Applications for The Japan Airlines Scholarship Programme are open till 20th March; for more details, please click here.

J-Pop and Anime fans are invited to sing for July Friendship Month



The Embassy of Japan invites J-Pop and Anime fans to participate in the J-Pop Anime Singing Competition, in celebration of the 2009 Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.

The Singing Competition is open to all Filipino amateur singing groups composed of three to ten members. Application forms are available at the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) Library, Embassy of Japan , 2627 Roxas Boulevard , Pasay City or can be downloaded at www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp.

A duly accomplished application form along with a CD or cassette tape demo of the participant's rendition of two (2) Japanese songs can be hand-carried or mailed to the JICC Library. Registration starts on February 9, 2009 and ends on April 20, 2009.

The ten (10) best groups who pass the screening process would be invited to perform in the J-Pop Anime Singing Competition Grand Final, scheduled to be held on July 25, 2009 at the Activity Center of Market! Market!. The competing groups will perform one (1) Japanese song popularized in anime or J-Pop. Embassy of Japan Certificates and Japanese Language Scholarships from the Nihongo Center Foundation await the top three winners.

The J-Pop and Anime Singing Competition is co-organized by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation Manila in partnership with HERO TV, TOEI Philippines, Inc., Max FM103.5, Ayala Malls Market! Market! and Nihongo Center Foundation.

The J-Pop Anime Singing Competition aims to further promote appreciation of the Japanese language and culture among Filipinos and to strengthen the long-standing friendship between Japan and the Philippines.

For contest mechanics and further details, please visit www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp or email jicc-mnl@japanembassy.ph or call 551-5710 local 2318.

The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) and the SM Mall of Asia present a weekend of Filipino-Japanese fun and learning billed “The 2009 Nihongo Fiesta” on February 28 and March 1, at the SM Mall of Asia, Bay Boulevard, Pasay City. Everybody will have a chance to watch and participate in various activities such as the 11th Asian Cartoon Exhibition, the Japanese Edo Kite Festival, a Japanese traditional koto performance by Ms. Chieko Fukuda and the 36th Nihongo Speech Contest which includes a Quiz Bee portion. All activities are open to the public, free of charge.

The 11th Asian Cartoon Exhibition opens at the Main Mall Atrium on Saturday, February 28 at 2:30 pm showcasing the comic illustrations of 10 Asian cartoonists on the theme “Asian Youth Culture”. The Philippines is represented by Beerkada-creator/ cartoonist, Lyndon Gregorio. A special display will also be launched for the Bronze winner of the 2nd International Manga Competition, Kriss Sison. The works will be on display until March 15.

Sharpen your Japanese language skills by listening to the contestants of the 36th Nihongo Speech Contest on February 28, at the SM MOA Cinema 1 at 10:30 am. This year, Filipino finalists coming from various regions of the country will converge for the annual national Japanese language competition to demonstrate their linguistic skills by delivering an original composition written by themselves on a theme of their choice. Winners of the speech contest will take part in an all-expense-paid week-long study tour in Japan. The 1st JFM Quiz Bee starts at 3:30 p.m. to be participated in by various Metro Manila high schools under the JENESYS Program.

Listen to the time-honored sounds of Japan as Ms. Chieko Fukuda, renowned Japanese traditional musician, performs on the koto, a Japanese traditional stringed instrument, on February 28, 6:30 pm at the SM MOA Cinema 1.

One of Japan’s leading kite artisans, Mikio Toki brings to Manila the soaring excitement of Edo kites in an exhibit at the Main Mall Atrium. Mr. Toki and other Japanese kite artists will also be conducting special kite-making workshops on February 28 at the Main Mall Atrium at 10:30 am (for children) and 4:00 pm (all ages).

SM Mall of Asia’s Open Field will be filled with colorful and vibrant kites on March 1, Sunday at 1:30 pm as Japanese and Filipino kite enthusiasts fly their creations, showcasing not only their designs but also their skills in making functional flying kites. Entries to the Kite-Making Contest will be flown on March 1, Sunday. However, kite hobbyists interested to participate in the open kite-flying demonstrations are welcome to join the day’s festivities.

The 2009 Nihongo Fiesta is made possible in cooperation with the SM Malls, Embassy of Japan, Isuzu Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and Tokyo Tokyo; with support from Quantum/Club Synergy, Picture City International, Krispy Kreme, Greenwich, Tapa King and Mangaholix Comics.

For inquiries on the 2009 Nihongo Fiesta, please call The Japan Foundation, Manila at telephone numbers 811-6155 to 58; or email: email@jfmo.org.ph . Japan Foundation, Manila programs and projects details and updates may be accessed through the JFM website: http://www.jfmo.org.ph.

i have sixty tickets to give away for 2008 MYX MO -- please leave a comment to get up pair tickets (conditions may apply). MYX MO will be happening on the 6th of november at the SM MALL OF ASIA. admission is free but you must have tickets to enter the venue.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Photosynthesis will be replacing NEOtaku in our event line-up. Thank you very much.

Ongaku RE:MIX
25 October 2008, 6PM Onwards
Calye Brown (3rd Floor Atchie’s RestoBar) [MAP]
El Pueblo, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tickets @ PhP 120 with your first drink on us!

Performances By:
3 Day Trial
Do’Ahou
Himitsu Heiki
Parasole
Progeny
Schiff
The CAB Story
tRANCE
Unfinished Confessions

Featuring:
Konata Fans Club
Molded Sushi
New Fallen Snow
Photosynthesis

Watch the Ongaku Society bands RE:MIX your favorite Japanese and Western pop tracks!

Join the Japanese Fashion Showdown! Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Fruitsy Harajuku, and other Japanese street-fashion inspired outfits are welcome!

Ongaku Society Preferred Members get ticket discounts, a goodie bag, and a special exclusive raffle just for them!

Also, watch out for the Special Screening and DVD Sale of SUZUMIYA HARUHI NO GEKISOU, brought to you by CSCENTRL!

For more information, drop by the Ongaku Society booth at major conventions, or visit our message boards.

The University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts turns eight this year! Once more, the Philippines' top collegiate anime organization rocks the scene with another sensational anime fair!



AME 8th Avenue
Taking the Streets of Harajuku!

COSPLAY COMPETITION! J-ROCK CONCERT! AME CAFE!
FANART CONTEST! NOVELTY BOOTHS! KARAOKE SING-OFF!

NOVEMBER 8, 2008
Ang Bahay ng Alumni
University of the Philippines - Diliman

For more updates, please keep visiting this site, or check the official forums of the University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts.

The UP Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME) is the first ever recognized collegiate anime organization in the Philippines. They are also the same group behind previous successful events such as the Una kAME!, kAME Ulit!, AME Matsuri and AME Gakuensai.

Drop by the Ongaku Society booth to check out our mini-exhibit and find out more about upcoming Ongaku Society events and our PREFERRED MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME!

Cosplay.ph invites you to be a part of Cosplay Mania (CosMania), the year’s ultimate cosplay event, to be held in SM Megatrade Hall 3 on October 12, 2008.

You spot them in almost every gaming, anime, toy, and young-oriented event: the colorful cosplayers. In any event that includes them, cosplay competitions have regularly served as true crowd-drawers and pleasers. Event-goers have enjoyed the colorful and vibrant costumes, the fabulous catwalks, and the resourceful artistry of these cosplayers. However, cosplay by itself has rarely been the focus of these events.

As such, Cosplay.ph, the leading web-based community of Filipino cosplayers, plans to change this with Cosplay Mania. This event aims to put the spotlight on the Filipino cosplayer and celebrate the many positive aspects—the creativity, the resourcefulness, and the pageantry—inherent in this hobby. With activities such as cosplay catwalks, tutorials, demonstrations, historical galleries, and many others, the event serves, not only as a venue for interaction and entertainment, but a way to develop and educate as well.

You can be a part of this event! We are looking for partners and sponsors that would help us to achieve our goals. Interested parties may email Kero (pbairan[at]cosplay[dot]ph) or Sephiroth (hdedios[at]cosplay[dot]ph) for sponsorship packages details.

Drop by the OngakuSociety booth to check out our mini-exhibit and find out more about upcoming OngakuSociety events and our PREFERRED MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME!

AniCon '08
October 5, 2008
SM Megamall
Mega Trade Hall 3

Anime, Console, & Online Gaming Event
Join the Console Tournament
Play Online Games
Cosplay Competition
Japanese-style Matsuri
Maid Cafe

Visit the official website at: http://www.otakuzine-mag.com/

Drop by the Ongaku Society booth to check out our mini-exhibit and find out more about upcoming Ongaku Society events and our PREFERRED MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME!

Congratulations to: NEW FALLEN SNOW (87), MOLDED SUSHI (85.66), and KONATA FANS CLUB (83.33)! See you guys at the gig!

To everyone else, thank you so much for participating with the OS auditions! Good luck with the band and we hope to see you at our events soon!