Aisha Rallonza

BY BENJIE BERNAL

AISHA RALLONZA (4 BFA CW) is a non-fiction writer for whom writing is a muscle that demands exercise. They claim to spend about “a good 90%” of their spare time writing. Outside the classroom, they have shared their stories through multiple Heights literary submissions, fellowship to its prestigious writers’ workshop, and even an advocacy collaboration between organizations. Through thick and thin, this dedicated wordsmith has relentlessly sharpened their skills.

A character in oneself

Aisha has been inspired by words ever since they were a kid. They grew up in a family of teachers—with their mother and role model being Ma. Lourdes V. Rallonza of the Political Science Department, and their older brother being a high school teacher. These figures have influenced them to express ideas with passion, even on paper. The fictional world of the musical Pippin (1972), also opened Aisha’s eyes to just how imaginative storytelling could be. And so, they initially dreamed of becoming a fiction writer.

But after taking sophomore year creative writing classes, Aisha realized that their characters were simply reflections of themselves. Since then, they transitioned to non-fiction to explore their own psyche more directly. “If I don’t write an essay about it, it will be something completely unknown to me,” they say.

48 Aisha then delved into tough non-fiction topics. One concept they revisit is death, which they have grappled with through the passing of family members. “Ever since, [death] has kinda fascinated me [with] the process of grief—what it leaves behind, and what it means to people,” they add. This led them to pursue the topic in their thesis manuscript, Notes from the Autopsy. Another striking essay of theirs, Are You Telling the Truth? (2019), bravely reflects on developing a tendency to lie in connection with mental health challenges. They may openly share sensitive thoughts in their essays, but they also clarify that effective non-fiction goes beyond trauma. “[Some mistakenly assume that] if you gave Vincent Van Gogh antidepressants, he wouldn’t have made good art,” Aisha says. “I want to break the stereotype of the damaged artist, that you need to be suffering to be a good artist.”

Writing with purpose

Aisha knows that being a good writer rests on constant effort and a willingness to challenge oneself. Throughout their college life, Aisha has had a number of essays published in Heights Ateneo folios—but has still experienced rejection. “It’s always a harrowing process,” Aisha admits. “It’s kinda hard to separate the self from the writing [...] So it’s like the piece isn’t the only thing being rejected—it’s myself as a person.” Nonetheless, Aisha has persisted through self-doubt. They were accepted into the 24th Ateneo Heights Writers’ Workshop, which let them interact with seasoned writers. Aisha appreciates these different perspectives on their writing, even while their material is drawn from very personal places. “I believe that getting other people’s input is something of a duty,” they explain. “You have to engage with the world you’re writing for during the writing process.” Aisha’s writing has also evolved beyond personal exploration into a platform for others. As a sophomore, they worked with comic enthusiast org Blue Indie Komiks and an advocacy org for rural communities, Barefoot Philippines. Aisha visited an Aeta community to learn about their stories and customs firsthand. The result was Kwentong Aeta: Mekeni Makiramdam (2017) a children’s storybook co-written by Aisha that wove the community’s tales into a narrative for the youth. Aisha saw the project as especially vital today. “I feel very strongly about the importance of children’s literature, more so children in marginalized sectors,” they say. “[...] We need to write for those who are growing up and don’t often see themselves in stories.” As someone who has been lucky to grow up writing, Aisha wants to keep doing so in the long run. They could join the academe like their mother, but may freelance first then get a master’s degree. The possibilities ahead are all about gaining more clarity as a writer—“to see the world more clearly and help others see it clearly too.” And as always, they trust that the effort will make them even better. “I just keep trying to push through with the process. If there’s anything this experience has taught me,” they explain, “it’s to be dogged and try over and over again.” Aisha