ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!

(mga kuwentong chalk ni bob ong) By: Bob Ong Those who will pass by the Filipino section of National Bookstore, Fully Booked or Powerbooks will surely not miss the little green book that resembles a miniature blackboard as it has the weirdest title on the shelf ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! (mga kuwentong chalk ni bob ong). Although the book claims to be a story of the authors personal e perience, it is actually a book that speaks for and represents e!erybody" "Pa a Sa: !ga "u o# !ag$aa al# %ating mag$aa al# Ayaw mag$a al# #rop$out, %ick$out, Transferee, &ross$enrolled, At honor students.' Bob (ng narrates in an entertaining, yet sarcastic manner, the numerous embarrassing moments of his young life. )e tells stories about his school in which walls were torn down because of a storm, and his elementary teacher who spanked him because he brought a toy for a *how and Tell in class. )e also introduces the readers to Tigang, +away, and the rest of his classmates, including ,lo, who were mesmeri-ed with the toys they saw for the first time. .eaders may e!en sympathi-e with (ng and his wrath for math /possibly e!en relate to his demise as to why he could not forget the answer to eight times se!en0. The book will also enlighten people on the secret on why some students become instant )indus and Atheists, and make them reali-e what a real diploma means. The book is easy to read and downright funny and entertaining. 1n fact, it may e!en ser!e as a reality check for those who spend hours watching teleno!elas. (ng2s stories still tackle issues about life, albeit he has put it in a different point of !iew" "&in'i bi o ang (agbaba)a# rite of passage ito. *big )abihin nabinyagan ka bilang 'literate.' Kaya mong magba)a ng mga ka)inungalingan )a 'ya yo# ng mga subtitles ng foreign mo!ies, at ng mga !andalism )a u(uan ng bu) gaya ng "Bobo ang buma)a nito!"" )is stories are concrete representations and e amples of what is truly happening in our society. 1t may be his personal e perience, but one can positi!ely say that (ngs e periences is almost similar, if not e actly the same, as that of a public school students, a dropouts, a teachers. A student2s life is not as easy as others may think it is. 1t has ne!er been easy to study. As a matter of fact, (ng has described perfectly what college life is, "%oon ko lang nai)i( na ganon (ala )a college. "aguhan+ Sa second year, bumalik ang e)kwelahan )a 'ati nitong anyo$gubat, Bumalik 'in ako )a 'ati kong (agkatao$in)ekto," 1f the books purpose is simply to entertain its readers, then ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! has ser!ed its purpose !ery well. 1n reality, howe!er, the book does more than to amuse its readers. 1t actually makes its readers remember lifes difficulties and how unfair it can be most of the time, especially for those who are underpri!ileged in life. Then again, the authors sarcastic, sometimes almost re!olting, tone can make one think that the book is written not simply to entertain or to share life e periences. 1t is written to inspire, and hopefully, one student will emerge from his seat and try to change the world by asking 3uestions other students are afraid to ask.