What happens when you combine the movie 300 and the video game Patapon?
Persian messenger: This is blasphemy! This is madness!
Patapon: Madness? This is SPARTAPON!!!!!!! *kicks persian messenger*

Spartapons! What is your profession?!
AHOO! AHOO!

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~Shizen Orchestra~
April 25, 2009
Saturday
SMX Convention Center
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This is where Liminal Project, a group that consists of residents (and a somewhat former resident) of Cavite and mostly newbie cosplayers, made noise!! AHOO! AHOO!

First timers in cosplay (majority)
First cosplay competition (except for me )
First victory!

Liminal Project consists of:
Danj, the leader
Matt, Jeremy, Jie, Mizzy, Pips, Shido (Cid #2, me being the 1st ), Avi, Rave, Kayne and
Me, the mastermind and the one who introduced them to the world of cosplay

Prologue
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A few days before Shizen, I just realized that there was a cosplay competition. Having only a few days to prepare, I went "WAAAAAAAAA! What am I gonna cosplay?!?!" At that time, I thought of cosplaying a Patapon, the "shitty" idea that I did last APC cosvent, was my last resort. It so happened that a friend of mine, and my co-worker in a certain novel we're doing, was online, so, I sought his opinions. He wanted to join as well, so we thought of cosplaying characters from the same series. From FF7: Crisis Core, we ended up in Patapon, which I forgot how we got there
From being a pair, we became a group. At first it was just a few friends of ours, then later that night, he gathered more members from our clan: Liminal Project Group. With 11 members that joined our cause, Liminal Project was formed.


Chapter 1: Prepare for Glory!
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Last week, I planned to go to Cavite on a Friday, which was yesterday, April 24. The night before that, Thurs., April 23, I asked permission from my aunt to go there since I can't text my dad because I had no load, and I was saving money for Friday and Saturday. We had a little heated conversation until she allowed me to go, BUT I should be at home by 5:00 p.m. In my mind I was, "WHAT THE FU---!?! I'm suppossed to go there to relax and de-stressify, but instead, I need to go there to coordinate with my groupmates for the group cosplay! Do you expect us to finish everything by 3:00 p.m.!?! :anger: " I was so pissed off that night that I was cursing in every single mistake I encounter, and so I decided myself that I'll be a bad-assed bitch to her by not obeying! Hmph!

The next day... It was a rainy day...

So there I was, in SM Bacoor, where I have to meet up with Danj to get the cosplay funds. It was his break at that time so he had little time, and his work ends at 3:00 p.m. I got the funds, bought the stuff we need, and was dragging/carrying a bundle of 9 one whole illustration boards and 11 one-half illustration boards. Realizing I couldn't make it, I sought Kayne's help, who was at that time, just recently woke up. I had to go down one floor to the supermarket where I can leave the materials. Heck, after that, I felt like I did some weights, especially on my left arm, which hurts more than my right arm. And they hurt until now. After lots of fun, waiting in the rain, sermon, and fun again, we headed to Matt's place to do the costumes. I was amazed by how Danj handled the newbies and the ones who already cosplayed once. He taught them stuff he learned from theater, since cosplaying is also acting. He also taught them how not to be shy in public (shame? I think I already lost mine...! ). Being an experieced cosplayer myself, I taught them stuff I know and learned from cosplaying. We rehearsed and did the costumes and props. We weren't able to finish it at Matt's place so, the unfinished works were taken home by me and some members.

Shizen Orchestra - The day of the event...

They got into the venue earlier than me, who lives 30-45 mins. away from the venue, whilst them who needs to travel for about 2 hours. I was wearing a Sheena Fujibayashi costume underneath my coat, and when I got there, I cosplayed her for a while. I didn't have much sleep because I took most of the responsibilities: music, headgears, addtional black top and socks. We were cramming there trying to finish the costumes (I was also responsible on what to do to make the "costume" wearable. "Costume" being the Patapon itself). Everyone were busy finishing the costumes, while I shifted from finishing the headgear, to mixing and finishing the audio CD that we're gonna use for the competition.
Copying.... Converting.... Closing disc.... and.....
my laptop goes to Stand By mode because of critical battery. I got so pissed off I was yelling at my laptop calling it weak! Yes, it always gives up on me whenever I need it the most...
While we were still working at it, a girl approached us and guessed that we were gonna do a Patapon group and she was so happy with that! I saw how happy the newbies were when she complimented us.


Chapter 2: The Hot Gates
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We wore our costumes and lined up to make a grand entrance. As we entered the gates of Function Hall (whatever no. was that), we were greeted by people who took pictures of us.
Our first priority there, was to check if the organizers received our pre-registration form.
Walk, walk... Stop... Take pictures... walk, walk, walk... stop again... take pictures again... and it went like that until we got to register on-site. We were the first group to perform. Call time was 2 p.m., contest starts at 2:30 p.m. Thankfully, Danj asked the organizers' permission to leech electricity in the area, for me to be able to burn our audio CD.

Chapter 3: THIS IS SPARTAPON!!!!
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After having a quick lunch, I proceeded to the area where there was a socket and burned the CD. As I was doing that I felt like I was being threatened by time because our group was already being called to go to the cosplayers' area. I submitted the CD, and while I was talking to the technical director (...was it..? ._.), the group cosplay competition already started, which gave both of us a shock. We both rushed to have the CD played, but it was too late... As I was putting on my costume to catch up with my groupmates, I heard Danj say his line, "This is Spartapon!!!!" And then the crowd cheers. When I got onstage, I was surprised at how Danj managed to come up with such a good and interactive adlib! And the members as well, for riding along with him. What we have intended to do onstage became totally different! No music, just plain playing! When he asked one of our groupmates (who was standing next to the mic at that time), what his specialty was, he drew a blank. Being the most experienced cosplayer in the group, and also having a background in theater arts, I intended to assist Danj in his adlibs, but I went only as far as being next to the person next to the mic. Switching places with him would be distracting since everyone was already in position. I whispered to him, "kicking fish." (though that wasn't really a whisper since Danj, who was standing across us, heard it ). And the person next to me spoke the words "kicking fish" (taken from Benjo, a parody of 300) in a small, gayish, voice. And the crowd loved it. He was also good in keeping up with Danj's adlibs. The others set aside their shyness and participated as well. And for that, I am proud of them!
After that, the newbies and second-timers were feeling down because our audio CD wasn't played, and they thought that we sucked. It reminded me of what happened a few months ago at the APC Cosvent, though, that was worse! After getting some preachings from Danj and me, a few of us went outside the cosplayers' area and made some noise out there (the others were still feeling bad at what happened so there were only a few of us who roamed around). As we were roaming around I heard some people say "Spartapons!" and "You guys are cool!" I told my groupmates about it and I said that we made our mark, and many people already know us because what we did made a big impact on them, and that alone is considered a victory. And that, cheered them up.

Chapter 4: Tonight, we dine in El Pollo Loco! AHOO! AHOO!
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We left the event at 7:00 p.m. to dine in KFC. It was raining, and I got pissed off with Danj coz for the 2nd time that day, my silence/drifting off meant I was gloomy or sad, for him. We arrived at KFC, and as I was expecting, it's fully loaded. We went out and while discussing where to dine, Jeremy, the guy whom I "whispered" "kicking fish" to, texted us that we won first place in the group cosplay competition! I was so surprised at that message because our performance, was entire adlib and we didn't even have any music! By the way, there were 3 groups that participated.
After receiving the news, Danj and I rushed through the pouring rain and headed back to the venue. There, Jeremy showed us proof that we really DID win!
After that, we dined at El Pollo Loco!





...waaaaaaaa~! I'm so happy....! This is the first cosplay victory I had...!

Thanks to the members of Liminal Project! This victory wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you guys!
Thanks also to those people and friends who cheered for us and supported us!
and ....I wish you guys were there...TT_TT
And to the judges as well!


Once again,
THIS IS SPARTAPON!!!!!!!!
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