Bayambangueño Cosplayer is Grand Winner in Manila Competition

Bayambangueño Cosplayer is Grand Winner in Major Manila Competition

A resident of this town emerged as grand winner in a cosplay competition in Manila. The competition was part of the 16th Christmas Toy Fair 2023 staged by Toycon PH -- "the biggest pop culture convention in the country" -- in SM Megamall on December 17, 2023.

Marc John I. Martinez of Upper Cadre Site dressed up and performed as Ignacio, the famous transforming character (from friar to wrestler) made popular by Jack Black in the hit comedy film, "Nacho Libre." (Cosplay is not just about wearing costumes but also performing as the character being represented.)

As cosplayer, Macky maintains his own FB page, "Wacky Cosplay," where he posts photos of himself as various characters from pop culture, to often hilarious effects. His choices are often unconventional characters, those that are not easy to depict or not the most popular options.

He is no stranger to such big winnings, thus he is perennially invited as judge of cosplays in his home province and beyond.

By his own account, he has been cosplaying for almost 14 years, starting out as the 5-year-old version of Lambo Bovino from "Katekeyo Hitman Reborn" at the 1st Manila Comic Con 2009. From then on, it has been a looong winning streak for him, thanks to his vast imagination and impressive resourcefulness.

- 2009, 2010: His Gai Sensei character reaped awards at the 4th Christmas Toy Con and at the 9th Philippine Toys Event.
- 2011: He finished 4th at the Otaku House Cosplay Idol Asia Category and won at the Cosplay and Toy Display at SM Rosales, Pangasinan.
- 2014, 2018: He was adjudged as the Pangasinan Cosplay Invitationals Champion in the Individual Male category at Robinsons Place Pangasinan, and the Cosplay Fiesta 2018 Champion in the Male Cosplayer category at Maria Cristina Park, Tarlac City.
- 2019: He snatched the 2nd place thrice: first at the Cosplay Craze 2019 in the Pro Category at SM City Rosales, second at the Cosplay Craze: Parade & Competition 2019 at SM City Tarlac, and for the third time at Hexcon Baguio 2019 at PFVR, Baguio City.Then he was the Awesome Costume Award grand champion at the Christmas Toycon 2019 at SM Megamall.
- 2022, 2023: He bagged the 3rd place at the 1st PPopCon in 2022, and the 2nd place at the SummerCon 2023. Last October 15, he was the grand winner at the Anicon 2023 Cosplay Competition at Robinson's Place, Calasiao, Pangasinan, and because of this feat, he was invited as guest at "Mornings with GMA Regional TV" last October 27.

His comedic sketches are well-received because he chooses characters that best fit his own personality. It is anachronistic to talk about originality in the world of seemingly copy-pasted versions of make-believe characters, but Macky's outputs are all about that: he leans toward surprising choices, like characters from Filipino pop culture, for instance, that others won't touch. And unlike other cosplayers, his costumes are often DIY, sourced and recycled from thrift stores (ukay-ukay), and one can't miss the creativity behind the execution.

Aside from cosplaying, he does anime sketching, gaming, and livestreaming, and he's also into gadgets during his free time.

He says one of the highlights of his work is being "liked" on Facebook by no less than one of his idols, Michael V., after he replicated the popular comedian's latest character, Lolo Kanor. This character, which is a jab at the Pasosyal Now Purita Later types (or people who are "pasosyal pero mahirap naman"), came out as a music video in "Bubble Gang" parodying the runaway hit song "Raining in Manila" by Lola Amor band as the rather hard-hitting social commentary "Waiting Here sa Pila" by the bejeweled, Starbucks-sipping lolo.

(by RSO; photo courtesy of TOYCON PH: The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention)