Career[edit]

Bob Ong pursued writing after dropping out of college.[3] 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 term.
[4] "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.[5]
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?!, Bob Ong's first book, in 2001.[6] The author has since written
and published ten more books until 2018.[7]
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 was shown in theaters,
directed also by Meily, with Chris Martinez and Andoy Ranay. VIVA Films produced both movies.[8] In
addition, Bob Ong also played a part in translating some volumes of the Filipino comic book
series Trese by Budjette Tan, which was included by the Philippine Department of Education as
supplemental material for schools.[9]
Pseudonym[edit]
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] In a 2016 interview published in Philippine Star 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 has also been put forward as Ong, but he has denied this.[1]
Bibliography[edit]
Non-fiction[edit]
ABNKKBSNPLAko?! (2001)
Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino? (2002)
Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas (2003)
Stainless Longganisa (2005)
56 (2018)[10]
Fiction[edit]
Alamat ng Gubat (2003)
Macarthur (2007)
Kapitan Sino (2009)
Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan (2010)
Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin (2011)
Si (2014)
Acclaim[edit]
Six of the books he has published 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."[11]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to:a b c d e De Vera, Ruel S. "The mystery begins with his name-Bob Ong (not his real
name)". Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2008-04-
03.
^ Ongpin, Apa (November 25, 2006), "Is Bob Ong the future? And if so, of what?", Adobo Magazine,
no. #6
^ "How the 'mysterious' Bob Ong got his penname | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved 2018-
04-08.
^ Ong, Roberto (2005), Stainless Longganisa, Pasay: VisPrint, Inc., ISBN 971-92574-2-3
^ Ong, Roberto (2002), Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?, Pasay: VisPrint,
Inc., ISBN 971-92574-2-3