10 hours ago
3
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Dressed in a plain polo shirt, classic washed-out jeans, thick eyeglasses, and a sling laptop bag, Johannes Chua—our then-Property section editor—would stride hurriedly through the hallways of the Manila Bulletin, heading straight to his desk to begin editing without missing a beat.
Johannes Chua and his debut book ‘Kuwentong Butsero’By noon, he would turn to the team and casually ask, “What’s for lunch?” His go-to spot: Mitre Restaurant, beside the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. There, he would order crispy pata—his favorite guilty pleasure. At the lunch table, Johannes—Sir Joe to us in the office—never ran out of chika and captivating stories, sharing them generously with us, the eager young bloods. On the way back to the office, Starbucks was an obligatory stop, where he indulged in his beloved sweet drinks.
I fondly recall his recurring joke: “High blood ako, Jess, pero hayaan mo na—minsan lang naman.” (“I have hypertension, but let me have this. I don’t do this regularly.”) In my seven years at the Manila Bulletin, I lost count of how many times he used that line.
That was Sir Joe—fun and generous, yet a strict mentor every writer aspired to learn from. Then, after 25 years of writing for the Manila Bulletin, on Dec. 31, 2023, he stepped away from journalism to take a well-earned break. His departure stirred mixed emotions, especially in me, as there was still so much I longed to learn from him.
More than a year later, after setting aside his journalist hat, Sir Joe released his first book, “Kuwentong Butsero”—a compilation of Filipino short stories. This was no typical romance or comedy novel. In fact, he warned me that minors shouldn’t read it, as it delved into deep, dark themes mirroring today’s stark realities.
I took the opportunity to interview him, using this moment as my own attempt—perhaps a futile one—to know him better and finally ask the questions I never dared to pose when he was still my editor.
First of all, what inspired you to become a writer?
I had a natural inclination for writing in Filipino from an early age, though I’m not sure where it came from. No one in my family is a writer or artist, nor was I particularly encouraged to read or write. It just felt instinctive, natural.
A consequential moment happened in third year high school when I came across a short story entitled “Mapanglaw ang Mukha ng Buwan” by Efren R. Abueg. Our Filipino textbook was largely ignored in a school that prioritized science and math, but that story captivated me. I was riveted after reading that it awakened something in me. I knew then that I wanted to write like Abueg. While I may never match his brilliance, having Abueg eventually as a mentor and his blurb on the cover of my first book feels like a “full-circle” moment.
How did you hone your writing skills?
I earned my degree in Economics from De La Salle University (DLSU), where I also pursued a Master’s in Creative Writing. Initially, I wanted to take Malikhang Pagsulat at University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and was even accepted into the program, but I was discouraged at a young age (baka raw maging aktibista ako!). Despite that, my passion for writing never waned. I continued honing my craft and even joined “Malate,” DLSU’s literary journal.
Why did you choose to pursue writing instead of a more lucrative career?
As a third-generation Fil-Chi, the expectation was to go into business, medicine, engineering, or tech—fields deemed more financially rewarding. Choosing a path in writing and media was, and still is, unconventional. But I’ve always believed in “ars longa, vita brevis”—art is long, life is short.
Writing a book was my childhood dream. I wanted to walk into a bookstore and see my book on the shelf. It may not be the most lucrative career, but it is fulfilling for my soul. Not everyone gets to see their childhood dream come true. I consider myself “poor”—yet very lucky.
Can you tell us the story behind the creation of ‘Kuwentong Butsero’?
Growing up, I saw the world differently, much to my parents’ “concern.” Many assume that privilege creates a bubble, shielding one from the struggles of others. But I had an “alter” (not the sex ha!) who gravitated toward the streets—attending protests, listening to the stories of the disenfranchised, eating or drinking with the oppressed, and immersing myself in realities outside my own. These experiences shaped my writing and influenced the characters in my stories.
“Kuwentong Butsero” is a culmination of 25 years of storytelling. My first story, retitled as “Katay,” which won third prize in the Gawad Ka Amado V. Hernandez in 1999, is included in the book. Another story, “Kalinangan,” won first prize in the inaugural Future Fiction category of the Palanca Awards in 2000. I felt it was time to put these stories together in a book form and finally move forward.
How did your experience as a journalist influence this book?
Although the stories in “Kuwentong Butsero” are fictional, they are deeply rooted in research. Writing about a butcher, for example, meant spending time at Arranque Market, observing every detail, every scent, every sound. I did all that when I was 18. Writing about death required firsthand observation. I looked at dead people. My approach mirrors my process when I was an editor at the Manila Bulletin—interviewing, studying, researching, and capturing authenticity.
What realizations did you come to while writing this book?
That we need more books written by Filipinos. Many lament that younger generations are unfamiliar with the greats of Filipino literature. I see it as part of my role to bridge that gap. If readers discover my work and, through it, my inspirations, perhaps they will be encouraged to explore further—to read, to write, to preserve our literary heritage. A nation that neglects its own literature, especially in its native tongue, is headed toward “tragedy.”
Another realization is the growing presence of AI. While AI has become influential—even in literature—creativity remains a distinctly human advantage. Only human writers can infuse true empathy, capture the depth of the human experience, and craft the kind of genuinely twisted plot twists that no AI can replicate. Support writers by supporting their works or books. Otherwise, we will wake up one day when literature is now an overly AI-dominant industry.
What’s your message for the readers of ‘Kuwentong Butsero’?
“Kuwentong Butsero” is meant to be engaging, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It belongs to the transgressive genre, much like certain popular Korean and Japanese books translated in English that tackle violence, death, revenge, etc. Literature reflects society, and in our tumultuous times, books like “Kuwentong Butsero” serve as both a mirror and a warning.
“Kuwentong Butsero” may seem extreme (even nauseating to read), but beneath the surface, the stories unravel deeper truths. As Scottish writer Alasdair Gray wrote in “Poor Things”: “We are cruel beasts, born that way, die that way.” We may not physically butcher people, but are we not guilty of cruelty in other ways? Underpaying employees, backstabbing friends, spreading lies, indulging in vanity at the expense of others—these, too, are acts of butchery.
“Kuwentong Butsero” doesn’t just slice the flesh but exposes the soul, unmasking people one page at a time. Yes, I like to believe that this is a crazy book. But aren’t we living in crazy times?
Sir Joe then revealed what’s next for him, and it’s nothing less than exciting. He said that “Kuwentong Butsero” is just the first installment of a five-part pentalogy “Kuwentong ABKDE.” The next book, “Kuwentong Astronomo,” will feature transgressive, futuristic stories. Then there’s “Kuwentong Kuneho,” which are transgressive erotica stories. He’s also working on a crazy project—a Filipino novel on cannibalism, which he expects to be controversial.
Hello, readers! Do you have a story you want us to feature? Send us a message on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and X and let’s talk about it.
