Attendees braved summer heat and road announcements to pack event area; SMX opened Function Room 4 as “holding area”
PASAY CITY, Philippines — Amid the sweltering heat outside the event venue and the possibility of traffic jams along the event area. Anime fans and cosplayers trooped to the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City for the second day of Otakuzine Anime Magazine’s Ozine Fest 2014.
This, despite warnings from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) regarding traffic jams coming to Mall of Asia Complex because of an religious event and a festival parade along the vicinity of Roxas Boulevard.
As early as 7:00 am, the attendees were already lining up the convention center to buy tickets and to enter. The line spreaded out until near the south area of the SMX, while some went as far as the back of the convention center itself.
Security staff inside the SMX Convention Center told Anime Pilipinas that the organizers did not expect the crowds to be this massive. A SMX source also told Anime Pilipinas that they have opened up the Function Room 4 (which was vacant) to become a sort of “holding area” and where the event goers will be entering. The entrance of Function Room 5 became a re-entry point instead.
The security staff also barred the escalator near the Function Room 5 for a few hours to the attendees so as to enable the properqueuing of the attendees inside the opened Room 4. The escalator entry was allowed after given the go-signal from the security at Room 4.
Some attendees waited for two hours just to get in, while others who have pre-sold tickets waited for only 20 minutes to be allowed entry.
The event hall itself was packed to the rafters at around late afternoon. Cosplayers and Event attendees had to wade their way in to the numerous exhibit booths and a very large Cardfight Vanguard play area that occupied almost half of the remaining space.
Competition for the Second Day included the On-the-spot Art Contest, which Merylle Almiranez won, Roziere won in the Battle of the Bands and the Dragon Ball Cosplay Group clinched the title in the Group cosplay competition.
Day 3 is on Sunday, where the Individual Cosplay comepetition will be the main highlight of the event.
For the latest on Ozine Fest 2014. Follow Anime Pilipinas’ Live Updates on Twitter at @AniPinasLIVE
