Cebu’s Otakufest is physically back with a bang! The sought-after annual event for Cebu’s otaku community returns—and it’s the first time it will be held indoors.
This year’s Otakufest will be held at the JCentre Convention Hall, JCentre Mall, Mandaue City, Cebu on November 12-13, 2022 (Saturday and Sunday)
Guests include Sally Dorasnow from Malaysia and one of Cebu’s familiar faces of cosplay, Charess.
VTuber Pokato Grylls from IkasuLive is also listed as one of the guests.
There’s contests and workshops for everyone—watch people claim their bragging rights!
Asian Pop Dance Competition, Solo Cosplay Competition, Spicy Ramen Eating Competition, Gunpla Competition, and Japanese Singing Competition
Mobile Legends Tournament, Cardfight Vanguard Tournament and Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament
Six days of Otakufest 2021 have passed. One of Cebu’s annual otaku events just went virtual last week, and here’s a recap of what has happened.
Workshops
Even during these times, I’m happy that Otakufest is still able to hold workshops. Afternoons of hands-on tutorials are done by SFX Makeup Artist Chey Adamson and Team Class S’ Seigfred Enero.
If I were to ask which moments I remember the most, I’ll share one for each workshop:
Chey’s step-by-step, hands-on makeup workshop is fantastic. You can see the progress on how to make fake wounds, or fake skin peels. It is indeed a meticulous process.
Seigfred’s workshop stressed the purpose of forward and backward stances especially in a stage performance.
Contests / Performances
I’ve observed quite a lot of events during the six days of Otakufest 2021, and overall, I am happy with the performances too.
The intermissions during the livestreams of the contest feature powerful performances from the community.
Community
Speaking of community, the Discord activity’s pretty much active. There’s discussions on food, art and memes (especially memes).
While I can’t show the full activity here, what I remember the most is the last few minutes before the event actually ends – I’m still by-standing at the voice chat even past 10pm, which is the set curfew time.
This brings back memories of me still inside the hall when the event has ended. Too bad I can’t eat with friends physically. The true convention is the friends we make along the way.
List of Contest Winners
To recap, here are the Champions of various contests held at Otakufest 2021:
I miss going to Cebu. I really do. For now, Otakufest 2021 committed to being there for us, wherever we are.
As the event goes virtual, the spread of the events throughout six days is well-planned, considering that the team also have commitments outside of the event.
Should they hold another virtual Otakufest, I look forward to having more activities for another 6 days. I left the virtual venue happy and satisfied. I am able to catch up with friends and I’m happy to see Cebu’s otaku community, at least online.
I pray that this pandemic ends so we can meet again. Really can’t wait to be back in Cebu soon.
Once again, we would like to thank the Otakufest 2021 team for having keepsakes. as one of its official media partners. keepsakes. is a media partner since 2018, and we’ll make this a tradition.
One of Cebu’s annual hobby events return for another edition – this time, it’s open to a wider audience!
Otakufest 2021, the annual event usually held at SM Seaside City Cebu, will be holding its event online. This year’s program covers 6 Days of live streams and online workshops with local talents.
Online Workshops on Zoom
There are open workshops for everyone to witness! Catch SFX Make-up Artist Chey Adamson as she conducts an SFX Make-up Workshop on Day 3.
Also catch Seigfred Enero of Team Class S, World Cosplay Summit Team Philippines 2019 for his Cosplay Skit Making workshop on Day 4.
Artist Alley – online, on Discord!
In addition, this year’s Artist Alley will be conducted online through Discord! Sixteen (16) artists will be open for their artworks as well as your requests!
Tournaments and Competitions
What’s Otakufest without tournaments and competitions? For Gamers, the finals of Valorant and Mobile Legends tournaments will be streamed.
Artists who signed up for Original Character Design and One-shot Manga competitions will have their entries showcased online as well.
Cosplayers and propsmakers are also in the spotlight as this year’s Props Making Competition and Cosplay Competition will also be streamed online.
Asian Pop Dance and Japanese Singing Competitions will still be held, featuring local singing and dancing talents.
Otakufest 2021 Online Schedule
Here’s the schedule of activities for Otakufest 2021:
Day 1 / April 05, 2021
Time
Activity
12:30pm
Opening Ceremony (Livestreamed on Facebook)
3:00pm
“How to Secure Your Future Through Study in Japan” Workshop by Jellyfish Education Philippines (Zoom)
Day 2 / April 06, 2021
Time
Activity
3:00pm
SFX Make-Up Workshop by Chey Adamson (Zoom)
Day 3 / April 07, 2021
Time
Activity
12:30pm
Original Character Design Showcase (Livestreamed on Facebook)
6:00pm
One-shot Manga Entries Showcase (Livestreamed on Facebook)
Day 4 / April 08, 2021
Time
Activity
1:00pm
Cosplay Skit Making Workshop by Seigfred Enero (Zoom)
6:00pm
Props Making Competition Entry Showcase (Livestreamed on Facebook)
Day 5 / April 09, 2021
Time
Activity
12:30pm
Japanese Singing Competition (Livestreamed on Facebook)
6:00pm
Asian Pop Dance Competition (Livestreamed on Facebook)
7:30pm
Valorant Elimination Highlights (Livestreamed on Facebook)
Day 6 / April 10, 2021
Time
Activity
12:00pm
Valorant Tournament Finals (Livestreamed on Facebook)
6:00pm
Cosplay Competition Entry Showcase (Livestreamed on Facebook)
7:30pm
Awarding Ceremony (Livestreamed on Facebook)
How to enjoy Otakufest 2021
Six days of Otakufest 2021 activities can be enjoyed on the event’s official Facebook as well as its newly-launched Discord server.
Otakufest 2021 is supported by Halo Halo Radio Cebu, Jellyfish Education, HighGrnds Clothing, and Workplace Cafe. keepsakes. is a media partner for Otakufest 2021.
To know more about Otakufest 2021 online, watch this interview with this year’s co-chief director Ethan Job Bascug on the podcast:
Cebu, the Queen City of the South, has a thriving community of hobbyists – from Anime, Cosplay, Art and even Board Games. A friendly community where creativity, passion and fun is enjoyed by fellow hobbyists.
The city is a host for a variety of hobby events which gathers hundreds – if not thousands – of guests coming not only from the Province of Cebu but also from places as far as Dumaguete, Iloilo, and even Manila! Events like the ones present today are not just for the locals but also for the tourists.
Unfortunately, events – regarded as mass gatherings – are suspended due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. As part of the Tourism Industry, the events industry is badly hit with quarantine restrictions and health concerns.
While we have to determine the financial impact of the Pandemic in the country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions industry (or MICE), there is already a call for the said industry to be prioritized in the Tourism Recovery Plan of the Department of Tourism.
keepsakes. has invited organizers and representatives of major hobby events in Cebu for this roundtable discussion. We will ask them their plans moving forward.
We have with us Griffith Salomon of Cebu Cosplayers Guild and Bon Odori Cebu, Max Maquiling of Unity Productions and Cebu Esports United, Jomar Joshua of Otakufest, Joshua Varela of Toys and Figures convention (TOFICON) and Jolu Escaño of ARCHcon Cebu in a roundtable discussion to see what the future brings for Cebu’s local hobby events.
Watch the Live Discussion on Facebook
Let’s meet each other on May 31, 2020, 6:00pm Manila Time (GMT+8) on facebook.com/keepsakesbyjay and facebook.com/exlinkevents. Participate in the discussion and interact with Cebu’s favorite events as we plan to tread through the pandemic. Meet you soon!
Last week, I visited Cebu for the fourth time to witness Otakufest 2020. It’s their 13th year holding the said event, and the second time that they will do so at SM Seaside City Cebu’s Maze Garden.
I’ve thought long and hard if I’m supposed to push through with my fourth Cebu trip, and it turned to be like any Cebu trip I had in the past: It’s wild! It’s been a fun weekend spending time in the Queen City of the South.
I started the day going to the meet and greet for this year’s international guests Hikarin and DD Tenka.
Some of the highlights of the meet and greet are questions about their skincare routine, their cosplans and the like. Thanks to the Otakufest team, we secured fast talks with them the following day, so stay tuned as I will release it on YouTube and Facebook soon.
Cosplay Propsmaking Workshop
It’s been 10 years since I put my foot into the cosplay community, but I have yet to learn how to craft props. This is where the cosplay props workshop of Team Class S and King Rusydi comes in. Joining them is Class S’ mentor and 2018 WCSPH Alumni Sergio Sta. Ana (you should probably know him by now).
I stayed for around 30 minutes, but I brought with me two things:
There are two cuts we can use to slice the EVA foam, which I can perfect through practice; and
I can actually make props if I wanted to. Even if my output didn’t fulfill my expectations, as long as your mentor appreciates it, all is well.
Artist Alley
Otakufest has a lively art alley featuring a lot of art, stickers, ships and of course memes.
I went to Kei Cyanyan‘s booth just to see this Mio Honda meme sticker that I can’t stop laughing. If I remember correctly, I bought other stickers except for this one because it deserves to be in the hands of much worthy iM@S memers.
Even with me becoming oshi-less in the MNL48 community, I still find myself being in the same place as other MNLoves (I said I’d graduate from the fandom but where am I again?).
I believe I told all of you about Ai Natsumi on this space before, so let’s go fast forward: Ai met her fellow MNLoves, and it was a really nice experience seeing fellow MNLoves talk about their oshi. Hats off to Skip Goat and Cebu MNLoves for being such a good sport.
I have been saying this to myself: Set aside and let the new fans enjoy the fandom. I’m happy with that decision, as (1) I honestly felt irrelevant to the topic of MNL48 nowadays, and (2) we need one less pessimist in this group.
Otakufest and the World Cosplay Summit Philippines have been inseparable since the first Central Visayas Qualifiers in 2017. As with last year, WCSPH brings in its ambassador, Davao-based performance group Pastel Mix, to the Otakufest stage.
They always have Walküre (Macross Delta) in their musical repertoire, but did you know that they did dress up as the group in Davao almost two years ago?
Odd stuff
Otakufest is not complete without memes and the memers who are propagating it. While we are recording our next two podcasts at the Unity Productions booth, I saw the KEK flag being flown around the area.
That, and some more weird stuff. There’s even some guys who are implying to tell everyone to take a bath before going to conventions.
Also imagine a walking life-sized AXE spray coming to you to “Purify the Filth,” which then makes you question yourself if you took a bath.
Luckily, the heavy winds balances the hot temperature of the venue – remember that it’s called Seaside City for a reason.
Final thoughts
What I noticed in going to a lot of events (that eventually I became part of the industry soon enough) is that the visitors make the event most of the time.
Events are platforms for people to meet each other, and those people make the most of their time to have a wonderful experience, no matter what happens.
In the case of Otakufest, the organizers had a few scratches to soldier on while they proceed with the show, and eventually, things fell into place. The environment is not that hot, just that windy; but overall, it’s a fair-weather weekend for us all.
Going back to what I said earlier, my second Otakufest experience is as great as last year’s, and I plan to keep going there should another opportunity comes.
I have a series of photos to cap off this post-event report. There are more photos on Facebook – including my proudest shots of more cosplayers. You definitely should see it.
As I mentioned earlier, stand by for our quick fast talk with King Rusydi, Hikarin and DD Tenka on YouTube and Facebook soon.
Team Zero is the Central Visayas representative to the 2020 World Cosplay Summit Philippines qualifiers, after participating in the competition for the third time. I’ll write a separate story on this once all the finalists from all qualifier legs are selected.
Thank you Otakufest for having keepsakes. as one of your media partners once more.
