The Creativity of a Filipino Poet Writer 

The arts exist to make our lives more in touch with our souls. They remind us of our humanity and why we find purpose and meaning in the things we experience. True to this, Aaron Ang (Eliot Fishers), the author of Shelf Lives, shows how poetry can make us attuned to our inner thoughts and emotions. 

The poet channels his creativity through his life experiences from childhood to adulthood, and it shows through his verses. He shows why pursuing the arts should be appreciated and supported.

It’s because poetry is an outlet where we can share the raw meaning of life. 

Through his passion, a poet like Aaron Ang braves the journey of becoming a poet by turning into a self-published author. And his authenticity opened him to a world where his poems are meant to be celebrated.

Stories like this should be told, and so CHiNOY TV interviewed him to learn why pursuing arts can be daunting and rewarding for new authors. 

Aaron Ang / Eliot Fishers a Filipino Poet Writer 

Developing His Passion for Poetry

Many believe that a nurturing teacher can mold a person into someone passionate and self-confident. Ang is a testament to this belief, showing that encouragement can go a long way. 

He began by sharing, “I started seriously writing at sixteen when my English teacher recommended that I submit an article for Tulay Fortnightly. All the English teachers I’ve had before, featured in my poem “The Pen Is Not For Me,” contributed to building my confidence in my writing skills.”

As he built his confidence in writing, he simultaneously used his emotions to channel his creativity into poetry, reflecting his growth and coming of age. 

Ang continued, “It reached a fever pitch when my first poems were also written at that age, during the peak of my teenage angst – some of which I found deep in my Google Drive and decided to publish into this book, even if they are a little embarrassing  like “prayer.”

Apart from the bloom of his youth, his heritage also played a role in his passion for writing. Ang proudly shared that his Chinoy background contributed greatly to finding inspiration for his written works. 

“My Chinoy background bleeds into everything I do. From the images I use in my poems like Binondo, dumplings, and sugar cane water to values and traditions- like the Chinese-Filipino legacy of doing business,”  said Ang. 

After establishing his passion for writing, Ang continued to devote himself to the arts and poetry by creating a pen name (Eliot Fishers) as an author. 

He mentioned how he came up with the pen name: “I wanted a whimsical name to separate my real self from my artistic side, so this name felt right. He is a farm boy from far far away, and he’s my poet persona who’s obsessed with nature since my poems draw a lot of imagery from it. (Inspired by the Romantic and Lake poets). “

Ultimately, whether he is Aaron Ang or Eliot Fishers, he surely will continue to devote his passion for his craft, shaping the landscape of Chinoy authors to be more diverse and rich in potential. 

Eliot Fishers a Filipino Poet Writer reading his poetry

Being a Self-Published Author

The passion he carries from his early years gave him more opportunities – he became a self-published author for 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing. This achievement also inspires other young writers to pursue their passion with grit and enthusiasm. 

As he recalled his childhood dreams, he shared, “Unreal! It was always a life goal of mine to become a published author. I have always dreamed of releasing a book, so I can’t believe that I can hold my first book in my hands. I still can’t believe that I have a link in my bio where you can buy my book. It’s crazy! Ultimately, it felt like a huge weight off my shoulders when it was printed and published—but a bit intimidating too, since it’s like, ‘That’s my baby!’”

Indeed, Ang may just be starting his journey as a writer, but his sincere love for his craft may bring him further in life and also inspire writers to pursue their passion with genuine zeal.

Achieving his dreams, Ang also knew that this could inspire other Chinoys to pursue arts and literature. 

Ang shared a piece of advice: “I think it would be great if more Chinoy people became readers and writers! Our culture is just so rich with experiences and stories, and I wish there were more Chinese-Filipino poets. Our people have a lot of ‘ai,’ love, and pain to share, and I’m sure it would make for great pieces of art, literature, and poetry.” 

A truly inspiring story to remember how Aaron Ang/Eliot Fishers saw life with his fierce dedication to poetry. And so, seeing how he wrote Shelf Lives can give us an idea of how his all-out passion produced his first book.

Shelf Lives book by a Chinoy Author,  Aaron Ang a.k.a. Eliot Fishers

Shelf Lives: Writing Poetry to Make Peace with Your Past 

The rawest form of poetry indeed comes from emotions and real-life experiences. You can feel this by reading Shelf Lives, a poetry collection where connecting with your past can help you relive and reminisce. 

Ang shared, “My book Shelf Lives is for young adults and teens who are craving emotional release. It brings you on a journey through growing up—from the innocence of teddy bears to your first job. It’s also a love letter to growing up in the 2000s. But mainly, it’s for anyone who misses being a kid and the old days.”

As you read his poetry, nostalgia is the first thing that will come to your mind—a yearning for the past that can put a smile on your face. 

This happens because of how Ang weaves his words into the verses and stanzas: “My writing style is filled with imagery because I love using words to paint vibrant pictures of scenes! I’m very sentimental, so preserving memories of wonderful moments is so important to me.”

But his poems are not just about sentimentality. They’re also about making peace with your past—a way to heal the wounds from your heart and a time for a new beginning. 

Ang then reflected on being a poet: “Revisiting painful feelings from the past was the most difficult part of the writing process, but I don’t regret it at all. There was this Philo class I took in college where Kierkegaard said something like: Art allows us to engage with and reflect upon deep emotional truths in a way that makes them more bearable and comprehensible.”

For Ang, poetry helps him manage his emotions and maybe face his unhealed healings through words. So, when asked if poetry helps him deal with difficult times, he answered: 

“A hundred percent! When Taylor Swift made The Tortured Poets Department, she mentioned that it was a lifeline for her. It’s like that for me too—writing and making art can save your life. It can help you make sense of things and cope with the strength of emotions.” 

Finding courage in poetry, Ang also utilized his artistry to heal himself, showing how powerful the arts can be if you’re passionate enough to pursue it. 

Finally, he shared, “Shelf Lives came out a few months after I turned 24, and it was such a journey. I felt so emotional on the evening of its publishing, since it was essentially releasing my childhood, teen years, and present young adult years to the world.”

[POEM VERSE]: 

Our things are old friends

Who’ve watched us grow

From paper boats

And old teddy bears

Your favorite crayons

What would you say to them today?

A Sincere Love for the Craft

True to this verse, Ang embraces his past so he can mold his craft of today. 

He also stands as proof that a sincere love for your craft can open doors of opportunities, like how he became a self-published author. Aside from that, he also has plans to publish more books in the future. 

He revealed that, “My next poetry book is called Oxygen For Dreamers, which is teased at the end of Shelf Lives. It will be a collection of short stories, interspersed with poems.”

For his future endeavors, Ang will surely show his dedication to the arts that can inspire others.

About the Author