Cosplay Mania 2024 [Day 2]

A few days before my birthday, I attended the second day of the 2024 Cosplay Mania event at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Manila.

My two best buddies, Rowen and JM, also attended the event, so we could meet up, as our previous meet-up plans were always getting canceled due to schedule conflicts.

After my work-from-home office hours, I went to the venue to have some photos printed before heading to SMX to meet JM and Rowen.

I purchased a Silver day pass for the Cosplay Mania 2024 event, which cost around 650 pesos. This entitled me to enter the event and watch the cosplay events and contests.

The event was also attended by some mainstream cosplayers who had their own booths where you could purchase merchandise and prints, meet them in person, and have photo ops with them.

I arrived around 3 p.m. and we roamed around the venue and checked out the booths. There were booths that sold action figures, statues, prints, CDs, posters, and more anime merchandise.

We also met some friends from the cosplay community who attended the event.

There was also a food area where attendees could buy food and drinks in case they got hungry and didn't want to leave the venue.

We also found an area with booths mostly for arts. Local artists offer commissioned services, local comic books, stickers, art prints, and more.

I also took a few snaps of the cosplayers who were also roaming around the venue.

For Cosplay Mania 2024, I only purchased two prints from the Imageworld booth where cosplayer and streamer Een Mercado was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet.

I met Een last year at the ConQuest 2023 event. I was able to have the prints and my custom cards signed as well.

I am also happy that she followed me back on Instagram.

Around 6:30 p.m., we left SMX and went to ONE Deli to try their Unlimited Steak promo, which cost 999 pesos per person.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. The food was delicious; the steak was tender and came with various side dishes, including meatballs, salad, steak rice, and cheesy sausage, along with a bottle of cold beer.

Afterward, we accompanied Rowen to IKEA, as he needed to purchase something. I had been to IKEA last year, but this was the first time I was able to check out each area.

Since I still had to work at 3 a.m. the next day, I decided to go home via Grab car from Mall of Asia to Santa Rosa, Laguna, which cost me around 1,700 PHP.

I would like to thank my best buddies, JM and Rowen, as we had a great time during my pre-birthday celebration.

Photos taken using Canon EOS R8 / 50mm f/1.8 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.