AN EXISTENTIAL QUEST into the minds of fictional characters GIMO JR & ALICE
A Q&A endeavor endeavored by the Dystopiarist & Odile_tv
Former future folks Andrew Jalbuena Pasaporte and Charisse Rapadas recently lit up Poblacion with a joint signing of their respective debut novels. These one-time business partners & forever friends drew a crowd of fresh and familiar characters in celebration of the new chapters in their multi-hyphenate lives.
In this interview, we investigate how art perhaps imitates life or life has imitated art in the works of both debut writers. A sneak peek you might say... into the parallels between the authors & the characters they’ve created.
WHAT'S YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY? LIKE YOU CAN'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.
GIMO JR: My phone po. Can you send me some love, Tita B? My GCash number is 097781…
ANDREW: My bland personality.
ALICE: Phone. Wallet & My emotional baggage
CHARISSE: Phone. Wallet. Water bottle.
DO YOU WORK OUT? OR WHAT’S YOUR CONDITIONING FOR THE HAPPENINGS YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH?
GIMO JR: I don’t need to work out. It’s in the genes. Conditioning? What’s that? My dad says if I eat humans, I can be stronger.
ANDREW: Do I look like I work out? Magnesium and Vitamin D.
ALICE: Hell no, I'd rather die than step into a gym. Body positivity yay!
CHARISSE: Nowadays, regular yoga classes and meditation practice help maintain my mental clarity and fostering creativity.
WHAT’S YOUR PREFERRED MODE OF RELAXATION? ALONE OR WITH OTHERS. RELAXATION?
GIMO JR: Sometimes, I get too tired, like how the Hulk returns to being Bruce Banner. There’s no way I can’t relax. It’s like I’m being forced to. My body shuts down, but only for a few minutes.
ANDREW: My preferred mode of relaxation is Unisom, usually taken alone.
ALICE: Chilling in the puffiest bed I can think of, fully naked like a new born baby, headphones on, getting engulfed by the music...alone
CHARISSE: Deep therapeutic massages and beach with 2 or 3 people
WHO WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUAL IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT?
GIMO: Mr. Andrew Jalbuena Pasaporte. He’s like all the things in this town. He’s everything.
ANDREW: I can’t think of a good answer. Pour me another drink.
ALICE: All the beautiful creatures at Fiction Bar and Marupokpok street. They are so cool and eccentric, they make me want to wear my PJs at work
CHARISSE: My fiance, Lidor & I have been inseparable for the past 3.5 years. Everything from his healthy lifestyle down to his accent, I've got 'em all. Also my BFF Hunter, who helped me embrace every aspect of myself, warts and all.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH YOU HAD TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY? WHO?
GIMO JR: I remember seeing all the other aswangs in the neighborhood. But I have yet to ask them how their day or night went.
ANDREW: None
ALICE: Myself. I wish the voices in my head are not too mean to me. Like they always make me look "chaka" and doubt myself too much.
CHARISSE: Nobody comes to mind. I'd probably cry before getting into a fight, haha. I do wish I had treated our planet better in the past. However, I'm making conscious efforts now to do my part in preserving our environment.
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PH Lit has never been this "lit" before. These two bring incendiary voices to the local publishing scene. It's never going to be the same from this point on!
Very Punk. Very folkloric punk and just "raw" With these 2 writers impacting the scene. Or kung baga dumating na ang mga tinatawag na "Impakta" para impaktahin ang literatura at sining.
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On Lucy Fruit Love
"Can't put this book down! Amazing book by Cha Rapadas, a Cebu based author." -Coach Wacky
"Cha's book is gonna be the bible for the next generation of "any any" girls! That's it!" - Bianca
On Gimo Jr and the Aswang Clan
"Quite an adventure not just for kids but adults too. If you fancy immersing yourself in a bit of Filipino culture of the scary kind... this is it." - Odile
"A delightful coming of age dark fantasy. Philippine folklore mixed with local dishes and family values" - Chie
You can purchase their books at the links below:
GIMO JR and the Aswang Clan , LUCY FRUIT LOVE
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This piece is brought to you by Odile_TV & the Dystopiarist: Two gallivanting wanderers exploring the present accordingly through curious research & blissful relaxation.