MOND GUTIERREZ IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, SHAPING HIS OWN NARRATIVES AND THE POWER OF VISIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION

BY IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRAPHER: MARQ MENDEZ
Knit Top: SALT MURPHY, Pants: LOWE, Belt: HOME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE

Raymond Gutierrez a.k.a. Mond is not just your ordinary multi-hyphenate creative type from a powerful celebrity family in the Philippines. Before the Kardashians were a thing, the Gutierrez family had long been entertaining people- creating TV shows, movies, commercials, brand extensions; expanding their empire, ensuring longevity, power and. “Famous” would be an understatement to describe anyone from their family. But despite bearing the famous last name, MOND was able to carve a name for himself throughout the years. He’s a successful businessman with multiple businesses under his name, an entrepreneur, an influencer, a creative, a TV host, producer of events, magazine editor, owner of clubs and more. He wears multiple hats and he wears them well in style. When I first met Mond, the first thing I noticed was the certain air of ease coming from him. He’s just chill, unassuming and very down to earth. Considering his background and the things that he does, he makes it seem so easy to juggle everything effortlessly.

When I first met Mond, his MEGA Magazine coming-out story was still fresh, circulating the press and social media. It created a lot of buzz since coming-out, especially for celebrities in the Philippines, is still uncommon. Yes, it evolved a bit, but the Philippines’ view on LGBTQIA+ issues still has a long way to go. There’s still a lack of visibility and representation- that’s why Mond’s story resonated to a lot of people. It was absolutely brave, yes. But Mond also did it for himself. It was a liberating feat. “Now I can feel like I can shout it out to the world, I’m very proud and it’s fine. It’s like ripping a band-aid off. You know what I mean? I just feel happy.”

GROOMING: JOEL SEBASTIAN, LOCATION: JUSTIN JALAD
Jacket: JEROME LORICO, Tank top: RICK OWENS, Pants: HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE

Now based in Los Angeles, Mond is at peace with himself. There’s an undeniable aura of security and confidence from him. Mond was relaxed although he was just recovering from a car-related accident when we did this interview. He’s very chill and cozy. He was fine, he just can’t fully workout yet until he fully recovers.

In this exclusive interview, the multi-faceted creative opened up about his plans in Los Angeles, his potential entry to acting, the power and importance of visibility and representation, using his voice and platform to shine a positive influence to his audience, being an entrepreneur and more.

We started our conversation about our potential photoshoot in the future. We chatted about creative directions then the topic of acting came up.

We were in talks to do my first acting job. But because of the pandemic, it didn’t push through.

I was psyching myself up.I haven’t acted since I was 8 years old. I did several movies with my brother, as a child star and then after that, I disappeared; I came back as a TV host in the Philippines.

After the Philippines, I graduated. I I became a host for Asia, for Singapore, I started becoming a host for E!... but I never really played around the idea of acting. Until it was offered to me- and then I was like, you know what, why not?

It runs in your family.

Exactly.

And also the story line was gonna be a gay love story. It was pretty cool. The script was nice. I don't wanna give away too much. As of now, a lot of things are still on hold, but I’m not closing my doors to acting if it’s the right project. I’m willing to dive into it.

I’m always up for new challenges, that’s the type of person that I am. That’s why I was able to do so many different careers- from TV hosting, to producing events, to doing PR, doing businesses, night life, etc.

I feel like acting would be another challenge that I would be willing to take if the opportunity is right.

”There’s people before me that came out publicly, globally. But the thing is, in the Philippines, it’s still lacking. I think I'm one of the very few people in showbusiness that admitted to it, that came out publicly.”

**LEFT:** Jacket: JEROME LORICO, Tank top: RICK OWENS, Pants: HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE
**RIGHT:** Knit Top: SALT MURPHY, Pants: LOWE, Belt: HOME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE

How important is representation and visibility for you?

In the beginning I was hesitant because everybody knows. But then I never really made it official- and people were still hesitant to ask me about my points of view. People would still be shy to ask me about my sexuality- they keep tiptoeing around it. And I felt like, look, I am not ashamed of it. I’m proud of it. But I just never spoke about it. And I feel like I wish growing up I had people in the public speaking out about it, to normalize it. The reason why I was so scared when I was younger was because I didn’t see that in the media, especially in Asia, especially in the Philippines. You get criticized, you get bullied. I was bullied behind the scenes in my shows, I was bullied online. I was always compared to my twin brother. So it created a fear to be able to just admit it to myself and to everyone else.

So I feel like representation now... kids are so lucky now. There’s people before me that came out publicly, globally. But the thing is, in the Philippines, it’s still lacking. I think I'm one of the very few people in showbusiness that admitted to it, that came out publicly. There’s still some people that I know personally that are afraid to address it publicly. It’s gonna affect their careers- The stigmas, their managers and their fans will have their opinions about it, and it sucks- that's the society we live in.

If I can use my platform to make it okay and normalize it, and to shove it into people’s faces that being gay is okay, then I’ve used my platform the best I could. What’s the point of your followers, if you’re not gonna use it to the best of your ability?

For me, after I posted my coming out story, I got so many DMs from so many people- they flooded my inbox. I’m still overwhelmed up to this day. “You helped me come to terms with it.” “Because of you, I was able to come out with my family.”

The number one thing is really the family. It’s really important for the family to support their son, their sibling. The first fear [in coming out] is really with the family.

I’m just thankful that I was able to use my platform- if it helps somebody come to terms with who they are, I feel like I’ve already used it the best way I can.

How was it since your MEGA story came out?

You know, nothing has changed personally. I’ve been living my life the way I wanted to for so many years.

You’re just being you.

Exactly. I’m just being me.

The only thing that changed, is that now, people don’t need to ask me anymore. People don’t need to tiptoe around me to talk about it.

It’s liberating.

Yeah. Now I can feel like I can shout it out to the world, I’m very proud and it’s fine. It’s like ripping a band-aid off. You know what I mean? I just feel happy.

I’ve always been supported by my friends and family. That was never the issue. It’s more about the people who followed me. It gave them clarity, telling them that I am proud of who I am and I am not ashamed. There’s no reason to be ashamed. You could be a powerful person, you could be successful, you could reach all of your dreams and all of your goals and say that being gay is totally fine.

Some people would think that it [being gay] hinders them from being their best.

I wanna tell people that it’s okay. You could be the best version of yourself and be gay.

For me, it even elevated my creativity, my awareness, and I was able to combine the male and female psyche into my creative projects. You could combine those powers together and utilize it the best way you could.

**LEFT:** Jacket: JEROME LORICO, Tank top: RICK OWENS, Pants: HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE
**RIGHT:** Polo: R. SWIADER, Tank Top: RICK OWENS, Pants: COS, Sunglasses: URBAN OUTFITERS

Do you think that being in LA makes it a little bit easier as opposed to you being in the Philippines?

I think it doesn’t matter where you are because I feel like people in LA could be going through the same problems. It always has to do with your background and the way you are raised. But I think being in LA, and obviously, this is my second home, and I can’t say that it makes it easier. Here, people are just a little bit more accepting and open-minded. Here, i’ve been having the best time and living my best life. I’m privileged enough and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be here because not a lot of people have that.

I’m just very grateful that I get to spend that time here to start this new chapter of my life.

So what’s next for Mond? What are you most excited about?

Well, I really took this time out, since May, to really just focus on myself. I think I was focusing to much on everything else before the pandemic. I think the pandemic provided a nice reset and a nice restart button. Before the pandemic, I was so focused on my businesses, my travels, my content, my friends, I never really had the time to look inwards and really get to know myself because I was so busy chasing what’s next. I think this time in LA really allowed me to get to know myself a lot more. When I got here, I’m not super focused on being busy and what I’m doing next. It was more on - I wanted to get to know myself the best way I could. And I think I’ve achieved that. And now that I’m here, the work starts next year. That’s when I’m gonna put my head down and really create a name for myself here. The goal is really to continue what I do creatively in Asia for the past years that I’ve been working and to just mimic that here but do it on a global stage- whether it’s working on a different brand, whether it's appearing in front of the camera, whether it’s working behind the scenes. What’s nice about LA is that it allows you to do all those things. You don't just have to choose one. So I’m exploring, I’m networking, I’m meeting with different people. I’m not rushing into anything because I know that once I start something, I want it to be the best. And that’s what I’ve always wanted to do with all of my projects. Whether it’s nightlife, fashion, fitness. I always wanted to be the best representation of myself.

When I got to LA, I didn’t wanna rush anything and accept the first thing that came to me. I really want to assess and take my time to process things and when I’m ready, I’ll announce it.

It’s great cause you get to curate the life that you wanted.

Exactly.

How would you characterize Mond’s evolution throughout the years?

I really started out being in the shadows- being in the shadow of my brother, being in the shadow of my family. Growing up in a showbiz family, where everyone is so successful, it casts a big shadow upon you. It puts you in a lot of pressure. Taking the time to find myself, finding what I’m good at is not easy. People would always pressure you to do things because they would expect you to do things because you’re the son of... so I’ve always gone out of my way to prove to people that I’m more than just that. That I’m more than just the son of… or the brother of.

Do you still feel that way right now? Do you still feel like you have to go above and beyond just to prove yourself?

Now I don’t have to because I’ve carved a name for myself already that I’m in a position now where I’ve proven myself. So, now it’s not about proving myself to other people, but it’s about what I want to do- what’s next for me, what is it that I’m passionate about.

Before, it was like, I didn't wanna be an actor. I want to be a TV host and I want to be the best TV host. I wanna get into nightlife, I want my clubs to be the best, I wanna be an editor, I was part of the best fashion magazine in the Philippines. I always try to outdo myself. But now, I’m in my thirties, I’m happy that I get to pick and choose my projects, that I can sit back, relax and analyze things. And it’s great because I’m doing it for myself, not because I need to prove my worth.

Your energy is very chill and comfortable right now.

I’m very at peace.

And it shows. It radiates. Which is great.

I think the mindset for me right now is that I’m gonna keep doing me. I don’t care anymore if people approve of it. I don’t care if people like it, I'm just gonna keep doing what I wanna do and do it the best way I can, as long as I’m not hurting anybody.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

Oh my god. You know, honestly, I’ve always thought about my own biography and see how that would play out. It always toys around in my head- what would be the first chapter, how would it be ended, so I would have to say a biography would be cool. I feel like creatively, I’ve touched a lot of industries and I feel like I’ve learned so much through the years in many different industries and many different aspects and I feel like I could share all those things that I’ve learned to different people. I feel like from show business, coming from a showbiz family, being overweight, overcoming my fitness journey and now being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, there’s so many lessons. I feel like the Mond Biography would be cool to have.