Just read A B N K K B S N P L Ako by Bob Ong and I must say it's a great read. At P150 it's quite reasonable. It chronicles the author's days from when he was a student 'til he himself became a teacher. Fact or fiction, I can't say, but this is one book most people will relate to, especially Pinoys. I may be a newcomer to Bob Ong's "kuwentong barbero" stories, but better late than never, right?

He has a website supposedly, but when I went there (bobongpinoy.com) All I get is that stupid Tina webcam (which I have encountered so many times in the past.)

And now, I'm reading the sequel to his book, titled "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang mga Pilipino?" which has a great gimmick. The cover is printed upside down so that when you read it in public you're gonna look like an idiot because it's gonna seem like you're reading a book upside down. Inside, more of Bob Ong's insights on the lives, habits, etc. etc. of Pinoys. Some sensitive folks might find some of the material insulting and offensive, but you've gotta admit that it's true.

I hope the author doesn't mind if I post an excerpt of the book here...




"...sa Pinas, kung ano man ang gusto mong sabihin ay kailangan sabihin sa English, para manatili kang cool, tulad na lang ng sulat na napulot daw sa isang bar sa Malate at ngayon ay pinagpapasa-pasahan sa Internet.

Marjie,

I am not surprise or wander why Dennis leave you.

Why?

What reason you can think about but you're very fat body. I thought before that Dennis only use me to his toy but sooner and later I'm realize that he really can't not beared or stomached to be with you anymore because at first, Dennis say he could not stand you're habit of making pakialam all his walks [lakad] and always calling to their house what he go home or this or that and then he say he get ashame to meet iether in school or in his family and then asking you to exercise you're very very, very fat body but you hate it thoughth your the most preetiest girls he knows about what do you think you are "Beautiful Girl" of Jose Mari Chan even you are beautiful face to your think you do not have the right to called me whatsoever or else different name one time or the other for the real purposed to insults my personality because i'm never call you names iether in the front of Dennis or in the backs of Dennis, but if you start already to calling me different name, I don't have any other choice but to call you other different name to like you are a PIG, FAT, OBSESSED, OVERWIGHT, AND UGLY SHAPE girl. Shame to you're body that is to a BUDING. Tou can't not blame Dennis for exchanging you to me because i am the more sexier than you when you look to us in the mirror. I'm repeat again that you are like Ike lozada when she is a girl.

FROM: THE SEXIEST GIRL OF D.M.

P.S. You say that I'm the bad breathe but who is Dennis want to kissed, me or you? You or me? And the final is me."



The scary part is... I actually understood that.

Anyway, to the four or five of you who are actually reading this, go now to your nearest bookstore and buy this book. It'll cost you P240, but it's worth it.

Just watched Rex Navarette (of Maritess vs. the Superfriends fame) last night at Greenbelt and the guy was a riot! The place was packed with people! Just goes to show you the power of the internet. And it was FREE!

He has another show tonight at Intramuros but it's sold out already. He has two more shows (I think) on Friday at some place on Jupiter Street in Makati and on Aug. 30 at Dish at the Power Plant.

You should go see this guy! Really hilarious. He even did an updated version of "Maritess," wherein she has left the employ of the Superfriends and has gone to work for a school. Which school? Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Ha ha!

From the forwarded e-mail dept.:

CHANCE...OR CHOICE?

When we meet the right person to love when we're at the right place at the right time. That's chance. When you meet someone you you're attracted to, that's not a choice. That's chance. Being caught up in a moment (and there's a lot of couples who get together because of this) is not a choice.

That's also a chance.

The difference is what happens afterward. When will you take that infatuation, that crush, that mind-blowing attraction to the next level? That's when all sanity goes back, you sit down and contemplate whether you want to make this into a concrete relationship or just a fling.

If you decide to love a person, even with his faults, that's not a chance. That's choice. When you choose to be with a person, no matter what, that's choice. Even if you know there are many people out there who are more attractive, smarter, and richer than your mate, and yet, you decide to love your mate just the same, that's choice.

Infatuation, crushes, attraction comes to us by chance. But true love that lasts is truly a choice. A choice that we make.

Regarding soulmates, there's a beautiful movie quote that I believe is so true about this: "Fate brings you together, but it's still up to you to make it happen."

I do believe that soulmates do exist. That there is truly someone made for you. But it's still up to you to make the choice if you're going to do something about it or not. We may meet our soulmates by chance, but loving and staying with our soulmate is still a choice we have to make.