Tapping Back Into Previous Methods of Storytelling
Alternative Title: On Participating in the #PTIChallenge and Cosplaying as Eric Draven
As 2025 starts to wind down, the time for reflection becomes about as instinctual as the natural urge to sleep for longer periods of time. On the creative front, while this year for me will largely be remembered for tapping into storytelling via filmmaking and animation for the first time, I also see how it can be a year of tapping back into methods of storytelling I hadn’t done so in a hot minute — specifically in rapping and cosplaying.
Rapping is a skill I’ve had in my arsenal for the longest time, but one that has accumulated dust. That’s largely from the fact that a majority of the people in my life, up until a month ago, did not know that I can do that. I have a background both in music and in spoken word, and so I think I subconsciously utilized skills acquired from both, which is what led to me being able to pick up on rapping. Also, I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has quite a notable hip hop scene, and as a creative, that influence is contagious, especially as a person of color.
This skill, this method of storytelling, is one that I kept under wraps. I was never scared or anything. Rather, I just didn’t see the point. I have no aspiration of becoming a rapper or anything like that. Also, when there are so many incredible rappers out there already in the Filipino American community, I also didn’t want to fall into the trap of comparing myself to them. The times that I have rapped were really just to myself, and often in a lighthearted context. It’s been an infrequently visited hobby. (It’s funny when I think about it this in-depth, because my tita was the same way with piano playing. In fact, she probably would have been one of the first Filipinos to perform at Carnegie Hall, had she not seen her skill as just a hobby.)
I spoke previously about Carl Angelo’s “PTI” and how cathartic of a song it is. That’s why when he started up the “PTI” Challenge where he encouraged folks to either rap, sing, dance, mix, or something creative over the track, I know I had to go for it. I wrote my verse — which is centered on mixed race identity, how the Filipino American community is not a monolith, and individuality — in a day, recorded it that weekend, and the views on it entered the thousands in less than 24 hours of posting. For some of the rappers on the original track like Carl, Ruby Ibarra, and Talilo, they were very encouraging. For all who I know who saw it, they were surprised yet impressed. I was a wild card entry into the challenge, and I really dig that.
Ever since then, that method of storytelling has been reawakened and hasn’t gone back to sleep. To keep the momentum going, and as a creative challenge for myself, earlier this month, I wrote a rap verse to a song that never had one to begin with. It’s a non-hip hop song that came out three years ago, and it’s likely because it never had a rap on there, as well as the subject matter, that made writing for it more difficult than writing for “PTI.” It took a few days, but I eventually got it. I’m not sure what — if at all — will come of it though, especially since again, the song has been out for a few years. That being said, I am in contact with one of the artists behind the track…
Unlike with rapping, it is somewhat known that I do have a history of cosplaying. However, because it’s been so long since I last had done so that perhaps that’s why some people, for the most part, did not know that that’s something I do. Cosplaying is very time consuming, and I already got enough going on as it is. Also, with the most recent conventions I’ve been in attendance of, I wouldn’t have had the bandwidth to do so when I was either there as a vendor or as a special guest.
There’s also a particular factor I take into consideration when deciding on characters to cosplay, which is how much of myself — specifically my physical attributes — can I bring to the character. Even with all the progress made in Asian American representation onscreen, there still haven’t been a ton for me to look to and see a visual semblance of myself in.
But then some months back, I got to thinking about The Crow; a film I saw and fell in love with over a year ago. I looked at Eric Draven and thought to myself, Yeah, I can pull him off. It would be a way for me of paying homage both to the film and to the character’s late actor, Brandon Lee; a martial arts-trained, biracial Asian American. As someone who fits both of those descriptions, it felt like a moment of reclamation in a way.
There was a lot of preparation in advance; particularly with getting the makeup right. I’ve never been the best at makeup, and this was the first cosplay where that was essential in getting right. So there were multiple practice sessions leading up to FanExpo San Francisco, and it all worked out. When the day arrived and I painted my face to the sound of The Cure’s “Burn,” it came out seamless.
The cosplay was a hit! Aside from the occasional person who thought I was Sting (because I totally have the body of a bulky wrestler) or a member of Kiss, people knew I was cosplaying as. So many people asked for photos with me, including Henry Winkler! Also, from what I observed the day I went, I think I was the only one there cosplaying as Eric Draven. I really enjoyed getting to embody this character — which was also the first male character for me too — and I absolutely will be cosplaying as him again. It was a different way of storytelling without actually writing.
I liked how getting back into both rapping and cosplaying came about by way of opportunities both given and sought out, and it’s fair to say that the flames have been lit. While my focus this coming year will primarily be on making Disarm and making the new graphic novel, I am curious how these methods of storytelling will be interwoven into the fabric of 2026 for me.
Jacob (Yaakub) Ira Vijandre is still being illegally detained by ICE, and earlier this month, his DACA status was terminated. His family has created a petition to contact your elected officials, demanding for his immediate release. It only takes a few minutes to fill out, so please do and then share it with others. The constitutional violations need to be called and stopped already, before the government tries this on any more immigrants. #FreeYaakub
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Fun read! Now put all your talents together and write an auto-bio-pic screenplay about a cosplaying rapper!