Downtime With E.J. Bonilla
Rafe just got sentenced to two years in state prison on GUIDING LIGHT. Rafe won’t be free anytime soon, but E.J. Bonilla (Rafe) plans to keep up one of his favorite hobbies during his downtime.
Soap Opera Weekly: What will Rafe do to occupy his time while he’s in jail?
E.J. Bonilla: I don’t know yet. Probably wait around, get beaten up, and try not to get manhandled by men in the wrong way. [We] don’t want that to happen! I think that he’s trying to stay positive and have faith. He’s trying to stay strong for his family. He got sentenced to two years, and after that, I don’t know what’s happening.
Weekly: Do you think he’ll be the same person when he comes out?
Bonilla: When you are in an environment like that, one where you have to literally fear for your well-being, it changes you. I’m interested to see where they go with that. In the meantime, I’m hoping they give him an outlet to use. I would love it if Rafe would become a writer.
Weekly: Why a writer?
Bonilla: It would get his issues out on the page and in ink, as opposed to keeping it bottled up. I am a poet, or at least I consider myself to be one, so it would be amazing if that would happen, because it would be real for me.
Weekly: How often do you write?
Bonilla: I have my backpack with me at all times, and in my backpack there’s always a poetry book or two, and a pen is always in my pocket. Sometimes I’m on the set and I have to scrub ink off of my arm, because I’ve written all over it. I feel like if I write it on myself it’ll soak in, so even if I lose it, it’s still in me.
Weekly: Have you ever lost any of your poems?
Bonilla: I’ve lost full poetry books that were halfway finished, but I’ve learned to let it go. I wrote it already, it came out of me, so it’s still out there.
Weekly: Do you ever perform any of your pieces?
Bonilla: I have. I’ve been to Nuyorican [Poets Cafe] twice. I love Nuyorican. There is such good energy there. I was really proud of myself. The first time I went, I went with my best female friend, Stephanie, and I was nervous as heck. We signed up and [performed] last. I was 22, and my heart was rumbling. I lost my performance virginity there, but I went. I got judged, and they liked it. I was happy!
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Soap Opera Digest does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.