Bob Ong

Bob Ong
Born February 1975
Quezon City, Philippines
Occupation Author
Genre Humor

Bob Ong, or Roberto Ong, is the pseudonym of a contemporary Filipino author known for using conversational Filipino to create humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life.[1][2] His actual name 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 it "Dumb Filipino," used fondly as a diminutive 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[5]

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."[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 De Vera, Ruel S. "The mystery begins with his name-Bob Ong (not his real name)". Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  2. Ongpin, Apa (November 25, 2006), "Is Bob Ong the future? And if so, of what?", Adobo Magazine (#6)
  3. Ong, Roberto (2005), Stainless Longganisa, Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, ISBN 971-92574-2-3
  4. Ong, Roberto (2002), Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?, Pasay City: Visual Print Enterprises, ISBN 971-92574-2-3
  5. Twitter: @sibobpo https://twitter.com/sibobpo/status/539249648821493760
  6. ""McArthur" ni Bob Ong, Inilunsad". rockczar.com/ph. Retrieved February 5, 2008.