who is bob ong?!

well, he is a human being...i suppose...
oops, no, he IS a human being.
it's just that "bob ong" is his pseudonym.
you know, just like the other revolutionists we had,
bob ong is an author of books which aim to change the people's outlook in life.

i started reading bob ong's works just recently and i found them..."alluring"...
he has this magic in him which hypnotizes the readers.
well, it is not really "hypnotizing" because what he says are true.
but in effect, his words truly are hypnotizing...

i've finished reading ABNKKBSNPLAko?! and it's the book suited for us students.

*bow*

i've never read a book like this. it's like his journal. his OWN journal. but you are attached to it. you are included. one line and it touches your life. especially now that we are graduating.

Bob Ong talks about his life as a student...since he was in kindergarten...until he reached college...and even after college. you see, learning is a lifetime process. he talks about his hardships and achievements. another remarkable thing in this book is his salute to his teachers. and, lastly, the way he felt when he went back to his school (in high school) to get his diploma, years after his HS graduation. i guess we would have the same feeling when we go back to our dear alma mater. "nakabalik nga ako sa lugar. hindi ko na naibalik ang panahon." to all those who are graduating, live your life to the fullest. treasure every moment...for it's a day, an hour, a minute, or a second, that you will never ever get again.

now, i'm reading bakit baliktad magbasa ang pilipino?
and yes, it hit me!
the ones who are giving up...those who are tired of being a filipino will be dead.
not literally of course...their outlook will be changed because bob ong points out that it is great to be a filipino.

Heartdrops

I have never really liked going to parties. Sure, they might be fun to some people because they get to act all wild and rowdy but for other people, normal boring high school teenagers like me, parties may seem a little high maintenance. People getting drunk, the inappropriate dancing, and the hookups all seem way out of control to me. So I was kind of surprised that I was at this party to begin with, surrounded by my annoying classmates who were acting like animals. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be here, I would be at home reading a book or at a show for a local band who I was friends with. But no, I was at this party because my best friend had managed to persuade me into coming along.

I was standing next to the grill where the hamburgers and hotdogs were being made while the others partygoers were dancing and playing around the pool. I watched as my best friend Leslie Coleman got splashed with water from the pool as she passed by on her way to come talk to me. She gasped in surprise and started chasing after the guy to try to push him into the water. I laughed to myself and ignored the looks I received from the surrounding people. They probably thought I was crazy for laughing at absolutely nothing. After a few minutes Leslie came back with a satisfactory grin and all wet from being pulled into the water after she managed to push the guy in. She came to stand next to me and accepted a hot off-the-grill burger that were being handed out.

"C'mon Addy, cheer up. You should go have fun. Maybe go take a swim or-"

"I didn't bring swimming clothes." I interrupted her.

She gave me a look and opened a can of Dr Pepper, taking a swig while still glaring at me. "Whatever, you know what I mean. Go enjoy yourself, I know you hate this kind of parties, and I'm sorry for dragging you along with me but you know how lame it would be to come alone. I would be the laughingstock of the night!"

I shook my head at her. "No, this party is fine it's just- you know why I don't like going to parties."

"'Cause of him?" She was staring off into the pool where a bunch of guys were just arriving to the party and going right into the pool. They were all the good-looking guys from our school- the popular, smart, play every sport, girls going gaga for them, hot guys that were rich enough to flaunt their looks and no one would blame them for anything. Their leader was the worst one of them all.

Tobias Leon had the whole package: gold locks, muscular body, charming with words, face of archangel, and a heart made of ice. Sure at this point, if people could listen to my thoughts, they might think I was bitter because of a break up between us. But they would be just guessing and making fools of themselves. The reason I hate Tobias is because he's my nemesis, and has always been since we were little kids in kindergarten.

Long story short, we've hated each other's guts since we first laid eyes on each other. Ever since I could remember, he's always made fun of me, been mean to me, said rude things, and done almost anything to make my life impossible. Me, on the other hand, I would always do the same thing and be rude and mean right back, with the occasional prank on my part.

Right now Tobias was taking off his shirt, showing off his defined abs before jumping into the pool. His cronies did the same thing but without the desired effect seeing as how every girl at this party was drooling over Tobias, and they rushed to the pool to get closer to him and compete against each other to see which one of them would be lucky enough to leave the party with him.

One of them bumped my shoulder as she ran by me. I glared after her. "Yeah, thanks to Tobias, my night has been made." I said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry Addy, but you knew he was bound to make an appearance, right? You know what? You should just ignore him and pretend he's not even here!" Leslie's eyes widened at her idea. "He hasn't noticed you, and he probably won't with all those girls swarming him in their bikinis. He won't have a chance to bother you."

I thought it over while I rubbed my shoulder. I stole a quick glance at the pool where sure enough a highly energetic and giggly group of girls in revealing bikinis fought for Tobias' attention. He, like the player that he was, looked ecstatic at the attention he was getting.

"You know what? Fine, you're right, Leslie. But if he does manage to direct his vile attention toward me, you're going to owe me so bad." I warned my best friend.

"Deal."

As soon as I say those words I knew that I had jinxed myself but I just shrugged the feeling of doom. Laughter came from the pool but I just turned my back to them and tried to carry on a conversation with Leslie but the guy who had chased her around the pool kept trying to get her attention and I gave up.

I left the place where we were sitting and went inside the house to look for the restroom. No one was allowed upstairs unless it was to use the restroom, and you couldn't be up here if you wanted to use one the rooms to hook up because they were all locked up, so if someone was fooling around, you'd know about it.

I exited the restroom and was about to close the door when I heard whispering down the hallway, where the bedrooms were at. My first instinct was to ignore it and walk away lest I see something that would scar my eyes forever, but the stupid in me couldn't help but be curious and pretend to be a spy.

I left the door open and tiptoed down the dark hallway to where a couple were standing really close together. I was grateful for the darkness of the hallway when I recognized the voice of Tobias and his latest conquest softly arguing. I tried to hide in the doorway of a room but I wasn't quite 3 inches skinny.

I couldn't well understand the argument but I knew the girl was accusing Tobias of something he had done. He said something back in his defense and the girl gasped. I tried hard not to laugh as the girl raised her voice to cuss him out with a very long list of profanities. He called her a bore and told her to leave, that he got what he wanted out of her, and I heard her slap him in the face. She stormed off, passing by me quickly while I tried to plaster myself close to the wall so she wouldn't bump into me.

Tobias' shadow shrugged and he took a few steps forward before stopping a foot away from me, looking down the hallway while passing a hand thru his hair. Maybe he hadn't noticed me standing there in the dark and was just taking his time to get back to the party.

"So you heard that, huh?" Tobias turned to glare at me and crossed his arms over his chest. Busted.

My eyes widened at having been caught in the act of snooping. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't see anything."

"Right," he stretched out the word. "I suppose in the dark you couldn't see anything but you sure could hear things."

"You know what, I don't have to explain myself to you!" I said in an outraged voice. "Whatever, I'm leaving, you asshat."

"Nuh-uh." His hand shot out to block my exit and slammed the wall next to face. "Not so fast, Addy. I think there's something we have to talk about before you leave."

"I don't have anything to say to you, Toby." I said in an acid voice, knowing how much he hated the nickname.

He laughed out loud and I cringed at his fake laugh. "Oh, yes, we do have something to talk about. See, it's in my best interest for what you saw-"

I tried to protest but he ignored me and went on talking.

"Or heard, a few minutes ago to not be spread around to the public, particularly your friends or anyone at school. "

"What? You mean how you struck out with that girl?" I said in a mocking tone.

"No!" He corrected me. "What you witnessed was me dumping that annoying hag."

"Oh, right, definitely, you were the one doing the dumping." I said sarcastically. "Look, I don't care anything about you and your 'relationships', and I'm not entitled to keep quiet because this is a free country and what I witnessed I can tell anyone about it, and if it so happens to be in the parking lot at school, then I guess everyone will know about it."

"Oh, really? If you try to even tell your best friend Leslie, I swear I will tell everyone that you were the one who was sneaking around trying to see me get some and everyone will know that you're a pervert."

"What the hell?!? That's not true! No one will believe you, 'cause they know I hate your guts! That's disgusting!" I cried out in protest.

He leaned in close to my face and I had to stop myself from slapping him in anger. "Yeah, but who are they going to believe? Me, the popular friendly guy, or you, the weird loner?"

I clenched my teeth and pushed him away from me. He laughed and waved over his shoulder at me as he descended the stairs. "I think we have an agreement then, Addy. See you at school."

I bit my lip to stop myself from yelling things that would really get me in trouble with him and end what little of my social life that existed.