It’s that time of the year again — when karaoke fiends and headphone heroes duke it out for the honor of being the third J-pop Anime Singing Contest winner. Featuring a fresh round of ten finalists, this year’s event was held on the 21st of July 2012, at the Main Atrium of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City (the event was moved from the Music Hall due to inclement weather).

Aside from the ten finalists, the event also featured performances by the winners of the 2011 event Heiki, as well as the Embassy of Japan’s very own No Plan Band. Technical difficulties notwithstanding, all the guest performers wow-ed the crowd with their lilting melodies and soaring rock anthems.

      

Continuing the trend from the two previous years, one group of performers swept all three major awards: Hero’s Choice Award, Toei’s Choice Award, and the Grand Championship. This year’s big winner is Sakura Star, who performed the song “Mikazuki” by Ayako.

The other two winners both performed songs from the Final Fantasy series: Second Place Marianne Topacio performed Melodies of Life from Final Fantasy IX, and Third Place Leria Mae Castro performed Final Fantasy VIII’s Eyes on Me.

      

The event was capped off with the awarding of winners of the Mini Cosplay Contest: Izaiah Luke Buelos won the First Place with his Voltron costume, while Bolen Lareza as MG Sinanju swept the rest of the prizes — 2nd Place, Hero’s Choice and Toei’s Choice. The trio was rounded out by Ivan Valerio and his Third Place Voltes V costume.

The 2012 J-Pop Anime Singing Contest is presented by the Embassy of Japan in cooperation with Nihongo Center Foundation the Center for Pop Music Philippines, Ajinomoto, Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Yakult, Hero TV and Toei Animation Philippines.