NYP at Shine Youth Festival COSMO 2011

By Ho Khin Wai, First Year, Diploma in Banking & Financial Services

Striking a pose with 2 scary characters!

About 250 NYP students joined in the fun as mascots and cosplayers during the SHINE Youth Festival COSMO 2011 along Orchard Road on the 2^nd of July. In addition, NYPSU committee had planned to celebrate NYP’s upcoming 20^th birthday and brought along a 5m long banner.

We gathered in school by 3pm at the North Canteen, where we were given NYP 20^th Anniversary lanyards and badges, and food to fill us up for the walk while we waited for the buses to arrive. The air was filled with excitement and enthusiasm as it was the first time many of us will be participating in this event.

TEAM NYP with Ironman!

Members of NYPSU carrying our NYP 20^th Anniversary banner throughout the whole parade were also excited and proud to announce upcoming NYP’s 20^th birthday.

We marched from Orchard Central all the way to *SCAPE. Upon arrival at Orchard Central, we saw a large number of people who were clad in their mascot and cosplay attires. Characters Spiderman, Ironman, Sharity the Elephant, Iron Man and Bumblebee from Transformers, and many more came along with us! Loud music was blasting through the speakers and we felt like we were at a party. Many passers-by wanted to take photos with our mascots and cosplayers.

Mr Yam Ah Mee obligingly poses with us!

Soon, the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Yam Ah Mee arrived at the event. With his sounding of the air horn, the parade had started! Our NYPSU members marched all the way alongside the mascots, cosplayers and the lion dance troupe, all very hyped up and excited!

Many people from the streets whipped out their cameras and took pictures of the whole parade. Many a times, we would hear a passer-by exclaiming, “Hey! Isn’t that (so-and-so) from (so-and-so)?” And my friends and I would flash a smile at each other by their fascination at the cosplayers and mascots. 

All of us at *SCAPE!

Finally we arrived at the open arena at *Scape and the atmosphere there was electrifying! So much was going on. The whole NYPSU gang took many photographs and we conducted our very own birthday cheer for NYP!

TEAM NYP at Orchard Central

Overall, it was an enjoyable and eye-opening experience for me. You would never get the chance to see all your favourite cosplay or anime characters all in one place except at the Cosmo Youth Parade! So, to all cosplay/anime fans out there, keep your eyes open for the event next year!