Bob Ong is the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

of a contemporary

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

known for using conversational writing technique to create humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life. The author's actual name and identity are unknown.

Career

Bob Ong pursued writing after dropping out of college. His pseudonym 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 A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...

term. "''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. 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. According to Nida Ramirez of Visprint, which eventually became Bob Ong's publisher, the author wrote on ''Bobong Pinoy'' that he wanted to get a book published. Ramirez, who became a fan of Bobong Pinoy, approached him and started exchanging messages, which eventually led to the publication of ''

ABNKKBSNPLAko?! ''ABNKKBSNPLAko?!'' is a 2001 autobiography by Filipino author Bob Ong — his first and most popular work. The title is meant to be read phonetically as "''Aba, nakakabasa na pala ako?!''", which can be roughly translated as "''Wow, I can actua ...

'', Bob Ong's first book, in 2001. The author has since written and published ten more books until 2018. Two of his works have been adapted into film. '' ABNKKBSNPLAko?! The Movie'' was released in 2014 directed by Mark Meily. Then in 2016, ''

Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin ''Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin'' (''Get Away from Me'') is a series of satirical parody novel by Filipino writer Bob Ong, published in 2011 by Visprint Inc. The book, which was written in a screenplay form, is divided into three parts. In a recent ...

'' was shown in theaters, directed also by Meily, with Chris Martinez and Andoy Ranay. VIVA Films produced both movies. In addition, Bob Ong also played a part in translating some volumes of the Filipino comic book series

Trese ''Trese'' () is a Filipino komik series written by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo. It tells the story of Alexandra Trese, a detective who deals with crimes of supernatural origin. Its first issue was published in October 22, ...

by Budjette Tan, which was included by the Philippine

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

as supplemental material for schools.

Pseudonym

There have been occasional confusions between Bob Ong and

Chinese-Filipino Chinese Filipinos; tl, Tsinoy, / Tsinong Pilipino, ; Hokkien in the Philippines, Philippine Hokkien , Mandarin Chinese in the Philippines, Mandarin (also known as Filipino Chinese in the Philippines) are Filipinos of Chinese descent, mo ...

author Charlson Ong. However, Bob Ong himself refutes this in his account in '' Stainless Longganisa'', saying his surname is not "

Ong Ong or ONG may refer to: Arts and media * Ong's Hat, a collaborative work of fiction * “Ong Ong”, a song by Blur from the album The Magic Whip Places * Ong, Nebraska, US, city * Ong's Hat, New Jersey, US, ghost town * Ong River, Odisha, ...

" and neither is he even Filipino-Chinese. The family name was instead derived from wordplay on the name of his website. In a 2016 interview published in ''

Philippine Star ''The Philippine Star'' (self-styled ''The Philippine STAR'') is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group. First published on July 28, 1986, by veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, M ...

'' when asked why he chose his pseudonym, Bob Ong explained it as a "concept of not embracing celebrity which is foreign to most people", and was never intended to be "mysterious". The poet

Paolo Manalo Paolo Manalo is a Filipino poet who teaches at the College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines. For a time he served as the literary editor of the Philippines Free Press. ''Jolography'', his first book of poems,

Bibliography

Non-fiction

* ''

'' (2001) * ''Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?'' (2002) * ''

Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas (The Favorite Book of Judas) or ''The Black Book'' is a 2003 semi-biography book by Filipino author Bob Ong. It was his third published work and the first book where he first introduces ''fiction'' to his readers. ...

'' (2003) * '' Stainless Longganisa'' (2005) * ''56'' (2018)

Fiction

* ''

Alamat ng Gubat ''Alamat ng Gubat'' (''Legend of the Forest'') is the fourth book published in 2003 by Bob Ong, a Filipino contemporary author noted for using conversational Filipino to create humorous and reflective depictions of life as a Filipino Filipino m ...

'' (2003) * '' Macarthur'' (2007) * ''

Kapitan Sino ''Kapitan Sino'' ( en, Captain Who) is a 2009 novel by a Filipino author under the pseudonym Bob Ong. The story revolves around Rogelio Manglicmot, an electrician An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildin ...

'' (2009) * ''

Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan ''Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan'' () is a 2010 mystery novel by Filipino writer Bob Ong published in 2010 by Visprint Inc. It is Ong's eighth book, and his first attempt in the horror/ suspense genre. Plot The story revolves around Gilberto ...

'' (2010) * ''

'' (2011) * ''Si'' (2014)

Acclaim

Six of the books he has published have surpassed a quarter of a million copies. One reviewer notes (translated from vernacular

): :"''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 ''Pinoy'' ( ) is a common informal self-reference used by Filipinos to refer to citizens of the Philippines and their culture as well as to overseas Filipinos in the Filipino diaspora. A Pinoy who has any non-Filipino foreign ancestry is often ...

classics.''"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ong, Bob 1975 births Living people Pseudonymous writers People from Quezon City Writers from Metro Manila Tagalog-language writers