Career

The author"s actual name and identity is unknown. There have been occasional confusions between Bob Ong and Chinese-Filipino author Charlson Ong. However, Bob Ong himself refutes this in his account in Stainless Longganisa, saying his surname is not "Ong" and neither is he even Filipino-Chinese.

The family name was instead derived from wordplay on the name of his website.

The poet Paolo Manalo has also been put forward as Ong, but he has denied this. The six books he has published thus far have surpassed a quarter of a million copies.

One reviewer notes (translated from vernacular Filipino):

" Filipinos really patronize Bob Ong"s works because, while most of his books may have an element of comedy in them, this is presented in a manner that replicates Filipino culture and traditions. This is likely the reason why his first book - and those that followed it, can be considered true Pinoy classics.".