Eve
"Most are unaware I have two first names. Jazlyn is a rare name as is but attaching Eve positions me as the sole bearer of this full first name. I revel in the uniqueness of my name and would never want to change it, even in my next life. Appointed a pattern breaker at birth, each half of my first name stems from my forebears but are not direct copies and instead derivations. Such variance has continued to echo through the years, with many commenting on how I possess a certain, unique aesthetic and energy profile they can instinctively identify as me in a crowd—although I would say I am only in crowds because I champion ubiquitous community. To embrace my individuality but recognize our common roots has always been my impetus. Having been described as both down-to-earth but also otherworldly, I think I was aptly named: Jazlyn—from jasmine—is of the land—and Eve—like evening—is of the sky, to help bring heaven on Earth."
1
The Sole Bearer
"Entirely unplanned, the jasmines acquired for this shoot had not yet blossomed—one could say they were in the midst of their own eve. Defined by what follows it, "eve" conveys a passage of time with the expectation that something markedly exciting rests on the horizon. With this, I know that no matter what course I take in life things will ultimately work out because being Eve means to always be on the precipice of something great. Even more blessedly, it is cyclical. Inevitable. Repeated every day. Good fortune will always be on my route somewhere, sometime to greet like me an old friend. From dusk to dirt, my second first name is also evocative of the Biblical Eve. Strung around the branches, the jasmines resemble the snake that spoke to humanity's first woman before relinquishing to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. My hourglass necklace and rosary bracelets, washed in twilight, watch it happen. The blue hour, in sweet waiting for the moon to make her appearance, witnesses this union between the two halves of my first name in these singular shots to embody Jazlyn Eve."
2
The Hourglass ⏳
"Whenever I tell people my name in introduction, I universally get, "That's so pretty!" My Filipino parents, after all, made sure to put actual respect on my name. Cherished as the nation's flower, the white sampaguita ("jasmine", from which Jazlyn is derived) makes its appearance in spiritual ceremonies, perfumes, garlands, and weddings. Representing purity, humility, and strength, the sampaguita blooms during the night. To be of the dark but still bloom with a reserved reverence, I am grateful to be a living portrayal of this flower."
3
The Coveted 🌑
