Jake Cuenca —PHOTOS FROM @JUANCARLOSCUENCA INSTAGRAM
Actor Jake Cuenca, who is now on his third month of character immersion for the upcoming series “What Lies Beneath,” cannot emphasize enough the importance of journaling, or the practice of putting down thoughts on paper.
As a way to prepare for his character in the ABS-CBN-produced series, Cuenca would regularly “visit” the Mandaluyong City Jail “to look for inspiration,” he said. “I also want to take time to get to know the inmates and guards there.”
For several days a week, he goes in with his motorcycle at 4:30 a.m., while all the inmates are still sleeping. He is brought to his “cell” on the ninth floor, which is the maximum security level where highly dangerous or high security risk inmates are.
“I go into my cell with only my journal and script for ‘What Lies Beneath.’ I’ve already managed to create a routine for myself there. I go in, rehearse my script, do my journal, and then spend time on the basketball court at the rec center. That’s where I get to see the other inmates. Some would call out to me through their windows,” he said.
Journaling is a tool that has been used to capture experiences of people—from great rulers to the most obscure artists—for thousands of years. It is a means of self-reflection and personal growth. It allows you to reflect on your experiences and gain insights on what your strengths and weaknesses are. It also helps you stay focused on your long-term goals, enabling you to record your progress.
Creating a persona
In this interview, Cuenca talked at length about how journaling has helped him become good at what he does.
“As you progress with your research for a character, you put all your thoughts in your journal. You create a persona. You try to blur the line between fiction and reality. The experience has really hit close to home. During my first few weeks there, I was going through so many things while rehearsing, like feeling claustrophobic inside my cell. It’s super hot there. I would just be on the second page of the script but I would already be sweating like crazy. You have to acclimate. You have to get used to the space.
I write all these down,” he pointed out.
Cuenca said that while he has a personal journal placed by his bedside, he also keeps a journal for every character he plays. “If we start shooting all the projects I’m preparing for in January, this means I would be juggling several roles; and if I’m not organized, things can get confusing. I could end up portraying different roles the same way. I use these journals as references.”
What’s in these journals? “Life, an entire life,” Cuenca said, “but all based on the context of the script. Last year, I had to play three different roles simultaneously. I did ‘Cattleya Killer,’ ‘Iron Heart,’ and ‘Dick Talk.’ I had to be organized, because confusion hits you when you’re tired.
“It usually happens that at 3 a. m., you get called to shoot your big scene; and then you can’t do it because you’re tired. It’s important that I keep track of what’s happening to all these characters. A journal for me is like a well of knowledge that I can readily access. It really works for me,” he told Lifestyle.
For emotional wellness
Journaling is also something you can do for emotional wellness.
“Definitely,” Cuenca declared. “Just like most people, I get angry or sad. I guess it’s also why I don’t come off as a very stressed person—I really express and release everything. Journaling is one of my ways of doing this.”
He added, “It’s part of how I practice gratitude. I like to believe in ‘manifesting’ dreams and wishes, so I write them down. I’m able to go through tough times in my life because I practice gratitude. I count my blessings, I put them in a journal, and then continue working toward achieving the things I don’t have yet. The secret is making sure you’re on the right frequency. Returning to your journal entries reminds you of all the reasons you should be happy.”
Journaling is something Cuenca has been doing long before he went to drama school. He took several courses at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York City. “It has always been somewhat part of my process,” he added. It is also something that he would recommend to a friend or a loved one.
Other Filipino celebrities who are into journaling are actor Dominic Roque, actress and fitness guru Jackie Lou Blanco, model LA Aguinaldo, and “Pinoy Big Brother” alumni Gail Banawis.
“Sometimes, when you talk to people as a way to unpack, you don’t always get the advice that’s suited for you, so it doesn’t always work. But when you do journaling, what you have is an uncensored way of expressing what you feel. No one is there to judge you for what you said. No one is going to say you’re wrong or right. You’re not okay and you can just write this down,” he pointed out.
“When you return to it some other time, you realize that you now have an overview of what you’re going through. Chances are, when you reread it, you can find an answer. There are so many ways to do journaling, and it really works,” the actor said. INQ