Out in cinemas on Feb 19 is the Jericho Rosales starrer ABNKKBSNPLAko?! The Movie, based on the book of Bob Ong. We all know who Jericho is, but who — and where — in the world is Bob Ong? Coconuts Manila hunts down the author who is known for his Pinoy-flavored words of wisdom and finds out interesting facts about him via an e-mail interview.
What’s the one thing you wished people didn’t ask you during interviews?
“Why U not show face?” Understandable, but I’ve answered it so many times it begins to feel like I’m filling out a booklet of Puregold raffle tickets.
Has there been a fan that came thisclose to finding out who you are?
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.
Of all your books, what was the hardest to write?
First, they’re all hard to write. Easy reading is a product of hardwork writing. All of my books involved lots of research, some were emotionally draining to write, and one required a disturbing closer look into dark arts. The hardest? Has to be Kapitan Sino. It involved setting up a microcosmic Philippines in a different time with a character that is not one of us. And though not many may have realized, its theme is spiritual as much as it is sociopolitical.
Did you have a say on the cast of the movie based on your book?
No. Though I guess Viva would consider if I expressed disapproval on the cast, which I didn’t. I couldn’t see the book as a movie so I allowed them full creative control to put the film together as they’ve envisioned it.
Ever admitted to being Bob Ong to get a girl?
No. It was after I already got the girl that I admitted to her that I was the author she was reading.
Is there one thing that people will be surprised to find out about you?
There’s very little left about myself that I haven’t told yet. I don’t even know what else is interesting to tell. Random fact: I was fined for jaywalking in Ortigas on my first job.
What do you think of the popularity of feel-good quotes in Twitter users that are Filipino?
If it’s pretending to be my words and is making money out of fooling people, it’s not a feel-good quote, just an earn-good tweet. Feel-good is overrated. Think-good and do-good do a better job. My Twitter is @sibobpo.
Photo: Jericho Rosales stars in the movie ABNKKBSNPLAko?! The Movie, based on Bob Ong’s book.
