Literary Criticism Analysis by:

Natividad S. Dy
Analyzing the title of the book in
getting the theme…

Extracting the theme from the title, you will get

the central idea will focus on education.
A.B.N.K.K.B.S.N.P.L.Ako seems like an abbreviation
but actually it is meant read phonetically as “Aba
nakakabasa na pala ako!” in Filipino and can be
translated to Wow! I can already read! In English.
Simply, it implies the readers to have a “realization”
starting from the title itself to the author named Bob
Ong (a Filipino known author controversially referring
to Bobong Pinoy as he/she represents stupid acts of
the Filipinos) and up to the content of entire book
which reflects the current educational issues and
societal issues in the country. Reminiscing throwback
experiences from 80’s 90’s and beyond. A story full of
cliché stories. A modest life story taking entertaining
but critical look at country calling for a
transformation,
 “Education”
The story revolves on how it is to be a student in
the Philippines. The subtle approach of humor makes
the story interesting as it reflects deeper issues and
problems of the educational system in the country. It
also unveils the reality of the negative Filipino traits
that had been passed from generations to generation.
It is about the experience of a typical student that
every Filipino can relate.

“Filipino Norms/Culture”
The story also let the readers to experience
Filipino culture and accept the that not all Filipino traits
are positive instead it reveals the most unwanted attitudes
of the Filipinos that cannot be cured. It is about getting
education as a cure to ignorance but foolishness will
remain no cure if we Filipino continue to practice the
foolish beliefs inherited since then.
Roberto Ong is the one that narrates the experience
of a typical student during the late 80’s and 90’s and
eventually become a teacher after schooling. His
character represents every archetypal Filipino from
public school who aims to just graduate school or
escape schooling, have a decent job and live his simple
life. But again, he ended up going back to the school
as he become a teacher. An irony that the more you
will hate, the more you will love because you have no
choice. A student who have a family with a problem.
Concerning to the society, it is every parent dream to
make their children finish their studies and gain their
diploma as it will define their dignity in the society.
Every Roberto Ong (children) seems to be the
investment of the family to a have a better life and
future. On the wider perspective, the cliché of the
scenery of every Roberto Ong points out that success
is about when you start to read (ABNKKBSNPLako).
About gaining the knowledge but not learning from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miss Uyehera and Maam Babes represents a teacher

that every Filipino will encounter in their school. This
line reflects the authority between the teacher and
student in the Philippines A teacher who is strict,
disciplinarian more than that, she is a dedicated
teacher. A teacher who spend the rest of her life
teaching a lot of students, treating school as her
home, her students as children with no father, and the
whole class as her family.
Ulo is the kind of your friend that you meet in your high
school days and will stay true to you. We all have that
one friend in high school that knows you too well
“dugyutin at uhugin pa lang kayo, magkakilala na kayo”
he embodies friend/s you’ve needed in life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roberto Ong’s Family and Classmates helps to emphasis

the classification of what society we have. They
personify different kinds of people that you will
unexpectedly meet in your life with stories and
learnings that will help you survive. These characters
tell the truth of life, it’s nonsense if you are alone
because at the end of the day, you need someone, your
family and friends.
Analyzing the title of the book in getting
the settings…

Extracting the title to get the setting,

A.B.N.K.K.B.S.N.P.L.Ako gives the idea that its setting is
school and our very first school where we all first learn-
home.

The story mostly happened in school and home during

the 80’s 90’s and 2000’s. It describes the authentic scenery
of Filipino culture way back then and beyond. The setting
paints the resemblance of changes of every grade and year
level to stages of life. A home of our ancestors, and a
school with broken doors and windows makes it
complementary to characters of the story since the book is
an autobiography. Bob Ong was able to let the readers
experience to live again from yesterday, treasure every
memory and continue to make memories in the future. This
leads to realization that home and school has no real value,
but what will remain is its history. A setting that money
can’t buy.
 The story is about short stories from past experiences
of Roberto Ong’s 4 stages of life; primary education,
secondary education, college life and working to survive life.
Roberto Ong recalls his history during his student life, how
he struggles from math, puberty and a lot of failures.
The problem of Roberto arise as early as he stepped to
his primary school where he learns to read in a public school.
From that second, the problem gets bigger and difficult for
him to deal with as he stepped into his high school
experience where he suffered from culture shock, terror
teachers, mathematics and flying notebooks. After
graduation from high school, he then begins another chapter
of his life in college where he unfortunately disappointed his
parents. He failed his college and repeated and finish
Computer programming, instead of attending graduation, he
chose to start his job in school as a teacher far from what
he wants. He eventually embraces being a teacher and learn
the different kinds of students and appreciate his teachers
before. As he gets older, he learns what to value and what
really has value.
The book ended up reminiscing the most intense and
embarrassing moment of Roberto Ong’s school experience
familiar to what every school memory has.
• Filipino Alphabet- symbolizes literacy
• Public school- symbolizes the country Philippines
• Recess- symbolizes incorrect system from then and
now.
• Nutri Ban- symbolizes poverty during reign of
former President Marcos.
• Street foods- symbolizes that even though life is
sour and full of rats, you would still taste (accept)
it.
• Ganges River- flood in the Philippines.
• Rain- symbolizes challenges.
• Bridge (overpass)-symbolizes facing fears to
discover more.
• Surprise visitor/guest- symbolizes people who will
make your life stop for a second bet will just come
and go. Not all will stay,
• Mathematics- symbolizes that every problem has a
solution, find it and you will succeed. You need
mathematics in life.
• Recognition day- symbolizes appreciation not for
yourself but for the people that matters to you.
• Rules- a society full of rules is hell.
• Christmas- symbolizes “love of your family”
• Transcript of Records- defines what is your
personality,
• Diploma- symbolizes authority to judge others.
Analyzing the title of the book in getting
the tone/mood…
Extracting the title to get the tone/mood of the
story, A.B.N.K.K.B.S.N.P.L.Ako gives the idea that
the approach will be humorous.
 The mood may seem humorous and hilarious for
the readers but the tone is intense, every chapter is
unbiassed, direct and questioning what is school for?
Why do we need to study so well when there is no
difference between learning disabled and geniuses?
What is the difference between out-of-school youth
and Harvard graduate but corrupt politician? Isn’t
wrong that schools give less significance to “GMRC”
than academic subjects when computing grades
when it is the “Character” that molded the human,
family, country, world and history.
After reading the book, the first mood felt by
the reader will turn into admiring and aspiration to
have a change and start the change.
Analyzing the title of the book in getting
the imagery…

Extracting the title to get the tone/mood of the

story, A.B.N.K.K.B.S.N.P.L.Ako gives the idea that
the author uses the imagery of auditory as it
describes what we hear from how we begin to read.
More than auditory imagery, Bob Ong has
remarkably succeeded the language to improve
reader’s experience through vividly describing what
the characters look like, what the settings look like,
taste like, smell like, and most of all feel like. From
the title that depicts phonetics, the setting of
broken classrooms, foods from canteen that are
mostly rotten, types of classmates until the nerves to
face unending challenges of Roberto Ong. The
author just had made the reader imagine everything
look as if it how it should be look like.
 From the moment a Filipino had read this phonetic
A.B.N.K.K.B.S.N.P.LAko title is also the moment of curing
ignorance but miserably prolonging foolishness.
Regarding the story to real life situation and society
today, this book is recommendable for all ages, the book
will make the reader realize that it is true that schooling is
indirectly closing our scope into real world, to what more
life has to offer for us. Sadly, this is the reality of schooling
in the Philippines. The situation where the worth of
someone is based on what he or she had accomplished.
What does your transcript of records say? What is his or
her profession? How much salary do you earn? It’s about
temporal things that will define who you are, instead of
enjoying and learning what life has more to offer for one’s
life. The book makes the reader realize that life is more
important than answering a test. The vital role lies not just
on the educational system but from the wrong mentality
and norms of the Filipino that up to now is still existing.
Above all, it exploits a call for action to do something,
it is never too late to make change and start a change. A
humorous yet crucial perspective in dealing with the
culture that appears to be inevitable.