“It takes guts to admit the fact that you are gutless.” – a translated quote from “Kapitan Sino,” one of the books published by the famous contemporary Filipino writer, Bob Ong.
Roberto “Bob” Ong is a contemporary Filipino author born on February 1975 in Quezon City. He is known for his pseudonym “Bob Ong” and his conversational writing technique which creates humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life. In the span of sixteen years since his first book was published, his real name and identity has remained unknown to the majority of his followers and the Filipino population. In a question and answer portion submitted to him by Philstar he stated that he wanted to follow the concept of not embracing celebrity and that his books perfectly reflect who he is as an individual. Before becoming a full-fledged writer Roberto Ong was a web developer who put up the Bobong Pinoy website. When someone contacted him after mistaking him as an actual person named Bob Ong, his famous pseudonym was born. The site he developed received a “People’s Choice Philippine Web Award” for humor in 1998, but was taken down after former President Joseph Estrada was ousted after the Second People Power Revolution.
For some literary critics, Bob Ong is just another writer who has dared to break boundaries and set trends in the history of Philippine literature. But for his legion of fans and followers, Ong is considered to be a genius who has brought Philippine literature to a whole new level. Such is Bob Ong’s influence that even the renowned writer-critic Isagani Cruz welcomes the idea of giving a National Artist Award to the country’s beloved phantom humor writer. In 2001, Bob Ong published his first book entitled “ABNKKBSNPLAKO” which was a very unexpected success that shocked not only Nida Gatus-Ramirez, Visprint Inc.’s publishing manager but the whole Philippine population. “ABNKKBSNPLAKO” is said to be the book that closely states Ong’s life story as he candidly retells his student days in a way that could make any person laugh while reading. People from all walks of life – including those used to buy only English books and those who didn’t even think they liked reading books – bought and enjoyed it, sharing the gospel of Bob Ong with family and friends. After sixteen years he has published nine outstanding and insightful books named – “Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?”, “Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas”, “Alamat ng Gubat”, “Stainless Longganisa”, “Macarthur”, “Kapitan Sino”, “Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan”, “Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin”, and “Si”. Six of the books he has published have surpassed quarter of a million copies with “ABNKKBSNPLAKO” as his trademark masterpiece and bestseller which was adapted into a movie in the year of 2014. According to one reviewer of his books, “Filipinos patronize Bob Ong’s works because, while most of his books may have an element of comedy in them, this is presented in a manner that replicates Filipino culture and traditions. This is likely the reason why his first book and those that followed it can be considered true Pinoy classics.”
As a Millennial, I could say that Bob Ong is a highly exceptional contemporary writer who will be forever remembered by the young and old. I think that his literary works truly depict reality in every letter, word, page, chapter, and book he has published. Moreover, his way of portraying events and issues in an implicit manner has added up to why his books are highly intriguing and entertaining. Furthermore, I believe that his literary compositions have truly carved a mark in our literature and history, which would timelessly remind us of our cultures and traditions that make up who we are as Filipinos. Just like the saying goes, “Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once,” if Bob Ong chooses to keep his real identity in the shadows we will remember him not only as a contemporary writer but as a Phantom of Filipino Literature.
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