JERARD (a RadarPH exclusive interview with Jerard Eusebio) Words by Pael Balbaboco | Photographed by Jarnne Brian Escalona
Laffar-Smith (2012), citing Griffith University (2012, p. 17), suggested that there are several key elements common to all forms of creative writing. These are character, plot, setting, structure, issues, narrative voice, narrative viewpoint, action, dialogue, language, and style or genre.
For creative writers, these elements are their weapons in creating compelling narratives. Even though these elements are primarily identified as basics of written works, these can also be used in knowing more about the creative writer – that of a gripping (and sometimes, cunning yet sweet) life. In this Radar feature, Jerard Eusebio, photographed by Jarnne Escalona, is taken by bits and pieces, by pen and paper, one creative written element at a time.
RADAR: Who is Jerard Eusebio?
JERARD: I’ve always found this question difficult to answer. I think I’ve spent most of my life trying to understand myself. Throughout the years, I’ve discovered that the best way to do that is to understand how I relate to and with people and my environment. The more people and situations you interact and deal with, the more you uncover parts of yourself previously unseen. At the same time, spending time alone can be one of the easiest ways to get acquainted with yourself better. In both approaches, the goal is to seek your inner truths. I guess we can say Jerard is a truth-seeker.
RADAR: Tell us more about yourself.
JERARD: Hmm. I’m 28 years old. I was born in Adelaide, Australia—that’s something I always say because most people find it interesting. But I grew up in Los Baños, Laguna and where I reached the height of 5’5”. What else? I prefer tea to coffee. I make great lemonade. I am a huge Mariah Carey fan. On Wednesdays, I wear pink (not really).
RADAR: How would you describe yourself?
JERARD: I’ve been branded a lot of things. A “tita.” An old soul. Sentimental. Sensitive. Poised. I think these are all accurate to a certain degree. But people who really know me would say that I’m your typical people-pleaser. I’ve been working on that and have had some progress.
I’m quite transparent, too. People would know if something was up with me. My face can tell it all.
RADAR: How do you think your family and friends would describe you?
JERARD: These days, I’m the maverick of the family. This is mostly because I’ve been entertaining ideologies that challenge the norms. But before that, they’ve always assigned me as the creative person. I’m sort of the authority when it comes to interior designs and gardening. I paint. I write. I take pretty pictures. My friends would think the same, but they’d also say I’m a bit vain. But I think they know that deep inside I’m a warm person. And I try very hard to be best friend that I can be.
RADAR: If you are not who and what you are now, who and what would you be?
JERARD: One different move in my past and I would probably be a triathlete now. Or a serious gym rat. Or a farmer. Or a florist. I’m completely amenable to being any of those.
RADAR: What is Jerard Eusebio all about?
JERARD: This might sound a little pretentious, but I am all about becoming the best person I could be. And by that I mean taking each day as an opportunity to be more loving, wiser, and kinder. I knew since college that my calling was to inspire others by my words, actions, and advocacies. This is really the reason I wanted to become a writer. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be grand. It can just be as simple as suggesting to my friends to bring their own bags when going to the grocery store.
RADAR: What is the highest peak of your life so far? And the lowest?
JERARD: I will not pretend that my life hasn’t been blessed with so many amazing moments. Right off the bat, the peaks would be all the times I’ve been published. That’s something sacred to me because I know that my voice has been given a chance to be heard. Getting feedback from a work I put out is heartwarming. The lowest point would be anytime that I sulked and invested in hating myself, anytime in the past where I wished I was a different person, or when I rebuked the things about myself, when I thought that I wasn’t enough, wasn’t worthy. There’s no sadder thing than for someone to disown his own truths.
RADAR: You travel right? Which destination is by far your most favorite?
JERARD: Yes! I had the most magnificent time when Dylan (my boyfriend) and I went to Donsol, Sorsogon in 2015. We went to swim with the whale sharks. The experience was just great because we literally waited on the boat in the middle of the sea for them to surface so they could feed. Swimming with them is seasonal since they’re wild and free. The gentle giants only visit the area once a year. During our time, we were able to swim with three different whale sharks. It was amazing. Another highlight from that trip was our experience with the people of Donsol. They are by far the nicest we’ve ever encountered in our adventures. Everyone treated us with kindness and a smile, even random strangers we would pass by. It was the perfect trip, really.
RADAR: Where else do you want to go?
JERARD: It has always been my desire to go back to Adelaide. My parents have nothing but nice things to say about our stay there. It’d be nice to visit the hospital where my mother gave birth to me. Right now I’m saving up for an Indochina trip. I also hope to visit Rome and New York in the near future.
RADAR: What do you do in life?
JERARD: Right now I’m a community manager for a marketing and consultancy agency in Makati. That’s just a fraction of how I spend my time and I would vehemently express that doesn’t define who I am, because the rest of my time, I spend learning about things that interest me and I’m interested in a lot of things, from cooking to gardening. You can say I dabble in almost everything except in automotive and computers. Those things escape me. I’ve also started establishing an ornamental plant nursery in my hometown. That’s something I’m quite serious in seeing through.
RADAR: What is your day-to-day routine?
JERARD: I’m proud to say that I’m living independently from my parents. Dylan and I keep an apartment in the city. We do the cleaning, the cooking, and the washing. I begin a typical day by preparing food while he exercises. (I rather exercise after work.) Then we go to work, which is less than an hour away. Nights are spent to do any of these things: writing, reading, exercise, movie viewing, and house cleaning. In between all of these, we take care of our 7-month old cat named Midnight.
RADAR: What are the struggles of a Jerard Eusebio?
JERARD: Trying to get the right balance of things—finances, relationships, career, and passion. I would say, “Same as anybody.”
RADAR: What surprises you? What disappoints?
JERARD: I get surprised by a lot of things. For instance, buko pie flavored ice cream. This is why I love shopping for food. About other things: It always surprises me when humans are capable of doing horrible things. When you listen to news these days about wars, crimes, and endless killings. It disappoints me to know that some people in this day and age still continue to embrace antiquated ideologies and backward ways.
RADAR: In general, what makes you an active person? And what makes you passive?
JERARD: I’m involved in things that I’m passionate about. So, it’s usually the artistic things in life—visual arts, music, film, and literature. But I’m also into gardening, politics, current events, social media trends, science, and a bit of sports. I’m not sure if I’m into fashion, but I like it when I’m wearing nice clothes. With everything else that I’m not particularly passionate about, I’m pretty passive. Did I get the question right?
RADAR: As a creative writer, which point of view do you use most of the time? Why?
JERARD: Most of what I’ve written since I’ve been on Tumblr—those that I’ve posted anyway—have been written in first person. I think that’s mostly because they’re really creative non-fiction. But since grad school, I’ve shifted to third person (omniscient). Like, with the novel I’m writing. Of the 18 chapters, only one is written in the first person. Apart from this POV being the easiest to write in, it’s also the effect of me detaching myself from my characters and my stories.
RADAR: Tell us more about Paghayo.
JERARD: Paghayo.com is really a depository of our travel notes. This has been Dylan and I’s project for the longest time. Recently, we’ve begun updating the website. The meat of it is really our travel and the stories we’re compelled to write about from our experiences. The two of us love to eat. Naturally, we’re featuring dishes and delicacies both from our trips and our creations in the kitchen via the site’s Food section. That part would also soon feature some of our recipes on our favorite dishes. The two of us cook every chance we get. Paghayo means to go forth.
RADAR: What would you tell your 10-year-old self?
JERARD: Easy. “Buy more books and don’t hesitate to buy Mariah’s Rainbow album. It will literally change the course of your life.”
RADAR: What is your advice to all aspiring artists out there?
JERARD: Can I say like a list? (1) Everything has already been written. Nothing is original. The only thing we can do is to tell stories in the way only our individuality can. (2) Don’t be afraid to feel, both suffering and joy are sublime. There is no life without either. (3) In whatever you do, do it with discipline, patience, and love.
RADAR: What is your “language”? Intelligent? Romantic? Wise? Annoying?
JERARD: Oh, my language is definitely romantic with an admirable attempt at sounding insightful, incisive, and—at perfect moments—profound. At least I wish or think this is the case.
RADAR: What is Jerard Eusebio’s “style” in life?
JERARD: I’m not sure I get the question, but I would always go for the classic look. (This why Radar50’s cover is quite me.) I like things that I know would be timeless. I believe in time-tested values, decency, respect, and good manners will bring me a long way. Consequently, my aesthetics should follow these motifs. Something that I would say is a recent acquisition would be my partiality for simplicity. I like being simple, clean, and organized. It’d be extremely rarely to find me gaudy.
RADAR: To which life “genre” do you belong to?
JERARD: Tricky. Since I generally regard myself as a realist, it would make sense that I’d be part of a realist novel.
RADAR: Five weird things about you
1. I’m an advocate for men peeing sitting down.
2. I enjoy being in dimly lit rooms. I avoid bright, artificially lit places.
3. I never use faucet water when brushing my teeth.
4. The cartilage in my nose is broken. I can make a clicking sound with it upon request.
5. Apparently, I look taller in pictures.
RADAR: Ultra, mega, super, duper favorite song of all time
JERARD: Underneath the Stars by Mariah Carey
RADAR: Other plans in life
JERARD: I’m determined to finish graduate school. I’m taking MA Creative Writing at UP Diliman. All that’s left is thesis. It’s quite challenging since I’m expected to write a novel. I am dying to finish writing. I’m about 70% done with it. Exciting times ahead. Plus, I’m quite serious with the ornamental plant nursery thing I mentioned earlier.
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