Book Review: Bob Ong Books

Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino? (mga kuwentong barbero ni bob ong)

Bob Ong has never failed his readers. His fantastic humor entertains and prevents boredom and makes you want to finish his book in one reading, and crave for another one.

Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino? tackles about the negative traits of Filipinos. His observations are no new to us but he tells it in his traditional humorous way.

Amusing questions will be answered when you read this book such as:

" Ano ang lasa ng Toning Water? Na-dagitab ka na ba? Bakit sa ilalim ng overpass tumatawid ang mga Pilipino? Saan makakabili ng aritificial fresh flowers? Sino sila Ciriaco, Procopio, Espiridiona, Troadie at Maxima? Paano makipagkaibigan sa bangaw? Ano ang nagpapaalat sa itlog na maalat? Kay Jesus ba talaga napupunta ang mga lumipad na lobo? Ano ang alam ni Claire Danes na hindi mo alam? Talaga bang "best buy" ang mga Pinay? Pagod ka na bang maging Pilipino? At bakit ka nga pala baliktad mabgasa ng libr?

ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! (Mga Kwentong Chalk ni Bob Ong)

Bob Ong tackles about his elementary school days in this book. You will laugh at him and you will laugh with him. The book works like a time machine. It will make you reminisce on your own elementary school days. You will realize that your experience is not that unique and you might start to think that you might attended the same school with Bob Ong.

Bob Ong tackles a very common experience, yet very entertaining. Everyone can relate to his stories.

Ang Paboritong Libro Ni Hudas 

What I like about the works of Bob Ong is the variety. He doesn't stay in a single topic. He's not a politics or  social commentator, he's not a religious expert, he's not a psychologist, he just write what's on his mind.

Ang Paboritong Libro Ni Hudas is not about a book. It tackles about an afterlife. The book is a dialogue, a question and answer between a soul, a deceased man, and the keeper of the gate of heaven. The dialogue is entertaining, as usual, and yet mind-opening.

 

Macarthur 

This is one of the fiction books of Bob Ong. And I can say that it is really a mind-opener and makes you realize a lot of things about life. Bob Ong tackles about the poverty and the dark side of law enforcement. It is not one of his funniest books, but still valuable. If Bob Ong was a movie director, I would consider this as an Indie film.

The 2012 August Monsoon Rain in the Philippines

In recent days (August 7, 8, and 9), the Philippines was hit by a monsoon rain that caused flooding in almost entire of Luzon island. This is the second time that the affected people experienced a worst flooding; the first one was caused by the typhoon Ondoy 3 years ago. Our house has never been flooded, ever. But when the typhoon Ondoy hits the country, the water level reached the knee level inside our house. The street just outside our house looked like a river, not just because of the deep flooding, but also with strong current of water. This flooding also gave us the feeling of living at the sea side because of the sound of the moving water. I’m 35 years old and never left this place, but this is the first time that I experienced this. Flood in some areas even reached up to the houses’ second floor. After the flooding, you will see villages that looked like a ghost town; no people or sign of life around, houses, plants and streets filled with mud, you will wonder how people will ever get back again.

This time, the monsoon rain repeated the experience. But luckily (in God’s grace), our place was never flooded. Our neighboring towns were affected. While in my 30 years of living in this town that I haven’t experienced such flooding, the event happened and repeated in just 3 years. In my opinion (and prediction) it will happen again, and again. The flooding this worst will be a normal sight from now on. Of course, there are lots of factors that contribute in this disaster, including climate change and man’s neglect and carelessness towards Mother Nature.

Here are some of the images that I collected from posts around social media.

Weather view from the satellite.

This is the appearance of Manila from above. It somehow appears like Gotham or Mordor.

This is a sight from the province of Rizal. You can see people on their houses' roof. The village came to look like a river.

People improvised a transportation to get through the flooded streets.

The power of water.

Rescue team carrying a woman who's about to give birth.

People stranded or evacuating.

The rescue team rescuing a man that was said to be in the water for 3 hours.

The strong water current made these cabs to pile up.

North Luzon Expressway

The city street was turned public pool.

Zero visibility at 3 pm.

Flooded street. You can see people passing through electric cables.

Mass evacuation? (or just trying to get home)

A man carrying his two daughters.

Uhm... wet chicks.

Manila covered with dark cloud.

Man trying to move his pedicab.

The underpass was filled up with water in Makati. 

Not only the flood created the scenes. There are also landslides.

Heavy rains made the soil soft and collapse in Antipolo.

Landslide in Quezon City.

There are also unique and funny images.

Will there be more unique wedding photos than this one?

Photoshoped or not, it still catches attention.

PNoy (our President) taking a submarine for transportation in the flooded streets of Manila.

Yes, this is Michael Phelps. Taking advantage of the flood in Manila.

Business as usual.

Man using a casket for boat.

A mermaid emerged.

It's more fun in the Philippines, and in the rain!