas all over the world are now wearing their true colors on their sleeves more prominently their moods. Fashion authorities in the country would tell you that the youth are taking trends out of the pages of magazines (and even comic books!) and into the streets.

Costume Play, or more popularly known as COSPLAY, for instance, is now a growing style trend in the Philippines. What used to be part of the Otaku culture (fans of Japanese comic books or manga), is becoming a common sight in everyday Pinoy fashion little by little.

SM Cyberzone TechnoLife Affair

Technology, Cosplay, Gadgets and all in between that is happening at the SM Megamall

Activity Center for the technolife affair. The three day event that features the latest

gadgets and technology. The event happened on March 24-26, 2011. The first two days

introduced the latest technology on day one and day two featured the experts in Yahoo and

Microsoft to harness the power of social networking.

The third day was the main event which features Cosplay acts and celebrities like sisters

Alodia and Ashley Goshiengfiao. Which drew a lot of attention from the mall goers. Alodia

also displayed some of her costumes that she wore and in which some won different awards.

It's my type of event since I do love blogging, technology and especially Cosplay.

  

Aside from cosplay and blogs, there was also a seminar for photography and making money

using the internet by Jomar Hillario. These gave beginners and ideas that they can use in

taking pictures and going online in the future.

I also passed the booths around the venue. One of them was for Microsoft which features

their windows 7 phones like HTC, and they also exhibited computers that uses the new

Internet Explorer 9. And the juicy part is after you try them you can get a prize on their

pachinko. I got a I love windows 7 pin! Something to add to my pin collection!

Azrael Coladila also gave a talk about blogging 101. He shared his experiences, how he

started and gave a lot of tips about blogging. Bloggers were also present to cover the

event. There is also a blogging contest after the talk and the winner can take home an

HTC phone! Ayeeeee!

To get to know about technology and upcoming event visit SM cyberzone's facebook page!

What a fun day to celebrate earth hour!

OH! So Many Thrills with Chowking Orange Chicken!

Oh!

(with a very surprised exclamation)

Things can happen unexpectedly and so fast that this is the only word that we could say. And this was my cry when I attended the event for Chowking's 25th anniversary at one of its branch in Bonifacio Global City. Its also the official launch of their newest product which is the Chowking Orange Chicken. This Oh-some and Oh-range-gy dish is endorsed by top actor Jericho Rosales. With the launch of the dish, which has a very appealing color and taste of the sweetness of oranges and the  juiciness of chicken that would make you dance.
Speaking of dance, the event was also filled with the party spirit since there is a dance craze that made all of the people dance, they called it the Chicken Dance. To the tune of Keysha's tictoc, a simple yet viral dance was introduced to the audience. And it was not hard for all to learn the dance since everyone is having a good time doing it.
Its seems like the song also became a last song syndrome to us who attended because up to now, I can't still get over the song and the

steps. Many of my friends are also experiencing the same feeling. It was really fun and exciting. What also made the night very spiced up is when they gave away prizes to the audience that have the best performance of the Chicken dance. I was lucky to win a swatch watch for my efforts, also my blogger friends took home prizes.

What also took my attention is when the president of Chowking, Mr. Erwin Elechicon also did the orange chicken dance on stage and made a good performance. Its seems everyone in the store (that they converted into a party house) is infected with the viral dance craze. And who would not be? The energy from the people inside the store is bursting with energy  from all the surprises.

Aside from the cosplayers present in the event, there was a flash mob that made a scene at the start of the program. You don't see a flash mob everyday epecially inside a fast food store. So far, it made an impression on me that I am in a variety show and forgot that this is a restaurant.

And there was a contest that they did for the cosplayers wherein 11 individuals were dancing with Jericho doing the Orange Chicken Dance. Its  kinda cool since you don't also see cosplayers dancing a different genre other than anime. Alodia Gosiengfiao, one of the country's top cosplayer, is also one of the contestant for this one. To vote for your favorite cosplayer, you may view them in their youtube  account.  So many thrill happened so fast yet unforgettable. Its a bice way of celebrating your success in the food industry that lasted for 25 years now. So far,  The  experience was very fun and made me interested to be a fan of the Orange Chicken, and even the dance!
(flaps arms like wings)

Photos from the Chowking's Orange Chicken page in facebook