The mystery begins with his name-Bob Ong

Bob Ong, or Roberto Ong (not his true name), is the pseudonym of a contemporary Filipino
author known for using conversational Filipino to create humorous and reflective depictions of
Philippine life.
The pseudonym Bob Ong/ Roberto 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.
His defunct Bobong Pinoy website received a Peoples Choice Philippine Web Award for
Weird/Humor in 1998. His books are a favorite among Filipinos of all classes and among
students, even if theyre not required reading. He has never appeared at any book launching,
not even his own, nor on TV.
Bob Ong has achieved such success in an age when celebrity is often a requisite of effective
marketing is indicative of his following. But the fact that he has successfully kept his true identity
a secret is even more astounding.
He has published 10 books since 2001 up until now.
This books are:
2001- ABNKKBSNPLAko?!
2002- Bakit baligtad magbasa ng libro ang mga Pilipino?
2003- Ang paboritong libro ni Hudas
Alamat ng Gubat
2005- Stainless longganisa
2007- Mac Arthur
2009- Kapitan Sino
2010- Ang mga kaibigan ni Mama susan
2011- Lumayo ka nga sa akin
2014- Si

Through email interview, Bob Ong said that all his books are hard to write because it involved a
lot of research, some were emotionally draining to write and required a disturbing closer look
into dark arts.
Bob Ong likes to say that, aside from very detailed personal information everyone wants to keep
private, everything about him can be found in the books.
Even though he doesnt reveal his true identity, he said in an interview through email that
People already know who I am thru my books, sometimes more than they know their
friends or family without them realizing it. If you meant my passport identity, lots of readers
had. I know some actually have already unmasked me in silence, sometimes unintentionally, but
they didn't make a circus out of it just because they're that kind of people. That says a lot about
their character and by that they earn my respect.
Even until now, Bob Ong never reveals himself publicly. Maybe this means his identity is not
important, it is his writing that matters.