Bob Ong
Bob Ong | |
---|---|
Born |
February 1975 Quezon City, Philippines |
Occupation | Author |
Genre | Humor |
Bob Ong (born February 1975) is the pseudonym of a contemporary Filipino author known for using conversational writing technique to create humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life.[1][2] The author's actual name and identity is unknown.
Website
The pseudonym Bob Ong came about when the author was working as a web developer and a teacher, and he put up the Bobong Pinoy website in his spare time. The name roughly translates to "Dumb Filipino," used fondly as a pejorative term.[3] "Although impressed," Bob Ong notes, "my boss would've fired me had he known I was the one behind it." When someone contacted him after mistaking him as an actual person named Bob Ong, his famous pseudonym was born.[1] The site received a People's Choice Philippine Web Award for Weird/Humor in 1998, but was taken down after former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada was ousted after the Second People Power Revolution.[4]
Pseudonym
There have been occasional confusions between Bob Ong and Chinese-Filipino author Charlson Ong. However, Bob Ong himself refutes this in his account in Stainless Longganisa, saying his surname is not "Ong" and neither is he even Filipino-Chinese. The family name was instead derived from wordplay on the name of his website.[1]
The poet Paolo Manalo has also been put forward as Ong, but he has denied this.[1]
Published Works
Year | Title |
2001 | ABNKKBSNPLAko?! |
2002 | Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino? |
2003 | Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas |
Alamat ng Gubat | |
2005 | Stainless Longganisa |
2007 | Macarthur |
2009 | Kapitan Sino |
2010 | Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan |
2011 | Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin |
2014 | Si |
Acclaim
The six books he has published thus far have surpassed a quarter of a million copies.[1] One reviewer notes (translated from vernacular Filipino):
- " Filipinos really 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."[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 De Vera, Ruel S. "The mystery begins with his name-Bob Ong (not his real name)". Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ↑ Ongpin, Apa (November 25, 2006), "Is Bob Ong the future? And if so, of what?", Adobo Magazine (#6)
- ↑ Ong, Roberto (2005), Stainless Longganisa, Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, ISBN 971-92574-2-3
- ↑ Ong, Roberto (2002), Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?, Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, ISBN 971-92574-2-3
- ↑ ""McArthur" ni Bob Ong, Inilunsad". rockczar.com/ph. Retrieved February 5, 2008.