What do you think?
Rate this book
Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan
127 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2010
494 people are currently reading
7843 people want to read
About the author
Bob Ong
14 books2,378 followersBob Ong, or Roberto Ong, is the pseudonym of a Filipino contemporary author known for using conversational Filipino to create humorous and reflective depictions of life as a Filipino.
The six books he has published thus far have surpassed a quarter of a million copies.
The six books he has published thus far have surpassed a quarter of a million copies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews
December 24, 2010
Book Review (down there somewhere)
Caution: Please bear in mind that what you are going to read is a negative review. So before reading it I suggest you should answer these questions first:
1. Are you really ready to read a rant review about the book?
2. Are you intelligent and mature enough to know that people have diverse opinions and that you should respect other opinions as well even if it's different from yours?
3. Are you logical and respectful enough to post an argument about the book and not on the reviewer?
***if you answer all the questions Yes with all honesty, you can now proceed to my last question (^___^)V***
Are you Team Zombies or Team Unicorns? *coughs* sorry wrong book >.<
Ahhhhheeem!
Are you a Troll? (please answer with all honesty!)
***if your answer is No, you can proceed^^***
U
N
I
C
O
R
N
S
C
A
N
G
O
T
O
H
E
L
L
C
U
Z
Z
O
M
B
I
E
S
R
U
L
E
S
!
****************************************************
Grabe hindi ko alam kung maiiyak ako o magwawala(joke).
Siguro ganito na lang gagawin ko...
This was so disappointing parang gusto ko sumigaw ng...
Sayang, sayang talaga...
Sayang yung 150 pesos ko, (T_T) pinagipunan ko pa yun! Sana binili ko na lang ng Krushers o kaya Twister fries nag-enjoy pa ako. Tae talaga. Di ako natutuwa.
Sayang yung papel na pinagprintan nung book! Sayang sa puno! Sayang sa ink ng printer! Wala sayang talaga!
Cons:
1. Unang una ang pangit ng pagkakasulat. Yung format na ginamit e journal type, puro narration, kaunti lang ang dialogues at nakakainis pa yung ibang journal entry at parang mga siningit lang basta may mailagay lang tulad nito:
Wednesday, Oct. 28 1998
3:15PM. Last day ng klase, pero noong Monday pa irregular, at marami nang absent. Na-submit na namin lahat ng requirements, pasado naman lahat ng exam ko kahit yung iba pasang-awa lang, at napapapirmahan ko na rin lahat ng clearance. Nakatambay kami dito ngayon sa canteen, nagpapatay ng oras kakahintay kina Roy, manlilibre kasi yun ng sine dahil pasado raw sya sa Algebra.
(Marami pa pong ganyan mga walang kakwenta-kwentang entries, tinamad na lang po magtype ang reviewer).
2. Napakacorny ng jokes, ni isang joke dito hindi ako natawa.
3. Corny din mismo ang horror story, hindi nakakatakot, mababanas ka lang.
4. Wala akong pakialam kahit kanino sa characters dito.
5. Napaka-boring as in define boring ang book na 'to! Sa sobrang boring di ko namalayan na nakatulog na 'ko, daig pa nito ang Valium.
Bob Ong please lang po di para sa'yo ang Horror balik ka na sa Comedy.
Final Verdict: EPIC FAYUL!
*************************************************************
Note: This is just a letter to all my beloved trolls in this thread. Don't take this too seriously I am just being playful and childish when I made this one.
Dear Trolls,
Don’t judge me for giving this book one star. I didn’t like the book period and I have my reasons to support my rating. For the bloody second time in my opinion the book was overrated, boring, nonsense, lacks substantial plot, characters, conflict and horribly written.
If you probably gave me this book without telling me that it was written by Bob Ong I probably would not recognize that he authored the book. In fact I’m a hard core Bob Ong fan I’ve read all of his works and love it. Actually I gave 5 stars for his MacArthur, Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas, Alamat ng Gubat and ABNKKBSNPlaako?. While 4 stars was given to Stainless Longganisa and Kapitan Sino and 3 stars for Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ang Pinoy.
I do believe that everyone has different taste in books as well as in food, fashion, movies etc. But what’s important is being honest about what you feel on a certain thing. Would I rate this fake 2, 3, 4 or 5 though I didn’t like it, just because majority thinks it’s good? Or perhaps because it was a best seller? Or just because it was popular and the fact that Bob Ong wrote it?
I BEG TO DISAGREE!
Hey every book has a flaw and if a book is horrendous someone must stand and say, “Hey this book sucks in a major major way!” And there’s nothing wrong about that! I’ve read rant reviews of my favorite books like Catching Fire, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, City of Bones, The Book Thief, The Alchemist and the likes but I never bloody ranted on the reviewer’s comment section and tell his/her that his/her opinion was stupid and misleading. Because I bloody respect other opinions and I was simply amaze by the fact that people have different views and that makes us more interesting and that makes reading more interesting!
Should we not criticize Bob Ong because he’s a Filipino and he gave to charities? Should we exempt him from this rule: Hey every book has a flaw and if a book is horrendous someone must stand and say, “Hey this book sucks in a major major way!” I don’t think that’s right!
We judge a book base from the book, on how it is written, on what message does it left to the readers, and how the reader felt after reading it (Does he/she feels happy? Disturbed? Frightened? Annoyed? Disappointed? Or Amazed!).
As much as I wanted to say that we should exercise freedom of speech. You should not insult me and saying that I did not truly understand what I read, that I’m an awful person because I posted a negative review, and that I’m an astoundingly idiotic. Respect my opinion, if you say rude things to me and then I’ll say rude things to you as well. This is my thread! And every hate comments I can bloody read it dumbass!
If you disagree with me post your own review, do something else and stop trolling on my review or maybe you can just (coded message) instead!
XOXO,
Joyzi
Caution: Please bear in mind that what you are going to read is a negative review. So before reading it I suggest you should answer these questions first:
1. Are you really ready to read a rant review about the book?
2. Are you intelligent and mature enough to know that people have diverse opinions and that you should respect other opinions as well even if it's different from yours?
3. Are you logical and respectful enough to post an argument about the book and not on the reviewer?
***if you answer all the questions Yes with all honesty, you can now proceed to my last question (^___^)V***
Ahhhhheeem!
Are you a Troll? (please answer with all honesty!)
***if your answer is No, you can proceed^^***
U
N
I
C
O
R
N
S
C
A
N
G
O
T
O
H
E
L
L
C
U
Z
Z
O
M
B
I
E
S
R
U
L
E
S
!
****************************************************
Grabe hindi ko alam kung maiiyak ako o magwawala(joke).
Siguro ganito na lang gagawin ko...
This was so disappointing parang gusto ko sumigaw ng...
Sayang, sayang talaga...
Sayang yung 150 pesos ko, (T_T) pinagipunan ko pa yun! Sana binili ko na lang ng Krushers o kaya Twister fries nag-enjoy pa ako. Tae talaga. Di ako natutuwa.
Sayang yung papel na pinagprintan nung book! Sayang sa puno! Sayang sa ink ng printer! Wala sayang talaga!
Cons:
1. Unang una ang pangit ng pagkakasulat. Yung format na ginamit e journal type, puro narration, kaunti lang ang dialogues at nakakainis pa yung ibang journal entry at parang mga siningit lang basta may mailagay lang tulad nito:
Wednesday, Oct. 28 1998
3:15PM. Last day ng klase, pero noong Monday pa irregular, at marami nang absent. Na-submit na namin lahat ng requirements, pasado naman lahat ng exam ko kahit yung iba pasang-awa lang, at napapapirmahan ko na rin lahat ng clearance. Nakatambay kami dito ngayon sa canteen, nagpapatay ng oras kakahintay kina Roy, manlilibre kasi yun ng sine dahil pasado raw sya sa Algebra.
(Marami pa pong ganyan mga walang kakwenta-kwentang entries, tinamad na lang po magtype ang reviewer).
2. Napakacorny ng jokes, ni isang joke dito hindi ako natawa.
3. Corny din mismo ang horror story, hindi nakakatakot, mababanas ka lang.
4. Wala akong pakialam kahit kanino sa characters dito.
5. Napaka-boring as in define boring ang book na 'to! Sa sobrang boring di ko namalayan na nakatulog na 'ko, daig pa nito ang Valium.
Bob Ong please lang po di para sa'yo ang Horror balik ka na sa Comedy.
Final Verdict: EPIC FAYUL!
*************************************************************
Note: This is just a letter to all my beloved trolls in this thread. Don't take this too seriously I am just being playful and childish when I made this one.
Dear Trolls,
Don’t judge me for giving this book one star. I didn’t like the book period and I have my reasons to support my rating. For the bloody second time in my opinion the book was overrated, boring, nonsense, lacks substantial plot, characters, conflict and horribly written.
If you probably gave me this book without telling me that it was written by Bob Ong I probably would not recognize that he authored the book. In fact I’m a hard core Bob Ong fan I’ve read all of his works and love it. Actually I gave 5 stars for his MacArthur, Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas, Alamat ng Gubat and ABNKKBSNPlaako?. While 4 stars was given to Stainless Longganisa and Kapitan Sino and 3 stars for Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ang Pinoy.
I do believe that everyone has different taste in books as well as in food, fashion, movies etc. But what’s important is being honest about what you feel on a certain thing. Would I rate this fake 2, 3, 4 or 5 though I didn’t like it, just because majority thinks it’s good? Or perhaps because it was a best seller? Or just because it was popular and the fact that Bob Ong wrote it?
I BEG TO DISAGREE!
Hey every book has a flaw and if a book is horrendous someone must stand and say, “Hey this book sucks in a major major way!” And there’s nothing wrong about that! I’ve read rant reviews of my favorite books like Catching Fire, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, City of Bones, The Book Thief, The Alchemist and the likes but I never bloody ranted on the reviewer’s comment section and tell his/her that his/her opinion was stupid and misleading. Because I bloody respect other opinions and I was simply amaze by the fact that people have different views and that makes us more interesting and that makes reading more interesting!
Should we not criticize Bob Ong because he’s a Filipino and he gave to charities? Should we exempt him from this rule: Hey every book has a flaw and if a book is horrendous someone must stand and say, “Hey this book sucks in a major major way!” I don’t think that’s right!
We judge a book base from the book, on how it is written, on what message does it left to the readers, and how the reader felt after reading it (Does he/she feels happy? Disturbed? Frightened? Annoyed? Disappointed? Or Amazed!).
As much as I wanted to say that we should exercise freedom of speech. You should not insult me and saying that I did not truly understand what I read, that I’m an awful person because I posted a negative review, and that I’m an astoundingly idiotic. Respect my opinion, if you say rude things to me and then I’ll say rude things to you as well. This is my thread! And every hate comments I can bloody read it dumbass!
If you disagree with me post your own review, do something else and stop trolling on my review or maybe you can just (coded message) instead!
XOXO,
Joyzi
January 6, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Hindi ko nagawang pumasok kanina, may tonsilitis kasi ako at mataas ang lagnat *post medical certificate here*. PAKER!!! Unang pasukan ng taon di ako nakapasok, paano kung bumagsak ako nito? Hindot, ayaw kong mag-6 years sa Engineering! Bakit kasi akotinamad nagkasakit? Kaya 'yon, pumunta na lang ako ng mall at nagkape, frappe, Venti. Para mawala ang tonsilitis ko, at para magkaroon ako ng ganang simulan at tapusin ang Mama Susan na hiniram ko pa kapalit ng bulok na copy ng Bloodline ni Sheldon.
Eh sino ba naman kasing sisipagin basahin ang isang librong parang ganito lang? Journal ng isang taong wala namang magandang ikekwento at wala namang mga bagong ideyang pwedeng ibahagi. Tapos babanatan ka pa ng entry niya noong October 14, 1998, Wednesday:
Pero binigyan ko pa rin ng chance ang librong 'yon. Medyo naaalala ko kasi ang The Perks of Being a Wallflower ni Stephen Chbosky sa style ng narration, ang kinaibahan lang, mga liham ang sinusulat ng bida at di journal. Muntikan ko na rin kasing sukuan ang librong yon, feeling ko kasi ini-spam lang ako ni Charlie. Pero buti na lang tinapos ko, na-satisfy naman ako sa ending. So ganoon ang ginawa ko sa Mama Susan, tinapos kahit na kung ako si Lao, yung propesor na mahilig sa Slurpee, ay mamarkahan ko ng singko ang class card ni Gilberto P. Manasala. Si Galo ang may-ari ng journal, isang masipag na estudyante, utusan, gitarista, rapper, corny, at pakiramdam ko may eidetic memory dahil kaya niyang ulitin ang sinabi ng Lola niya tungkol sa pag-ihip ng mga anghel sa trumpeta.
Kung gagawa man ako ng review ng Mama Susan, sasabihin kong muntikan ko na itong magustuhan. Kung di lang kasi journal style yung pagkwekwento. Di naman kasi nakatulong 'yon sa pagbuo plot. Pakiramdam ko, kung pupunitin ko ang unang entries ni Galo at ititira lang ang parts kung saan nasa probinsya na siya'y wala akong mami-miss.
Kung ikekwento na lang siguro ni Bob Ong ng normal ang Mama Susan, siguro ay mas na-build pa niya ang character ng protaganist. Para kasing minadali lahat; 'yung pagtanggap niya sa pagkatao niya; 'yung may mga bagay na naghihintay ka ng isang pulidong reaction galing sa kanya ngunit binigo ka lang (na di nga masisisi dahil journal nga, mahirap nga namang idescribe ang sarili mong emosyon sa papel). Parang deadline na bukas ng journal na sinusulat mo at di ka pa tapos kaya isusulat mo na lang sa pinakamadaling paraan ang mga nangyari, tipikal na school project.
Muntikan ko ng magustuhan ang Mama Susan dahil na-touch nito 'yung mga topic na gusto ko: religion, globalization, at... 'yun lang 'ata. Kaso kung nakapagbasa ka na ng Bob Ong, alam mong nasulat na niya iyon. Para ka lang nakikinig sa sermon ng Nanay mo araw-araw na linisin mo 'yung kwarto mo, sarap sabihing paulit-ulit? at pwede bang pumuna naman siya ng iba gaya ng magulo mong closet. ('Yun nga lang, sadyang pasok sa isang tainga at labas sa isa tayo.)
Muntik ko ng magustuhan ang Mama Susan dahil horror ang atake ng kwento. Mahilig kasi ako sa horrortingnan mo yung ex ko, kaya nga fan ako ni Stephen King, kaya lang mukhang fan din ni King si Ong. Ang labo. Maraming tao ang namangha (o nainis) sa ending ng Mama Susan. Pero nabasa ko na ang ganoong ending eh. Sa isa sa mga collections ng short stories ni Stephen King na Nightmares and Dreamscapes, kabilang doon ang "The End of the Whole Mess", diyan ko unang nabasa ang ganoong style ng ending.
Medyo di ako nabilib.
Hindi ko nagawang pumasok kanina, may tonsilitis kasi ako at mataas ang lagnat *post medical certificate here*. PAKER!!! Unang pasukan ng taon di ako nakapasok, paano kung bumagsak ako nito? Hindot, ayaw kong mag-6 years sa Engineering! Bakit kasi ako
Eh sino ba naman kasing sisipagin basahin ang isang librong parang ganito lang? Journal ng isang taong wala namang magandang ikekwento at wala namang mga bagong ideyang pwedeng ibahagi. Tapos babanatan ka pa ng entry niya noong October 14, 1998, Wednesday:
Wala naman akong itinatago, wala namang nakakatuwa dito, ano kaya makukuha nya?
Pero binigyan ko pa rin ng chance ang librong 'yon. Medyo naaalala ko kasi ang The Perks of Being a Wallflower ni Stephen Chbosky sa style ng narration, ang kinaibahan lang, mga liham ang sinusulat ng bida at di journal. Muntikan ko na rin kasing sukuan ang librong yon, feeling ko kasi ini-spam lang ako ni Charlie. Pero buti na lang tinapos ko, na-satisfy naman ako sa ending. So ganoon ang ginawa ko sa Mama Susan, tinapos kahit na kung ako si Lao, yung propesor na mahilig sa Slurpee, ay mamarkahan ko ng singko ang class card ni Gilberto P. Manasala. Si Galo ang may-ari ng journal, isang masipag na estudyante, utusan, gitarista, rapper, corny, at pakiramdam ko may eidetic memory dahil kaya niyang ulitin ang sinabi ng Lola niya tungkol sa pag-ihip ng mga anghel sa trumpeta.
Kung gagawa man ako ng review ng Mama Susan, sasabihin kong muntikan ko na itong magustuhan. Kung di lang kasi journal style yung pagkwekwento. Di naman kasi nakatulong 'yon sa pagbuo plot. Pakiramdam ko, kung pupunitin ko ang unang entries ni Galo at ititira lang ang parts kung saan nasa probinsya na siya'y wala akong mami-miss.
Kung ikekwento na lang siguro ni Bob Ong ng normal ang Mama Susan, siguro ay mas na-build pa niya ang character ng protaganist. Para kasing minadali lahat; 'yung pagtanggap niya sa pagkatao niya; 'yung may mga bagay na naghihintay ka ng isang pulidong reaction galing sa kanya ngunit binigo ka lang (na di nga masisisi dahil journal nga, mahirap nga namang idescribe ang sarili mong emosyon sa papel). Parang deadline na bukas ng journal na sinusulat mo at di ka pa tapos kaya isusulat mo na lang sa pinakamadaling paraan ang mga nangyari, tipikal na school project.
Muntikan ko ng magustuhan ang Mama Susan dahil na-touch nito 'yung mga topic na gusto ko: religion, globalization, at... 'yun lang 'ata. Kaso kung nakapagbasa ka na ng Bob Ong, alam mong nasulat na niya iyon. Para ka lang nakikinig sa sermon ng Nanay mo araw-araw na linisin mo 'yung kwarto mo, sarap sabihing paulit-ulit? at pwede bang pumuna naman siya ng iba gaya ng magulo mong closet. ('Yun nga lang, sadyang pasok sa isang tainga at labas sa isa tayo.)
Muntik ko ng magustuhan ang Mama Susan dahil horror ang atake ng kwento. Mahilig kasi ako sa horror
Medyo di ako nabilib.
December 5, 2010
Unang nobela na binasa kong buo na sinulat ni Bob o Roberto Ong. Ang pangalang iyan ay isang alias lamang dahil hindi pa siya talaga nagpapakilala sa mga mambabasa. Bakit? Baka para siyang si Edward de Vere (1550-1604), ika-17 Earl of Oxford, na sinasabing siya talagang sumulat ng mga gawa ni William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Hindi lang nagpakilala si De Vere dahil ang mga naunang sinulat nito ay di tinangkilik ng masa noong Victorian era. Noong mamatay si William Shakespeare ay saka inilabas ang mga sinulat ni De Vere at ipinangalan kay Shakespeare.
Pero ibang istorya yon. Balik na lang tayo kay Bob Ong. Tutal ang librong ito ay malayong-malayo sa mga sinulat ni Shakespeare. Ano bang klaseng paghahambing ito?
Ang istorya ay umiinog sa isang journal na sa simula'y sinusulat ng karakter ni Bob Ong (dahil gumamit siya ng first person narrative dito. Una'y para i-submit sa kanyang guro sa PhilLit na si Mrs. Lao na mahilig uminom ng slurpee pero nakalauna'y naging ugali na nya at sinusulat pa rin nya hanggang sa paguwi nya sa probinsya, sa kanilang bayan ng Tarmanes, upang dalawin ang maysakit na lola. Doon, nagala-Blair Witch Project ang istoryang sa unang bahagi sa Maynila ay isang tipikal na buhay ng estudyanteng nakikitira sa kanyang tiyuhin (dahil siya ay ulila na at laki sa kanyang lola). Tapos ang Tarmenes pala ay parang naging village doon sa The Village ni M. Night Shyamalan. Kaya parang kopyado lang ang ideya ng nobela. Pati yong karakter ng batang si Jezel ay hawig sa karakter ni Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) sa The Sixth Sense dahil sa "I can see dead people".
Sa istilo ng pagsulat, di kagaya ng Unang Ulan ng Mayo ni Ellen Sicat, ang ginamit ni Bob Ong ay ang current conversational Taglish (more on Tagalog rather than English) kaya madaling basahin at di ka na magiisa-isa ng banghay. Mahirap magbasa ng halimbawa'y "mamamatyagan". Iisa-isahin mo ang banghay: ma-ma-mat-ya-gan habang ikaw ay nagbabasa. Yon kay Sicat. Kay Bob Ong siguro: "masa-sight" Kay Sicat: "kaunti". Kay Ong: "konti". Kung baga sa English, kay Sicat ang King's English at kay Ong ang Colloquial English. Depende na yang sa preference mo sa pagbabasa.
Marami lang hindi nasagot na tanong sa isip ko. Wala naman itong sequel so hanggang 3 bituin lang. Ang mga tanong bakit gusto raw patayin ni Aling Delia si Galo (ang karakter ni Bob Ong) noong pagdating niya sa Tarmanes. Dahil saan? Hindi naman ito nagdra-drugs, naninigarilyo lang. Hindi rin malinaw para sa akin kung anong relasyon ng dalawang bata kay Mama Susan at bakit sila naroon sa bahay na tinatawag ng mga tao ng templo. Hindi rin ako natuwa sa dulo na parang may pananakot si Bob Ong na ako yon pinili ng masamang espiritu ayon sa sinulat nya.
May pagka-korni lang.
Pero ibang istorya yon. Balik na lang tayo kay Bob Ong. Tutal ang librong ito ay malayong-malayo sa mga sinulat ni Shakespeare. Ano bang klaseng paghahambing ito?
Ang istorya ay umiinog sa isang journal na sa simula'y sinusulat ng karakter ni Bob Ong (dahil gumamit siya ng first person narrative dito. Una'y para i-submit sa kanyang guro sa PhilLit na si Mrs. Lao na mahilig uminom ng slurpee pero nakalauna'y naging ugali na nya at sinusulat pa rin nya hanggang sa paguwi nya sa probinsya, sa kanilang bayan ng Tarmanes, upang dalawin ang maysakit na lola. Doon, nagala-Blair Witch Project ang istoryang sa unang bahagi sa Maynila ay isang tipikal na buhay ng estudyanteng nakikitira sa kanyang tiyuhin (dahil siya ay ulila na at laki sa kanyang lola). Tapos ang Tarmenes pala ay parang naging village doon sa The Village ni M. Night Shyamalan. Kaya parang kopyado lang ang ideya ng nobela. Pati yong karakter ng batang si Jezel ay hawig sa karakter ni Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) sa The Sixth Sense dahil sa "I can see dead people".
Sa istilo ng pagsulat, di kagaya ng Unang Ulan ng Mayo ni Ellen Sicat, ang ginamit ni Bob Ong ay ang current conversational Taglish (more on Tagalog rather than English) kaya madaling basahin at di ka na magiisa-isa ng banghay. Mahirap magbasa ng halimbawa'y "mamamatyagan". Iisa-isahin mo ang banghay: ma-ma-mat-ya-gan habang ikaw ay nagbabasa. Yon kay Sicat. Kay Bob Ong siguro: "masa-sight" Kay Sicat: "kaunti". Kay Ong: "konti". Kung baga sa English, kay Sicat ang King's English at kay Ong ang Colloquial English. Depende na yang sa preference mo sa pagbabasa.
Marami lang hindi nasagot na tanong sa isip ko. Wala naman itong sequel so hanggang 3 bituin lang. Ang mga tanong bakit gusto raw patayin ni Aling Delia si Galo (ang karakter ni Bob Ong) noong pagdating niya sa Tarmanes. Dahil saan? Hindi naman ito nagdra-drugs, naninigarilyo lang. Hindi rin malinaw para sa akin kung anong relasyon ng dalawang bata kay Mama Susan at bakit sila naroon sa bahay na tinatawag ng mga tao ng templo. Hindi rin ako natuwa sa dulo na parang may pananakot si Bob Ong na ako yon pinili ng masamang espiritu ayon sa sinulat nya.
May pagka-korni lang.
December 8, 2010
I was skimming through the bookshelves at National Bookstore when I saw this book upfront near the cashier. When I saw Bob Ong's name, I just immediately grabbed a copy and went straight to pay for it. So when I started out reading the book, I had no idea what it was about. Also, I've already stopped trying to figure out what Bob Ong's books were really about not until I've read it up to the last page.
I didn't compare it with his other books because, let's face it, he's one of the most unpredictable writers in our country. One book cannot be compared with the other since they are all stand-alone. But then again, that's how it is for now. I can't say if he might think of creating a sequel... (Will he???)
Anyway, as I was reading the first few parts, I was confused... actually... up until finishing it I'm still confused. There are a lot of things left unanswered, like who's the girl Galo is talking about, what happened to Niko? What exactly had Galo been hiding? etcetera, etcetera. But I can see the point in some of that, the book was written in a first person view. Galo's journal could be compared to anyone else's in real life. We don't tell/write down everything that happens in our lives, especially the ones we want to forget or the ones we regret.
Halfway through the book, it started to creep me out (I don't know if it's because of the book or because I get easily scared... I'll probably go with the latter.. ^^). A few pages left I was beginning to close and open the book. I was debating between stopping to take a breath or the urge of finding out what would happen next this instant! I shut the book hard when Bob suddenly scared the reader of being the spirit's next choice to possess.
Although it scared me a bit, I don't think it was written simply intending to scare the reader. On my opinion, it was written to open the eyes of those who have lost their faith or have forgotten the power of God's love, or have taken Him for granted. As scary as Mama Susan can be, her words are strong. They were open and true. They reflect how our lives evolve through the passing generations involving technology, personality, choices, and spirituality. If you want to understand what I mean, then read the book. It's affordable and worth reading. ^^
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com
I didn't compare it with his other books because, let's face it, he's one of the most unpredictable writers in our country. One book cannot be compared with the other since they are all stand-alone. But then again, that's how it is for now. I can't say if he might think of creating a sequel... (Will he???)
Anyway, as I was reading the first few parts, I was confused... actually... up until finishing it I'm still confused. There are a lot of things left unanswered, like who's the girl Galo is talking about, what happened to Niko? What exactly had Galo been hiding? etcetera, etcetera. But I can see the point in some of that, the book was written in a first person view. Galo's journal could be compared to anyone else's in real life. We don't tell/write down everything that happens in our lives, especially the ones we want to forget or the ones we regret.
Halfway through the book, it started to creep me out (I don't know if it's because of the book or because I get easily scared... I'll probably go with the latter.. ^^). A few pages left I was beginning to close and open the book. I was debating between stopping to take a breath or the urge of finding out what would happen next this instant! I shut the book hard when Bob suddenly scared the reader of being the spirit's next choice to possess.
Although it scared me a bit, I don't think it was written simply intending to scare the reader. On my opinion, it was written to open the eyes of those who have lost their faith or have forgotten the power of God's love, or have taken Him for granted. As scary as Mama Susan can be, her words are strong. They were open and true. They reflect how our lives evolve through the passing generations involving technology, personality, choices, and spirituality. If you want to understand what I mean, then read the book. It's affordable and worth reading. ^^
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com
February 5, 2011
Nakaka...
(Isang Rebyu ng Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan ni Bob Ong)
(Author’s Note: Pardon my self-indulgence Gentle Readers, but it seems appropriate to write and articulate my opinion on this book in Filipino, my native language, in which this book is also written.)
Sa maniwala ka o hindi, halos isang dekada nang nagsusulat si Bob Ong — peksman, walang biro, sige bilangin mo pa.
Sa loob ng maikiling panahon na ito masasabing bahagi na siya ng kulturang Pilipino — patunay dito ang naglipanang Facebook pages at applications (na walang pahintulot mula sa awtor) na nagbibigay payo at quotable quotes sa mga problemang hinahanarap ng karaniwang Pilipino — mula pag-ibig hanggang suliraning pangpinansiyal — at syempre ‘di mawawala ang cult following (ang loyal fans) ng loko. Sa panahong ito sino nga bang hindi nakakakilala kay Bob Ong?
Tanggapin man o hindi ng mga nagdudunongdunungang kritiko, bahagi na rin siya ng Literaturang Pilipino.Walang sinumang manunulat na nabubuhay sa ngayon (sa pagkakaalam ko) ang buong pagmamayabang na masasabing muli niyang naibalik ang kawilihan at kasiyahang dulot ng pagbabasa sa kabataang Pilipino kung hindi siya lamang. Maituturing ngang isang phenonema ang pangyayari ito sapagkat hindi isang kilala at pinagpipitaganang manunulat ang nagakawa nito kundi isang indibidwal na parang hinatak lang mula sa kanto ng Tondo. Kapag may libro ka ni Bob Ong panigurado, halos kalahati ng classmates mo hihiramin ‘to (at gula-gulanit na kapag isinauli! Ampota!), ipuspulit ng kapatid mo mabasa lang kahit sinabi mo nang “mature” ang content at labag man sa kalooban mo’y pilit sa ‘yong hihiramin ng nanay o tatay mong biglaang nagka-trip basahin ang libro niya sa takot na hindi ka bigyan ng baon (OA mang pakinggan lahat pong iyan ay nangayri sa ‘kin). At ito ang isang katotohanang hindi maitatanggi sa mga nakabasa na ng kanyang mha libro: nakakadik lang talaga.
Naging saksi ang nagdaang sampung taon kung paano niya tayo pinaiyak (slight lang naman), kinurot ang ating mga puso, pinahanga ng mga simple ngunit mabibisa niyang pilosopiya ukol sa buhay, pinakilig, pinahanga, napatae (ang mga bollpen), napagunita sa ilang pangyayari sa ating buhay na kakatwa man ay nararanasan din pala ng iba, at napahalakhak… ng MALAKAS — mag-isa mo mang binabasa ang kanyang libro o kasama ang mga kaibigan. Pero higit sa lahat, mas tumatak sa akin kung paano niya binubuhay ang damdaming makabayan, paano niya ipinakita ang magkabilang mukha, ang pangit at maganda, ng mga bagay na pinupuna sa ating bansa. Tulad ng nakagawian na ni Kuya Boy Abunda, iniharap ka niya sa salamin at ipinakita kung nasaan ka, saan ka pupunta, at buong katotohanang ipinakitang ito ka — bahagi ng kabuuan.
Isa sa mga lubos kong hinahagaan kay Bob Ong bilang manunulat ay hindi niya hinayaang ikahon siya ng kanyang publisher at mga mambabasa. Marahil marami ang nagulat nang itinuon niya ang panulat sa fiction nang inilathala ang Alamat ng Gubat, na sinundan ng Macarthur at sinudan pa ng Kapitan Sino. Hati ang opinyon ng ilan sa ukol dito, pero masasabi kong may potensyal ang kanyang mga istorya at nagustuhan ko ang huli.
Bahagi pa rin ng
Ang unang bahagi ay tungkol sa buhay ni Galo, isang tipikal na probinsiyanong ulila na lumuwas sa Maynila para mag-aral at naninirhan sa piling ng kanyang mga tiyo at tiya kasama ang mga nakakaasar na anak nito. Sinulat niyang ang journal (ipalagay na nating ang librong hawak mo) bilang project na ipapasa sa kanilang subject na Phil Lit na ng kinalaonan ay nakagawian niyang sulatan araw-araw. Tulad ni Galo ramdam na randam mo sa umpisa pa lang ang pagkainip at katamaran, kaya feeling mo dragging ang istorya pagkatapos pa lang ng dalawampung pahina.
Dito ngayon unang papasok ang unang atake ng horror ni Bob Ong: kinakatakot mo bilang matagal nang nagbabasa ng mga libro ni idol na baka ito, sa lahat ng kanyang naisulat na, ang pinakanakakadismaya. Dahil dito pipilitin mong basahin ang nalalabing pahina hanggang matapos mo, pasinungalingan mo lang ito.
Ang ikalawang bahagi ay naglalahad naman ng mga naging karanasan ni Galo nang umuwi siya ng Tarmanes upang alaagaan ang kanyang lola, si Mama Susan, na naratay dahil sa malubhang karamdaman. Sa bahaging ito pumasok na ang tunay na horror, at babalutin ka ng misteryo. Kung ano man ‘yon di ko na babanggitin. Secret. Basahin mo na lang. Bleh! :p
Kung tatanungin mo ako, maganda ba o pangit Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan? Ang isasagot ko: alam ni Bob Ong kung paano niya gagamitin, lalaruin ang kanyang materyal. Sa mga sandaling ito tantiya ko marami nang nakabasa nito at sa tingin ko nakatatak na sa utak ng marami ang nakakagulat na katupusan nito. Ito nga ata halos ang pinag-uusapan sa lahat ng mga komentong nabasa ko sa ilang blogs at reviews. Hindi mo naman kasi masisi na horror book ito at ang isa sa mga trabahong dapat gawin ng mga libro sa genre na ito, ang sukatan kung naging mabisa nga ito, ay... well... manakot. Pero isa ito sa mga kinatatakot ko para sa librong ito, na ito ay maaalala lamang sa kakaiba nitong ending. Tahasan kong sasabihing hindi ako nagandahan sa plot. Kung susubukan lang nating tignan ang akda sa kabuuan nito, bakit di mo tanugin ang sarili mo: ano nga bang nais iparating ni Bob Ong, ano nga bang mensahe niya? Gets ko na naman ang ilan sa mga argumento ni Mama Susan, pero sa tingin ko hindi siya kapani-paniwalang karakter para sabihin o pagmulan ng mga ito. Kung sakaling naglalakad ka at salubungin ng isang tao, baliw man o sa unang tingin ay miyembro ng isang kulto, at sambitin ang mga naunang nang nabanggit ni Mama Susan sa akdang ito, maniniwala ka ba agad? Sabihin na nga natin na oo, ito nga ang nais ipabatid ni Bob Ong disin sana’y nanood na lang sana ako ng An Inconvinient Truth. Panigurado, mas tatayuan pa ako ng balahibo kung sakali mang pinanood ko 'yon.
_________________________
Book Details:
Published by Visprint Inc.
(Mass Market Paperback, First Printed in November 2010)
127 pages
Read in: December 2010
August 2, 2011
I was trying to review this in English but I failed. hehe
Okay naman siya. Di ko masyado nagustuhan. Parang nag-attempt si Bob Ong ng horror pero di masyadong patok. Sana mas nakakatakot pa! Umaga ko siya tinapos sakaling matakot ako o hindi ako makatulog sa gabi! hehe Hindi ako natakot, konti lang. Pero natetempt ako itranslate yung mga Latin dun sa book. Try ko nga! :p
Eto yung sa last page:
tu una cum vitiis tuis es locus pugnae inter bonum ac malum certamen universum eo modo decernetur quo daemones tuos superabis. noli finem omnium in terra malorum optare dum in pugnis mecum cottidianis superaris. mene cognovisti, lector? me luminibus nocte exstinctis omnino videbis. tibi soli semper adero. nos una in aeternum coniuncti erimus
Google Translate:
you together with your vices are located in the same way the whole of the battle between good and evil struggle to decide which overcome your demons. Do not wish for the end of all evils in the land when, in the combats with me daily to overcome. known it from me, dear reader? night lights extinguished, you will see me at all. always will be with thee, thee only. We, together we shall be united for ever
Okay naman siya. Di ko masyado nagustuhan. Parang nag-attempt si Bob Ong ng horror pero di masyadong patok. Sana mas nakakatakot pa! Umaga ko siya tinapos sakaling matakot ako o hindi ako makatulog sa gabi! hehe Hindi ako natakot, konti lang. Pero natetempt ako itranslate yung mga Latin dun sa book. Try ko nga! :p
Eto yung sa last page:
tu una cum vitiis tuis es locus pugnae inter bonum ac malum certamen universum eo modo decernetur quo daemones tuos superabis. noli finem omnium in terra malorum optare dum in pugnis mecum cottidianis superaris. mene cognovisti, lector? me luminibus nocte exstinctis omnino videbis. tibi soli semper adero. nos una in aeternum coniuncti erimus
Google Translate:
you together with your vices are located in the same way the whole of the battle between good and evil struggle to decide which overcome your demons. Do not wish for the end of all evils in the land when, in the combats with me daily to overcome. known it from me, dear reader? night lights extinguished, you will see me at all. always will be with thee, thee only. We, together we shall be united for ever
August 19, 2012
Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan is about a college student, Galo, who decides to go back to the province to take care of his Grandma. It turns out, his Grandma, and the old town his Grandma lives in, is stranger than it used to be.
If the book’s cover doesn’t give it away already, Mama Susan is a horror story. Wikipedia says it’s a “mystery novel” but Mama Susan is really a shit-in-your-pants-at-3am horror story. Or maybe I’m just a scaredy cat and I shouldn’t have read it during the wee hours of the morning.
It’s written in diary form so of course, the story telling is limited and the reader is aware that the narrator is sitting down somewhere, writing in his notebook. When things got a little bit too exciting, it bothered me that the narrator still had time to write in his diary. He apparently kept the journal with him wherever he went. At the end of the book, while I was reading the last sentence, I really felt like someone I can’t see was embracing me. I hope I was wrong. It’s not really scary but it's creepy! I mean, imagine yourself seeing those dark and empty eye sockets of Mama Susan, the rituals they are doing everyday, the creepy statues inside the room with a red curtain, the “itim na lolo” and Mama Susan herself. Up to now, it’s still creeping me out.
The latin is also creepy as heck but fortunately, it doesn’t have anything to do with summoning demons or anything (google translate!) so if you accidentally read it out loud, nothing’s going to happen… much.
And, as with every Bob Ong book, there’s commentary on society. In this one, the most obvious one is on religion, specifically, Christianity. The scary side of Mama Susan is first seen when she’s asked if she’s Christian and she goes on this eerily controlled rant on Christianity. I’m pretty sure there’s also subtext regarding the education system in the Philippines but that was mostly in the beginning and was soon overshadowed by scary shit.
If the book’s cover doesn’t give it away already, Mama Susan is a horror story. Wikipedia says it’s a “mystery novel” but Mama Susan is really a shit-in-your-pants-at-3am horror story. Or maybe I’m just a scaredy cat and I shouldn’t have read it during the wee hours of the morning.
It’s written in diary form so of course, the story telling is limited and the reader is aware that the narrator is sitting down somewhere, writing in his notebook. When things got a little bit too exciting, it bothered me that the narrator still had time to write in his diary. He apparently kept the journal with him wherever he went. At the end of the book, while I was reading the last sentence, I really felt like someone I can’t see was embracing me. I hope I was wrong. It’s not really scary but it's creepy! I mean, imagine yourself seeing those dark and empty eye sockets of Mama Susan, the rituals they are doing everyday, the creepy statues inside the room with a red curtain, the “itim na lolo” and Mama Susan herself. Up to now, it’s still creeping me out.
The latin is also creepy as heck but fortunately, it doesn’t have anything to do with summoning demons or anything (google translate!) so if you accidentally read it out loud, nothing’s going to happen… much.
And, as with every Bob Ong book, there’s commentary on society. In this one, the most obvious one is on religion, specifically, Christianity. The scary side of Mama Susan is first seen when she’s asked if she’s Christian and she goes on this eerily controlled rant on Christianity. I’m pretty sure there’s also subtext regarding the education system in the Philippines but that was mostly in the beginning and was soon overshadowed by scary shit.
December 27, 2010
one of bob ong's best. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may mga negative reviews about this book. Well, iisipin ko na lang na hindi nila naintindihan ung MAS malalim na message ng bo0k or they just d0n't care about the reality of technology vs nature.
Anyway, 2 faces of horror meron ang bo0k na to; paranormals and the s0on revenge of nature (mas natakot ako sa pangalawa). Another thing kaya nakuha nito ang interest ko ay dahil sa matapang nitong pagchallenge sa faith ng isang katolik0ng tulad ko. After m0ng mabasa, magiguilty ka sa mga sinabi ni mama susan. "oo nga't napapadali ng teknolohiya ang buhay pero hindi kami nagmamadali" -mama susan. Marami pa siyang mga ganiang banat. Mga salita niang tag0s hanggang buto. Haha
Swak din to sa mga mahihilig mags0lve ng mga mystery. Im an aspiring and trying hard detective kaya nagustuhan ko rin tong book. Maraming riddles, puzzles and s0me words na i think kailangan pang idecode.
I ENCOURAGE ALL THE MEMBERS HERE TO READ THIS BOOK. ALAM KONG SA UTAK ANG DIRETSO NG BAWAT SALITANG DINADAANAN NG MGA MATA NIYO. PANG MATALINO LANG ANG LIBRONG TO KAYA SWAK TO SA INYO XD
Anyway, 2 faces of horror meron ang bo0k na to; paranormals and the s0on revenge of nature (mas natakot ako sa pangalawa). Another thing kaya nakuha nito ang interest ko ay dahil sa matapang nitong pagchallenge sa faith ng isang katolik0ng tulad ko. After m0ng mabasa, magiguilty ka sa mga sinabi ni mama susan. "oo nga't napapadali ng teknolohiya ang buhay pero hindi kami nagmamadali" -mama susan. Marami pa siyang mga ganiang banat. Mga salita niang tag0s hanggang buto. Haha
Swak din to sa mga mahihilig mags0lve ng mga mystery. Im an aspiring and trying hard detective kaya nagustuhan ko rin tong book. Maraming riddles, puzzles and s0me words na i think kailangan pang idecode.
I ENCOURAGE ALL THE MEMBERS HERE TO READ THIS BOOK. ALAM KONG SA UTAK ANG DIRETSO NG BAWAT SALITANG DINADAANAN NG MGA MATA NIYO. PANG MATALINO LANG ANG LIBRONG TO KAYA SWAK TO SA INYO XD
September 6, 2016
The first book written by Bob Ong that led me to the portal of his idiosyncrasies is Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino?I was impressed by his ways of writing out his ideas or opinions in a conversational way. Reading it was like an editorial article full of facts but funny, intended not only for young but also old adults . Besides, I sensed his hidden blaze of nationalism. Amused, I borrowed Macarthur from my cousin who happened to be his avid reader. After that, I was magnetized again because the theme is not that as deeply and humorously academic and journalistic as the former one but, instead, it is a simple story that young readers may never forget because it reflects the social problem with illegal drug. The story is so worth remembering. No wonder when you ask a young avid fan about which Bob Ong books his/ her favorite is. I bet my boots that it is one of them. And please, count me in. THE VERY THOUGHT OF THE SACHET OF CRYSTAL METH FLOATING IN THE POOPED BOWL REPULSES ME.
I was in university when I got the opportunity to read another Bob Ong book. Another Bob Ong fan lent me some of his other works. I got the good chance of reading Stainless Longganisa . But I admit that I found it pretty boring. It is just a story of how a writer struggles with completing his book or having it published. If it is so, why did Bob Ong make it more complicated with his satirical dramas? He could have just written it in the other way around. But who am I to cast aspersion on his writing style? WALANG BASAGAN NG TRIP.This is his trademark.
I was disappointed more after reading his other books such as Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas and Kapitan Sino . They almost have the same pattern. The situation was like all Bob Ong had to do was to strike up a witty conversation with me ,with his satirical sentiments and dramas. Thereafter, I got sick and tired of Bob Ong. NAKAKASAWA NA. I promised myself then that I would not read another Bob Ong books.
I tried to read another Bob Ong when friends of mine gave me an intriguing idea of Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. My friends said that it is a scary one. Hmmm…Another friend tampered with my febrile imagination claiming that she could not sleep it off. After burying myself in it for the whole night, yes! My friends did not prove me wrong. I was horrified. Somehow, it scared me so witless that I would it put down when I did not want to read what would happen next. I did not want to picture how the scenes look like. Then, my hair stood on end when I patched all the puzzling parts together. GEE, THAT'S WHY? A typical reaction when you have come to understand everything. Who won’t forget the scene when the grandma who is supposed to be dead gets up from its bed to approach Galo, the protagonist? Who regretted reading the Latin phrases at the end of his each diary? How about the secret room in where the human –sized saints are kept ?
The story is clearly manipulating because Bob Ong intended to play our imagination. All the settings are mixed. He intended to lead us in some parts which turn out to be the linchpin of the horror. For instance, Galo also makes us read the Latin phrases he reads out of curiosity . Even though I didn’t understand the words, I still kept on reading them. But , in the end, I deeply regretted doing so. YOU SHOULD NOT READ THEM IF I WERE YOU. It is a warning. Plus, the twins, Jezel and Niko .Potek,I thought they were just ‘saling pusa’.
I was first confused with some information with which Bob Ong padded in the story. For instance, the date of the setting is in 1998. But MTB, a famous noon-time show ,was not aired in that year yet. Another thing is a high-tech computer. As far as I know, high-tech computers were unveiled in the 2000’s. There are some more happened in the 2000’s Bob Ong played back in the 1990’s. Thus, I inferred that Bob Ong loves to scrabble all the things that happened from different generations.
My friend speculates that Bob Ong may have written it off the cuff. He may have dabbled in writing it in a corner without any specific theme on his mind. So, his publisher may have ignored it and still seen its potential to give his readers the creeps knowing that he has established a name in the market. Or she may have meant to say that the story begins with Galo’s “nega moments”; then, all of a sudden, it segues into a horror part. Thus, the book appears to be inscrutable because she is not sure what Bob Ong may want to imply in this book since all his books appear to have satirical meanings. But apparently, one of the insinuations could be that anyone can have a Cinderella life. OF COURSE NOT! GALO DOES NOT HAVE A PRINCess CHARMING.( laughs)
Somehow, there are good points in the story that caught my interest aside from the “katatakutan” moment. I liked the philosophical conversations between Mama Susan and Galo although I find them obscure and irrelevant to whatever Bob Ong wants to preach to us. Besides, if it were not Mama Susan’s revelation about Galo’s past , I would really have demoted Bob Ong to all wannabe writers (like me) by giving it one out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Fiddlesticks! I wish I read books literally.
As a matter of fact, after reading it, I don’t want to give it a try again nor flip through its pages given that I found it not that really scary . Perhaps, I just don’t want to read the Latin phrases anymore. Gee, it is the impact on me!
Warning: Please, don’t read the Latin phrases. Just skip them.
I was in university when I got the opportunity to read another Bob Ong book. Another Bob Ong fan lent me some of his other works. I got the good chance of reading Stainless Longganisa . But I admit that I found it pretty boring. It is just a story of how a writer struggles with completing his book or having it published. If it is so, why did Bob Ong make it more complicated with his satirical dramas? He could have just written it in the other way around. But who am I to cast aspersion on his writing style? WALANG BASAGAN NG TRIP.This is his trademark.
I was disappointed more after reading his other books such as Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas and Kapitan Sino . They almost have the same pattern. The situation was like all Bob Ong had to do was to strike up a witty conversation with me ,with his satirical sentiments and dramas. Thereafter, I got sick and tired of Bob Ong. NAKAKASAWA NA. I promised myself then that I would not read another Bob Ong books.
I tried to read another Bob Ong when friends of mine gave me an intriguing idea of Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. My friends said that it is a scary one. Hmmm…Another friend tampered with my febrile imagination claiming that she could not sleep it off. After burying myself in it for the whole night, yes! My friends did not prove me wrong. I was horrified. Somehow, it scared me so witless that I would it put down when I did not want to read what would happen next. I did not want to picture how the scenes look like. Then, my hair stood on end when I patched all the puzzling parts together. GEE, THAT'S WHY? A typical reaction when you have come to understand everything. Who won’t forget the scene when the grandma who is supposed to be dead gets up from its bed to approach Galo, the protagonist? Who regretted reading the Latin phrases at the end of his each diary? How about the secret room in where the human –sized saints are kept ?
The story is clearly manipulating because Bob Ong intended to play our imagination. All the settings are mixed. He intended to lead us in some parts which turn out to be the linchpin of the horror. For instance, Galo also makes us read the Latin phrases he reads out of curiosity . Even though I didn’t understand the words, I still kept on reading them. But , in the end, I deeply regretted doing so. YOU SHOULD NOT READ THEM IF I WERE YOU. It is a warning. Plus, the twins, Jezel and Niko .Potek,I thought they were just ‘saling pusa’.
I was first confused with some information with which Bob Ong padded in the story. For instance, the date of the setting is in 1998. But MTB, a famous noon-time show ,was not aired in that year yet. Another thing is a high-tech computer. As far as I know, high-tech computers were unveiled in the 2000’s. There are some more happened in the 2000’s Bob Ong played back in the 1990’s. Thus, I inferred that Bob Ong loves to scrabble all the things that happened from different generations.
My friend speculates that Bob Ong may have written it off the cuff. He may have dabbled in writing it in a corner without any specific theme on his mind. So, his publisher may have ignored it and still seen its potential to give his readers the creeps knowing that he has established a name in the market. Or she may have meant to say that the story begins with Galo’s “nega moments”; then, all of a sudden, it segues into a horror part. Thus, the book appears to be inscrutable because she is not sure what Bob Ong may want to imply in this book since all his books appear to have satirical meanings. But apparently, one of the insinuations could be that anyone can have a Cinderella life. OF COURSE NOT! GALO DOES NOT HAVE A PRINCess CHARMING.( laughs)
Somehow, there are good points in the story that caught my interest aside from the “katatakutan” moment. I liked the philosophical conversations between Mama Susan and Galo although I find them obscure and irrelevant to whatever Bob Ong wants to preach to us. Besides, if it were not Mama Susan’s revelation about Galo’s past , I would really have demoted Bob Ong to all wannabe writers (like me) by giving it one out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Fiddlesticks! I wish I read books literally.
As a matter of fact, after reading it, I don’t want to give it a try again nor flip through its pages given that I found it not that really scary . Perhaps, I just don’t want to read the Latin phrases anymore. Gee, it is the impact on me!
Warning: Please, don’t read the Latin phrases. Just skip them.
March 2, 2013
Creepiest book Ive read so far. Part ng creep factor yung feeling ng being on your own, nasa isolated na lugar, parang wala ka pang ibang pwedeng puntahan at pwedeng hingian ng tulong for fears na, baka yung hingian mo ng tulong is one of them, tapos may pasanin at alalahanin ka pa. Isa pa sa mga reasons kung bakit creep'd out ako with this book, is my childhood fear of religious statues. As a kid dreaded ko noon ang isama ako ng lola ko papuntang Quiapo Church. Takot na takot kasi ako sa mga rebulto ni Jisas dun. Yung Nazareno, yung nakalatag dun sa parang coffin at yung nakapako dooon sa loob. Seriously, sinong hindi matatakot sa isang corpse, taong nakapako na kitang kita mo ang suffering sa mukha, at version ng isang kinikilalang diyos, in Black? At dahil pa written sya na style diary, nae-envision mo talaga yung scene, you see it in a first person perspective, thats why it is soo creepy to read. Pinahiram ko to sa isang friend, nag txt pa saken, hindi daw sya makatulog dahil sa binasa nya daw yung book. Ganun talaga sya ka creepy. A word of advise, tingnan mo na lang yung back cover ng book, kapag tapos mo na sya basahin... =))
February 23, 2011
I spent a good portion of my time laughing real hard after I finished the latest addition to Bob Ong's viral books, Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan. Again, Bob Ong never fails to amuse his/her (I'm not aware of the author's real gender, nobody knows, I think) readers by his amazing prowess in choosing and stringing the right set of words from the often complicated bowl of Filipino Vocabulary.
I laughed real hard cause I was scared when I was on the last page. I was paralyzed when I read that weird chant. God.
Below par with ABNKKBSNPL Ako, but it's definitely a satisfying read, a perfect tool to kill the time.
I laughed real hard cause I was scared when I was on the last page. I was paralyzed when I read that weird chant. God.
Below par with ABNKKBSNPL Ako, but it's definitely a satisfying read, a perfect tool to kill the time.
January 29, 2011
Original post at One More Page
Note: I wanted to write this review in Filipino, but since it's cross-posted in my blog, I had to write it in English. ^^
I've been reading Bob Ong's books since college, ever since a friend brought her copy of his first book, A B N K K B S N P L A Ko (That reads as Aba Nakakabasa Na Pala Ako - literal translation: Wow, I Can Read Now). Bob Ong is one of the popular Filipino writers, who, until now, I am not sure if he is really one person or many contributing to one book. I've read almost all of his books ever since then, always looking forward to his funny words of wisdom that pokes and reflects on modern Filipino culture. I remember resorting to his books whenever I needed a pick-me-up, and since then, he's become one of those authors that I buy even if he isn't really a favorite. Perhaps this is an addiction?
So when I saw Bob Ong's latest book in Fully Booked, Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan (Translation: Mama Susan's Friends), I didn't think twice in getting it. I wasn't even sure what it was about -- I just knew it was Bob Ong, and whatever it is, I would probably like it. Even if I did not, it's still local fiction, so I figure it's still a win, right?
Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan brings us back to the days of school journals. Everyone must have had a teacher who made them do a journal for school -- a small notebook with a recollection of what happened for a certain period of time to be read and graded by a teacher. I don't really know the purpose of why our teachers made us do this except maybe for my college Literature professor. That wasn't a particularly hard assignment for me, anyway, as I've always been journaling on my own -- it was all a matter of filtering what you write for school, you see.
I didn't know what the book was about when I got it. It wasn't until I got back to the office to read about the book when I finally saw the trailer. The trailer is in Filipino, but you don't really need to understand it to figure out that this book is horror, especially when you get to the last part of the trailer. That stopped me from reading the book immediately. I was never a fan of horror, and I really go out of my way to avoid anything scary. I'm not a screamer, and I'm usually calm in reading or watching or listening to scary stories but my imagination wrecks havoc in me after.
So when I decided to read the book, I told myself I need to finish it in broad daylight. And so I did. In Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan, we meet Galo, who first started writing on a journal for an assignment and ended up keeping it because he did not want to waste his notebook. He chronicles his life in Manila where he lives with his relatives who never made living with them easy for him. He gets fed up with them and leaves to go back to the province to stay with his grandmother who raised him before he left for Manila. Things changed drastically from what he remembers in the province. Instead of finding the town to be just less noisier than Manila but still with improvements from his last visit, he finds that the town went backwards and were rejecting technology. His grandmother's house grows increasingly creepier with the presence of different statues of saints and the weekly gatherings of her grandmother's friends in her house. As weirder things start to happen, Galo tries to escape, but finds that there may be powers stronger than he is that are keeping him from doing so.
Talk about creepy. I read this in one bright and sunny afternoon but I couldn't shake off the creeps especially in the last pages. I think one thing that made it really scary is the fact that it is a journal, and it's a first person account. It reminds me a bit of The Blair Witch Project (which I liked and really freaked me out, too). I liked how Bob Ong's words flowed naturally and Galo's voice rang clear all through out. I found that it wasn't much different from the voices of his other characters from his previous books but there's this distinct Bob Ong feel to it that is familiar. There's also the fun references to some of the things I grew up with as a kid.
While I enjoyed reading it because of Bob Ong, I can't say I liked it because like I said, I don't like horror. The story is interesting and the last pages are truly creepy, but as a whole, it's not my book. My rating isn't really based on how much the book lacked but really more of a genre preference. If you're a horror fan, you'll probably enjoy this, but if you're a big chicken like me...skip. For your peace of mind, skip it.
To further prove my point: after I finished reading this book, I woke up in the middle of the night from my sleep needing to go to the rest room. I almost decided not to go because it would mean standing up and going there alone, and who knows what I will find when I open my bedroom door? I keep on remembering the face in the trailer and freaked out at the thought of seeing that in the dark corners of our apartment. I got up eventually because I couldn't hold it in any longer. But I left all doors and lights open, and ran back to the bedroom right after doing my business, all the while my mind remembering the last words of the book in absolute clarity.
Hmph. Big chicken, I am.
Note: I wanted to write this review in Filipino, but since it's cross-posted in my blog, I had to write it in English. ^^
I've been reading Bob Ong's books since college, ever since a friend brought her copy of his first book, A B N K K B S N P L A Ko (That reads as Aba Nakakabasa Na Pala Ako - literal translation: Wow, I Can Read Now). Bob Ong is one of the popular Filipino writers, who, until now, I am not sure if he is really one person or many contributing to one book. I've read almost all of his books ever since then, always looking forward to his funny words of wisdom that pokes and reflects on modern Filipino culture. I remember resorting to his books whenever I needed a pick-me-up, and since then, he's become one of those authors that I buy even if he isn't really a favorite. Perhaps this is an addiction?
So when I saw Bob Ong's latest book in Fully Booked, Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan (Translation: Mama Susan's Friends), I didn't think twice in getting it. I wasn't even sure what it was about -- I just knew it was Bob Ong, and whatever it is, I would probably like it. Even if I did not, it's still local fiction, so I figure it's still a win, right?
Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan brings us back to the days of school journals. Everyone must have had a teacher who made them do a journal for school -- a small notebook with a recollection of what happened for a certain period of time to be read and graded by a teacher. I don't really know the purpose of why our teachers made us do this except maybe for my college Literature professor. That wasn't a particularly hard assignment for me, anyway, as I've always been journaling on my own -- it was all a matter of filtering what you write for school, you see.
I didn't know what the book was about when I got it. It wasn't until I got back to the office to read about the book when I finally saw the trailer. The trailer is in Filipino, but you don't really need to understand it to figure out that this book is horror, especially when you get to the last part of the trailer. That stopped me from reading the book immediately. I was never a fan of horror, and I really go out of my way to avoid anything scary. I'm not a screamer, and I'm usually calm in reading or watching or listening to scary stories but my imagination wrecks havoc in me after.
So when I decided to read the book, I told myself I need to finish it in broad daylight. And so I did. In Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan, we meet Galo, who first started writing on a journal for an assignment and ended up keeping it because he did not want to waste his notebook. He chronicles his life in Manila where he lives with his relatives who never made living with them easy for him. He gets fed up with them and leaves to go back to the province to stay with his grandmother who raised him before he left for Manila. Things changed drastically from what he remembers in the province. Instead of finding the town to be just less noisier than Manila but still with improvements from his last visit, he finds that the town went backwards and were rejecting technology. His grandmother's house grows increasingly creepier with the presence of different statues of saints and the weekly gatherings of her grandmother's friends in her house. As weirder things start to happen, Galo tries to escape, but finds that there may be powers stronger than he is that are keeping him from doing so.
Talk about creepy. I read this in one bright and sunny afternoon but I couldn't shake off the creeps especially in the last pages. I think one thing that made it really scary is the fact that it is a journal, and it's a first person account. It reminds me a bit of The Blair Witch Project (which I liked and really freaked me out, too). I liked how Bob Ong's words flowed naturally and Galo's voice rang clear all through out. I found that it wasn't much different from the voices of his other characters from his previous books but there's this distinct Bob Ong feel to it that is familiar. There's also the fun references to some of the things I grew up with as a kid.
While I enjoyed reading it because of Bob Ong, I can't say I liked it because like I said, I don't like horror. The story is interesting and the last pages are truly creepy, but as a whole, it's not my book. My rating isn't really based on how much the book lacked but really more of a genre preference. If you're a horror fan, you'll probably enjoy this, but if you're a big chicken like me...skip. For your peace of mind, skip it.
To further prove my point: after I finished reading this book, I woke up in the middle of the night from my sleep needing to go to the rest room. I almost decided not to go because it would mean standing up and going there alone, and who knows what I will find when I open my bedroom door? I keep on remembering the face in the trailer and freaked out at the thought of seeing that in the dark corners of our apartment. I got up eventually because I couldn't hold it in any longer. But I left all doors and lights open, and ran back to the bedroom right after doing my business, all the while my mind remembering the last words of the book in absolute clarity.
Hmph. Big chicken, I am.
August 31, 2012
Tuesday, March 2, 1999
8:58 am. Kagigising ko lang. May mga ginupit sa ‘king buhok na ipinatong sa kama ko at pinalibutan ng mga butil ng asin. Hindi magbibiro ng ganito sila Niko.
Matagal-tagal na rin noong huli akong magbasa ng libro ni Bob Ong (isang manunulat na hanggang ngayon ay nananatili pa ring misteryoso: walang pangalan, walang picture, walang interview). Tuwang-tuwa ako sa una niyang akda, ABNKKBSNPLAko?! Non-fiction daw, pero dahil nga hindi pa rin siya nagpapakilala, maaaring kathang-isip lang rin lahat iyon. Alam ko nabasa ko rin yung (ilang) mga sumunod, pero wala silang naging impact sa akin. Siguro natawa rin ako, na-touch, etc. pero mukhang hindi sila kasing-memorable noong unang libro, na walang kaere-ere at gusto lamang mag-kwento at hindi mangaral. Sabi ng kapatid ko maganda rin daw ang McArthur, pero wala akong ganang basahin yun, maski na may kopya sa bahay.
Noong inanunsyo na horror o katatakutan ang susunod na libro ni Bob Ong, nagka-interes ako, pero nagduda rin. Kaya ba niya? Matatakot ba ako? Baka kung anong ka-cliche-han na naman ito, baka mangangaral lang tungkol sa Diyos at Simbahan.
Wala akong nabasang rebyu ng Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan kahit saan, print man or online. Kaya’t nagulat ako nang makita ko na diary-style pala ang nobela, at naka-set sa 1998-99. Binata ang narrator, college student. Kuhang-kuha naman ni Bob Ong ang paraan ng pagsasalita (at pagsulat marahil) ng isang lalaki sa ganoong age range. Gaya nga ng sabi ko sa Facebook, nakakatakot na, dahil ka-boses niya ang mga kapatid kong lalaki. Haha.
Subtle lang ang katatakutan sa simula: nanaginip siya ng babaeng itim, nagigising ng alas-tres ng umaga, naririnig ang phone na nagri-ring pero pagsagot niya, wala namang tao sa kabilang linya. Mababaon ang katatakutan sa simula ng kwento sa mga kalokohan. Nagsusulat siya ng rap lyrics, nagrereklamo sa pag-ibig, sa mga utos ng tiyahin niya, sa kabagutan, sa kawalan ng pera. Maganda ang pacing. Kahit nung nakarating na siya sa bahay ni Lola (Mama Susan), hindi pa rin nagmamadali si Bob Ong. Unti-unti, hanggang sa paglabas ng mga sikreto, hindi ka na bibitiwan ng nobela.
Buo naman ang karakter ng bidang lalaki. Masasabi ko iyon dahil nagawa kong maawa sa kanya, lalo na nung pumatak na ang Marso 1999 sa kwento at naisip niyang sem-break na! Naalala niya ang mga kaibigan niya at mga pinsan na naiwan sa siyudad. Ang bababaw ng mga problema nila! At nagsimula siyang lumuha at magsisi.
Dapat nga ay hindi na siya umalis ng Maynila.
8:58 am. Kagigising ko lang. May mga ginupit sa ‘king buhok na ipinatong sa kama ko at pinalibutan ng mga butil ng asin. Hindi magbibiro ng ganito sila Niko.
Matagal-tagal na rin noong huli akong magbasa ng libro ni Bob Ong (isang manunulat na hanggang ngayon ay nananatili pa ring misteryoso: walang pangalan, walang picture, walang interview). Tuwang-tuwa ako sa una niyang akda, ABNKKBSNPLAko?! Non-fiction daw, pero dahil nga hindi pa rin siya nagpapakilala, maaaring kathang-isip lang rin lahat iyon. Alam ko nabasa ko rin yung (ilang) mga sumunod, pero wala silang naging impact sa akin. Siguro natawa rin ako, na-touch, etc. pero mukhang hindi sila kasing-memorable noong unang libro, na walang kaere-ere at gusto lamang mag-kwento at hindi mangaral. Sabi ng kapatid ko maganda rin daw ang McArthur, pero wala akong ganang basahin yun, maski na may kopya sa bahay.
Noong inanunsyo na horror o katatakutan ang susunod na libro ni Bob Ong, nagka-interes ako, pero nagduda rin. Kaya ba niya? Matatakot ba ako? Baka kung anong ka-cliche-han na naman ito, baka mangangaral lang tungkol sa Diyos at Simbahan.
Wala akong nabasang rebyu ng Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan kahit saan, print man or online. Kaya’t nagulat ako nang makita ko na diary-style pala ang nobela, at naka-set sa 1998-99. Binata ang narrator, college student. Kuhang-kuha naman ni Bob Ong ang paraan ng pagsasalita (at pagsulat marahil) ng isang lalaki sa ganoong age range. Gaya nga ng sabi ko sa Facebook, nakakatakot na, dahil ka-boses niya ang mga kapatid kong lalaki. Haha.
Subtle lang ang katatakutan sa simula: nanaginip siya ng babaeng itim, nagigising ng alas-tres ng umaga, naririnig ang phone na nagri-ring pero pagsagot niya, wala namang tao sa kabilang linya. Mababaon ang katatakutan sa simula ng kwento sa mga kalokohan. Nagsusulat siya ng rap lyrics, nagrereklamo sa pag-ibig, sa mga utos ng tiyahin niya, sa kabagutan, sa kawalan ng pera. Maganda ang pacing. Kahit nung nakarating na siya sa bahay ni Lola (Mama Susan), hindi pa rin nagmamadali si Bob Ong. Unti-unti, hanggang sa paglabas ng mga sikreto, hindi ka na bibitiwan ng nobela.
Buo naman ang karakter ng bidang lalaki. Masasabi ko iyon dahil nagawa kong maawa sa kanya, lalo na nung pumatak na ang Marso 1999 sa kwento at naisip niyang sem-break na! Naalala niya ang mga kaibigan niya at mga pinsan na naiwan sa siyudad. Ang bababaw ng mga problema nila! At nagsimula siyang lumuha at magsisi.
Dapat nga ay hindi na siya umalis ng Maynila.
September 13, 2016
Dear Diary Readers,
This book is epic. Actually only the ending was really epic. The whole book is like a replicate of a diary which was supposed to be the owner's school journal, since his old one got lost. Anyways, the first few entries in the diary were mostly plotless, but midway, the book gets exciting. The story begins to be scary only several entries before the final one (for me at least), but the ending was absolutely mind-blowing.
P.S. Huwag mong bibigkasin ang hindi naiintindihan.
This book is epic. Actually only the ending was really epic. The whole book is like a replicate of a diary which was supposed to be the owner's school journal, since his old one got lost. Anyways, the first few entries in the diary were mostly plotless, but midway, the book gets exciting. The story begins to be scary only several entries before the final one (for me at least), but the ending was absolutely mind-blowing.
P.S. Huwag mong bibigkasin ang hindi naiintindihan.
July 17, 2011
Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan by Bob Ong is a journal of a 16 year old guy named Gilberto P. Manansala also known as Galo. An engineering student who just broke up with his girlfriend. Just like a typical student, house, school and mall are the settings for his daily life.
Through this diary he narrated his experience for the past few months. Because it’s a requirement to Ms. Lao, his professor in college, Galo wrote his own journal and became his hobby. He lived in Manila for the sake of studying in a good school, with his Aunt Auring and Uncle Dindo, together with his cousins Julius, Ariel and Jeng. By living with them, he witnessed how spoiled and tamper are his cousins, and how stubborn and formidable are his aunt and uncle. He felt that he is not part of the family because of their approach to him. His day starts and ends with their dog named Clinton.
After he survived the first semester, Aunt Auring mentioned to him that her grandmother was too weak because of her age. So he settled and went at Tarmanes to visit her.
It was Tuesday when he arrived at the bus station. Because of many circumstances, he traveled longer than he expected.
It’s already four o’clock in the dawn when Galo arrived at Tarmanes after he traveled many miles. He was shocked after he saw several changes in his grandmother’s features, she became thinner, her curly hairs became whiter, more wrinkles, and she walked slower. The image of a morbid and weak lady who showed the signs of aging. His grandmother welcomed her grandson to her huge house; it had been four years since he last saw him.
Not only his grandmother but also the huge mansion changed a lot. He saw many statues like Nazareno in a room, together with Latin prayers written on papers; he realized that his grandmother was so religious that she offered rice cakes to them. Galo wondered who ate those rice cakes. Galo explored the place and felt the serenity and beauty of Tarmanes. The garden changed in a different way that he saw it before.
Every night he experienced weird stuffs that he can’t explain. The murmur, whisper and noise in the dark. One day he promised to himself to finish all the mysteries and questions in his mind. He secretly spied at the offered rice cake. Then he saw a hungry ten year old lad and a five year old girl who just ate it. They introduced themselves as Nico and Jezel. They’re the son and daughter of Tinay, a servant in the house that died years ago. Nico and Jezel are so thin and small for their ages, their skins are pale, and they look hungry and naïve. Surprisingly, he discovered that Jezel has a third eye, she saw people that they didn’t saw. Through them, Galo was entertained enough to ease the boredom.
It was Friday dawn, Galo witness her grandmother, together with several town people who are mostly women and old that wears violet baro, to perform a religious ritual that looks like a cult. They prayed the rosary in their own way, they recited prayers in Latin, they lifted his grandmother and sway her while praying and crying, they called her mama The weirdness bothered his conscious mind, shocked by their organization named Kataas-taasang Iglecia Santissima ng Kapatirang Banal ng Sansansinukob. Her grandmother introduced him to the people near them.
One night, his grandmother talked to him. She frankly told the true story, she said that his biological mother died long ago when she went to Iraq, she was forced to jail because of a case, and died by having her sentence. Galo’s irresponsible father was married to another woman, brought his son to her and treated him as her true grandson. His foster grandmother told him to regularly call her Mama Susan rather than grandmother.
Galo serendipitously saw a secret room. The place that made his spine tingled. A room with a table full of rotten rice cakes circled by twelve female statues wearing violet baro. He was shocked also to saw a bouquet of flowers for the dead with the full name of Mama Susan.
Galo was enough for more weird experience. He lately knew that Tarmanes was abandoned by the government; they didn’t pay taxes and lost their benefits. And also by the Catholic Church, they performed anti-Christian values and devoted to false god known as Apo. So the Church left them and locked the gates. Then Galo planned to go back to Manila, because everything got worst and those gruesome revelations and experiences. Before dawn, he packed his clothes. But Niko and Jezel really want to go with him, feared of what might happen next. So Galo left the house with them even if it’s raining hard, but unfortunately they can’t go without the boat because it’s too dark to travel, so they returned to Mama Susan’s house. On their way back home, they met Aling Delia, one of the helper who was concerned with Mama Susan’s current condition.
Aling Delia checked the condition of Mama Susan, they discovered that she was already dead. Delia brought Nico to the nearest hospital because he got high fever. Before they left, she told Galo to take care of Mama Susan because she supposed to wake up later. Galo ignored her and focused on how he can leave the place with them.
It’s already dark when Mama Susan woke up and asked Galo for her artificial eye. Aling Delia’s prediction was right, she was alive. Shocked by the incident he silently prayed the Lord’s Prayer, but she told him that his God will not save him. Galo’s instinct made him run together with Jezel. Their fears conquered their body when Jezel told him that she saw an old man who followed them. Mama Susan’s friends came, in that place where they can’t find help and hope. Galo begged to pray for his soul to whom may read his journal. The last page of his diary was ended with Latin words that he didn’t write, mysterious words that was written by no one and came from nowhere.
Through this diary he narrated his experience for the past few months. Because it’s a requirement to Ms. Lao, his professor in college, Galo wrote his own journal and became his hobby. He lived in Manila for the sake of studying in a good school, with his Aunt Auring and Uncle Dindo, together with his cousins Julius, Ariel and Jeng. By living with them, he witnessed how spoiled and tamper are his cousins, and how stubborn and formidable are his aunt and uncle. He felt that he is not part of the family because of their approach to him. His day starts and ends with their dog named Clinton.
After he survived the first semester, Aunt Auring mentioned to him that her grandmother was too weak because of her age. So he settled and went at Tarmanes to visit her.
It was Tuesday when he arrived at the bus station. Because of many circumstances, he traveled longer than he expected.
It’s already four o’clock in the dawn when Galo arrived at Tarmanes after he traveled many miles. He was shocked after he saw several changes in his grandmother’s features, she became thinner, her curly hairs became whiter, more wrinkles, and she walked slower. The image of a morbid and weak lady who showed the signs of aging. His grandmother welcomed her grandson to her huge house; it had been four years since he last saw him.
Not only his grandmother but also the huge mansion changed a lot. He saw many statues like Nazareno in a room, together with Latin prayers written on papers; he realized that his grandmother was so religious that she offered rice cakes to them. Galo wondered who ate those rice cakes. Galo explored the place and felt the serenity and beauty of Tarmanes. The garden changed in a different way that he saw it before.
Every night he experienced weird stuffs that he can’t explain. The murmur, whisper and noise in the dark. One day he promised to himself to finish all the mysteries and questions in his mind. He secretly spied at the offered rice cake. Then he saw a hungry ten year old lad and a five year old girl who just ate it. They introduced themselves as Nico and Jezel. They’re the son and daughter of Tinay, a servant in the house that died years ago. Nico and Jezel are so thin and small for their ages, their skins are pale, and they look hungry and naïve. Surprisingly, he discovered that Jezel has a third eye, she saw people that they didn’t saw. Through them, Galo was entertained enough to ease the boredom.
It was Friday dawn, Galo witness her grandmother, together with several town people who are mostly women and old that wears violet baro, to perform a religious ritual that looks like a cult. They prayed the rosary in their own way, they recited prayers in Latin, they lifted his grandmother and sway her while praying and crying, they called her mama The weirdness bothered his conscious mind, shocked by their organization named Kataas-taasang Iglecia Santissima ng Kapatirang Banal ng Sansansinukob. Her grandmother introduced him to the people near them.
One night, his grandmother talked to him. She frankly told the true story, she said that his biological mother died long ago when she went to Iraq, she was forced to jail because of a case, and died by having her sentence. Galo’s irresponsible father was married to another woman, brought his son to her and treated him as her true grandson. His foster grandmother told him to regularly call her Mama Susan rather than grandmother.
Galo serendipitously saw a secret room. The place that made his spine tingled. A room with a table full of rotten rice cakes circled by twelve female statues wearing violet baro. He was shocked also to saw a bouquet of flowers for the dead with the full name of Mama Susan.
Galo was enough for more weird experience. He lately knew that Tarmanes was abandoned by the government; they didn’t pay taxes and lost their benefits. And also by the Catholic Church, they performed anti-Christian values and devoted to false god known as Apo. So the Church left them and locked the gates. Then Galo planned to go back to Manila, because everything got worst and those gruesome revelations and experiences. Before dawn, he packed his clothes. But Niko and Jezel really want to go with him, feared of what might happen next. So Galo left the house with them even if it’s raining hard, but unfortunately they can’t go without the boat because it’s too dark to travel, so they returned to Mama Susan’s house. On their way back home, they met Aling Delia, one of the helper who was concerned with Mama Susan’s current condition.
Aling Delia checked the condition of Mama Susan, they discovered that she was already dead. Delia brought Nico to the nearest hospital because he got high fever. Before they left, she told Galo to take care of Mama Susan because she supposed to wake up later. Galo ignored her and focused on how he can leave the place with them.
It’s already dark when Mama Susan woke up and asked Galo for her artificial eye. Aling Delia’s prediction was right, she was alive. Shocked by the incident he silently prayed the Lord’s Prayer, but she told him that his God will not save him. Galo’s instinct made him run together with Jezel. Their fears conquered their body when Jezel told him that she saw an old man who followed them. Mama Susan’s friends came, in that place where they can’t find help and hope. Galo begged to pray for his soul to whom may read his journal. The last page of his diary was ended with Latin words that he didn’t write, mysterious words that was written by no one and came from nowhere.
October 23, 2015
2:55PM Natapos ko na to!! buti nalang ngaung tanghali ko ito binasa waaahhh!!
3:00PM Review time na! Oh paking syet!! hahaha nakakataas balahibo to sa totoo lang. Nung nakita ko yung cover naisip ko isang chismosang majongera si mama susan. Kakaiba pala at hindi sya masaya hahaha nakakatakot sya.. Mejo nakakabitin sa huli pero kung palalawigin mo yung pagiisip mo cguro maiisip mo din ano nangyare kay Galo sa huli. Pero yunh totoo matagal ng patay si Mama Susan di ba?? Creepy tong librong to at hndi ko din naisip na makakapagsulat ng ganito si Bob Ong na para sa isip ko napakagaling. Iba ito sa kadalasan sinusulat nya at sa paningin ko nagtagumpay sya kasi effective naman eh nagtayuan balahibo ko amp! Marami hndi nagustuhan to base sa mga nabasa kong reviews pero nagustuhan ko naman sya at nagsstuck sya sa isip ko waaahhh..
3:07PM Weird at Disturbing tong librong to, mejo bitin ang huli pero creepy at talagang gagana yung imagination mo at magiisip ka ano susunod na nangyari kay Galo. Bakit hindi mo ngayon itanong sa kaibigan ni Mama Susan na nakayakap sayo? ahaha!!
3:00PM Review time na! Oh paking syet!! hahaha nakakataas balahibo to sa totoo lang. Nung nakita ko yung cover naisip ko isang chismosang majongera si mama susan. Kakaiba pala at hindi sya masaya hahaha nakakatakot sya.. Mejo nakakabitin sa huli pero kung palalawigin mo yung pagiisip mo cguro maiisip mo din ano nangyare kay Galo sa huli. Pero yunh totoo matagal ng patay si Mama Susan di ba?? Creepy tong librong to at hndi ko din naisip na makakapagsulat ng ganito si Bob Ong na para sa isip ko napakagaling. Iba ito sa kadalasan sinusulat nya at sa paningin ko nagtagumpay sya kasi effective naman eh nagtayuan balahibo ko amp! Marami hndi nagustuhan to base sa mga nabasa kong reviews pero nagustuhan ko naman sya at nagsstuck sya sa isip ko waaahhh..
3:07PM Weird at Disturbing tong librong to, mejo bitin ang huli pero creepy at talagang gagana yung imagination mo at magiisip ka ano susunod na nangyari kay Galo. Bakit hindi mo ngayon itanong sa kaibigan ni Mama Susan na nakayakap sayo? ahaha!!
March 14, 2016
Tanghaling tapat nang matapos ko itong basahin ngunit balot na balot pa rin ako sa takot sa kadahilanang hindi ko malaman. Nagugulat ako sa bawat bulong na marinig ko at sa bawat pagbukas ng pinto. Masyadong gumana ang imahinasyon ko kaya nga itinigil ko ang pagbabasa kagabi. Talaga namang tatayo ang mga balahibo mo sa takot habang nagbabasa nito. Kung tutuusin, sa umpisa ay hindi mo malaman kung ano ang magiging punto ng istoryang ito. Magkakaroon ka lang ng ideya sa kalagitnaan ng istorya.
Nabasa ko na ito dati, bata pa ako at totoong nakakatakot nga. Pero hindi ko natapos. At ngayong natapos ko na, sana di ko na tinapos. Dahil hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa rin yung nangyari kay Galo at kung anong nangyari sa kanya pagkatapos ng istorya. Nakakaloka. Ang galing manakot ni Bob Ong.
Nabasa ko na ito dati, bata pa ako at totoong nakakatakot nga. Pero hindi ko natapos. At ngayong natapos ko na, sana di ko na tinapos. Dahil hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa rin yung nangyari kay Galo at kung anong nangyari sa kanya pagkatapos ng istorya. Nakakaloka. Ang galing manakot ni Bob Ong.
November 17, 2022
First time ko magbasa ng horror story na sa Filipino isinulat. Para lang akong may kakwentuhang kaibigan kasi napaka casual ng writing style ni Bob Ong; ka-text ba gan’on haha. No’ng una ‘di ko trip ‘yong progression ng story na mga journal entry kasi paputol-putol, pero naturally gan’on naman tayo makipagkwentuhan. Natakot din ako potah (iykyk) ‘di ko in-expect ‘kala ko kasi comedy ‘to e. Pero nakakatawa pa rin naman, bet ko talaga humor ni Bob Ong !
lapag ko lang dito, kasi felt: https://imgur.com/0Z8IHJr
lapag ko lang dito, kasi felt: https://imgur.com/0Z8IHJr
October 30, 2012
Nagkakainan kami ng librong ito.
Ito ang pangunahing komento ko sa aking nabasa.
Umiwas ako kay Bob Ong bago ko pa man mapanuod sa TV ang isang panayam mula sa manunulat –at dahil hindi naman sya nagpapakilala, tungkol sa kanyang kasikatan ang tinalakay— yung isang titser na ininterbyu –kung hindi ako nagkakamali na isa syang guro— ay nagkomento na ayaw nya raw kay Bob Ong dahil sa wala itong identity, dahil sa hindi ito nagpapakilala. Kinumpirma ng komentong ito ang malito-lito kong pagkagusto sa kanya.
Pero binasa ko pa rin ang libro nang makita ko itong nakakalat sa bahay ng aking pinsan. Alam ko na inaakit ako ng libro kapag mayroon itong 90’s feel. Nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga bagay na gusto ko, radyo, boarding house, mala-kahel na kulay na ilaw ng poste, hollow-blocks na bakod na dinekurasyonan ng barb-wire sa taas, studyanteng nagbabasa ng aralin o libro sa kanyang lumang lampshade at iba pa.
Habang binabasa ko ang maikling nobela’ng (novella) ito, pumasok sa aking isipan ang isa sa paborito kong britong awtor, si Iris Murdoch. Ang kakayahan nyang manakot sa mga bagay na wala ka namang dapat ikatakot. Gatik kung baga. Hmm, na-feel ko naman ito ng bahagya habang ako ay nagbabasa. O dahil sa paborito ko lamang talaga ang nasabing manunulat? Pinatutunayan lamang talaga nito na mayroon kakayahang sumulat si Mr. Ong at hindi natin ito pwedeng ipagkait sa kanya.
Bakit ko nasabing nagkakainan kami ng libro? Nainis lang kasi ako sa ‘inconsistencies’ na aking nabasa. Una ang pagtawag nya ng anime sa Japanese cartoons na palabas sa telebisyon. Sa aking pagkakaalam, matagal na at before pa ang anime na umeera sa Philippine television sa 1998 –na taon sa libro— pero, tayong mga Pilipino o ang mga kabataan noon ay ‘di ito nagawang tawagin bilang anime. Naalala ko pa noon na ang GMA 7 ang tila ba nagpasimula sa tamang pagtawag dito ng i-launch nila as primetime ang mga Japanese cartoons na may tagline pa noon na ‘We Are Anime’. Alaala ko pa noon na kapag Channel 2 ang anie, ang tawag ay cartoons lang pero pag sa 7 na, anime na yun. :p
Isa pa, yung dialogue ng mga karakter, imbis na isa-personal nila ay tila ba naririnig ko sa awtor ng libro. Naisip ko tuloy na ginamit nya lamang ang kanyang mga karakter upang mayroon syang ‘medium’ upang masabi ang kanyang saloobin at opinyon.
Yeah, natuwa ako ng mabasa ko ang Beeper. Kahit na bata pa ako noon at hindi na nagkaroon nito. Siguro dahil sa may 90’s feel iyon. Pero nagkasabay ba ang Beeper at Internet? If ever na mali ako, sana ay ‘di na lamang nagawang isali ni Mr. Ong ang Internet sa kwento nyang may lumang ‘setting’ dahil sa nagdadala ito ng irita para sa akin. At tila ba sumisira sa kapaligiran na gustong ipahiwatig ng libro. Nasa probinsya ka at naiinip. Naghahangad ng Internet at name-miss ang paglalaro sa syudad ng Quake, sa year 2000. Hmm, oo, pwede at papasok pa yan sa banga. Pero nung 1998? Noong Grade 4 pa lamang yata ako? Ewan ko, sana mali ako.
May mga tanong din na hindi nasagot. At alam kong hindi na masasagot. May mga libro na pinipilit kang ikaw na ang sumagot sa katanungan mo at may ‘open-ended ’ rin na ending. Pero dito, kung ikaw ang sasagot sa mga katanungan mo, e’ ikaw na ang magsulat ng libro. Pero hindi ito kamalian ng mambabasa, nasa awtor na ang sisi dito.
Gaya nga ng aking sinabi, yan yung mga bagay na nagawa kong kainin ang libro, pero may mga pagkakataon na ako ang isinusubo nito. Yung paglalaro nila nung bata ng mga lumang laro, yung pagkakasulat nya sa mga nilalaman ng bahay, yung mga pagkakataon na naaawa ako sa bida at yung nanakbo sila nung bata na nangyari sa bandang dulo ng kwento ay ang mga bagay na pumigil sa akin upang magbigay ng mababang rating. Kahit na ang katapusan ay ako na ang uubos sa libro, at tapos na ang aming kainan, sa huli ay mas marami pa rin naman itong nakain sa parte ng aking katawan.
Pero yung mga nabawas ko sa kanyang parte ay kailangan talagang tanggalin. Kakain pa ba ako ng isang Bob Ong na libro sa susunod? Hmm, kapag siguro nagutom ako at nag-crave sa kanya.
Ito ang pangunahing komento ko sa aking nabasa.
Umiwas ako kay Bob Ong bago ko pa man mapanuod sa TV ang isang panayam mula sa manunulat –at dahil hindi naman sya nagpapakilala, tungkol sa kanyang kasikatan ang tinalakay— yung isang titser na ininterbyu –kung hindi ako nagkakamali na isa syang guro— ay nagkomento na ayaw nya raw kay Bob Ong dahil sa wala itong identity, dahil sa hindi ito nagpapakilala. Kinumpirma ng komentong ito ang malito-lito kong pagkagusto sa kanya.
Pero binasa ko pa rin ang libro nang makita ko itong nakakalat sa bahay ng aking pinsan. Alam ko na inaakit ako ng libro kapag mayroon itong 90’s feel. Nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga bagay na gusto ko, radyo, boarding house, mala-kahel na kulay na ilaw ng poste, hollow-blocks na bakod na dinekurasyonan ng barb-wire sa taas, studyanteng nagbabasa ng aralin o libro sa kanyang lumang lampshade at iba pa.
Habang binabasa ko ang maikling nobela’ng (novella) ito, pumasok sa aking isipan ang isa sa paborito kong britong awtor, si Iris Murdoch. Ang kakayahan nyang manakot sa mga bagay na wala ka namang dapat ikatakot. Gatik kung baga. Hmm, na-feel ko naman ito ng bahagya habang ako ay nagbabasa. O dahil sa paborito ko lamang talaga ang nasabing manunulat? Pinatutunayan lamang talaga nito na mayroon kakayahang sumulat si Mr. Ong at hindi natin ito pwedeng ipagkait sa kanya.
Bakit ko nasabing nagkakainan kami ng libro? Nainis lang kasi ako sa ‘inconsistencies’ na aking nabasa. Una ang pagtawag nya ng anime sa Japanese cartoons na palabas sa telebisyon. Sa aking pagkakaalam, matagal na at before pa ang anime na umeera sa Philippine television sa 1998 –na taon sa libro— pero, tayong mga Pilipino o ang mga kabataan noon ay ‘di ito nagawang tawagin bilang anime. Naalala ko pa noon na ang GMA 7 ang tila ba nagpasimula sa tamang pagtawag dito ng i-launch nila as primetime ang mga Japanese cartoons na may tagline pa noon na ‘We Are Anime’. Alaala ko pa noon na kapag Channel 2 ang anie, ang tawag ay cartoons lang pero pag sa 7 na, anime na yun. :p
Isa pa, yung dialogue ng mga karakter, imbis na isa-personal nila ay tila ba naririnig ko sa awtor ng libro. Naisip ko tuloy na ginamit nya lamang ang kanyang mga karakter upang mayroon syang ‘medium’ upang masabi ang kanyang saloobin at opinyon.
Yeah, natuwa ako ng mabasa ko ang Beeper. Kahit na bata pa ako noon at hindi na nagkaroon nito. Siguro dahil sa may 90’s feel iyon. Pero nagkasabay ba ang Beeper at Internet? If ever na mali ako, sana ay ‘di na lamang nagawang isali ni Mr. Ong ang Internet sa kwento nyang may lumang ‘setting’ dahil sa nagdadala ito ng irita para sa akin. At tila ba sumisira sa kapaligiran na gustong ipahiwatig ng libro. Nasa probinsya ka at naiinip. Naghahangad ng Internet at name-miss ang paglalaro sa syudad ng Quake, sa year 2000. Hmm, oo, pwede at papasok pa yan sa banga. Pero nung 1998? Noong Grade 4 pa lamang yata ako? Ewan ko, sana mali ako.
May mga tanong din na hindi nasagot. At alam kong hindi na masasagot. May mga libro na pinipilit kang ikaw na ang sumagot sa katanungan mo at may ‘open-ended ’ rin na ending. Pero dito, kung ikaw ang sasagot sa mga katanungan mo, e’ ikaw na ang magsulat ng libro. Pero hindi ito kamalian ng mambabasa, nasa awtor na ang sisi dito.
Gaya nga ng aking sinabi, yan yung mga bagay na nagawa kong kainin ang libro, pero may mga pagkakataon na ako ang isinusubo nito. Yung paglalaro nila nung bata ng mga lumang laro, yung pagkakasulat nya sa mga nilalaman ng bahay, yung mga pagkakataon na naaawa ako sa bida at yung nanakbo sila nung bata na nangyari sa bandang dulo ng kwento ay ang mga bagay na pumigil sa akin upang magbigay ng mababang rating. Kahit na ang katapusan ay ako na ang uubos sa libro, at tapos na ang aming kainan, sa huli ay mas marami pa rin naman itong nakain sa parte ng aking katawan.
Pero yung mga nabawas ko sa kanyang parte ay kailangan talagang tanggalin. Kakain pa ba ako ng isang Bob Ong na libro sa susunod? Hmm, kapag siguro nagutom ako at nag-crave sa kanya.
May 6, 2012
NO. Please. Do not let me relive those goosebumps I've had on that ship bound for Mindoro as I was reading this book. Perhaps the smell of crude oil made me dizzier than I though the book had?
NO. The book was crazy. All the while you were laughing your butt off at characters who displayed the typical way stories crop up. Families fighting. College. Province trips. Yes. Typical, I say. Too typical to be even accused of a bad twist. Perhaps it was just the wind that was spine-tingling?
NO. The book was creepy. I could have never imagined myself going to a place where eyes drop off practically anywhere. Ooooooooooooooh. There went my chills again. It's been a year since I've last laid my eyes on that book and the thoughts of it still bring the horror at the very front of my eyes. Perhaps I was just overacting?
NO. The ending was slick. It had style. It was drop-dead gorgeous. It was a non-cookie cutter ending that would have you trembling (it had me trembling kasi eh. LOL) and shaking and all the other verbs that would describe a person subjected to fear. Perhaps I was just seasick at the time?
NO.
Nah. Just read it. You be the judge.
**********
Although maraming napangitan, I applaud the author for his courage to take on such risk on sugar coating what was supposed to be a horror plot solely. I always like Bob Ong when he goes for the seldom-liked creative. I mean, he was panned by critics from this site but dare I protect him? YES. The story is those donuts that sell because there's always that yummy filling inside but all the air-stuffed bread gets in the way. That's good because it's climactic. The transition was slick and you can do a fantastic .gif file if you took a shot of your face as you flip through the pages because different pages would paint different emotions on you. And the ending, yeah. It was a bit cliffhanger, but way to end it, Bob Ong. It was sinister but equally playful.
Just enough scare. Just enough gore. Just enough comic. Great piece.
I tell you, Bob Ong is genius. I give the book five stars for the genius that Bob Ong is.
NO. The book was crazy. All the while you were laughing your butt off at characters who displayed the typical way stories crop up. Families fighting. College. Province trips. Yes. Typical, I say. Too typical to be even accused of a bad twist. Perhaps it was just the wind that was spine-tingling?
NO. The book was creepy. I could have never imagined myself going to a place where eyes drop off practically anywhere. Ooooooooooooooh. There went my chills again. It's been a year since I've last laid my eyes on that book and the thoughts of it still bring the horror at the very front of my eyes. Perhaps I was just overacting?
NO. The ending was slick. It had style. It was drop-dead gorgeous. It was a non-cookie cutter ending that would have you trembling (it had me trembling kasi eh. LOL) and shaking and all the other verbs that would describe a person subjected to fear. Perhaps I was just seasick at the time?
NO.
Nah. Just read it. You be the judge.
**********
Although maraming napangitan, I applaud the author for his courage to take on such risk on sugar coating what was supposed to be a horror plot solely. I always like Bob Ong when he goes for the seldom-liked creative. I mean, he was panned by critics from this site but dare I protect him? YES. The story is those donuts that sell because there's always that yummy filling inside but all the air-stuffed bread gets in the way. That's good because it's climactic. The transition was slick and you can do a fantastic .gif file if you took a shot of your face as you flip through the pages because different pages would paint different emotions on you. And the ending, yeah. It was a bit cliffhanger, but way to end it, Bob Ong. It was sinister but equally playful.
Just enough scare. Just enough gore. Just enough comic. Great piece.
I tell you, Bob Ong is genius. I give the book five stars for the genius that Bob Ong is.
February 28, 2011
Oh hari o reyna ng mga pinaka malakas na ng mundo, na sa pamamagitan ng lakas sa amin ng isang walang hanggan bilang ng mga pribilehiyo, ka na, at ang kapangyarihan ng ating ina, kanino ang kapangyarihan ng mga puso ng mga isip ng mga credit na ipaalam sa amin ang mamamahala sa aming sariling mga kaluluwa, iyong tulong ay, maaaring sa mga dios, at walang kamatayan, ng mga dakilang, kami manalangin para sa. kaaway ng pananampalataya ng ating kalasag sa kanya mula sa amin. para sa bahay ng aming tegite, ikaw ibuhos ang aming mga ng sa amin mula sa nayon ng evertendique na baguhin sa lakas. ating palagi sa constringite, sumali magkasama sa, at sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya sa langit sa halip sa lupain ng hinaharap. tegite amin sa araw at gabi sa pamamagitan ng pag-ibig sa iyong walang hanggan tao'y, sa biyaya ng katapatan sa iyo din ay atin. Masiyahan kami magagalak delactamini mga buhay at sa mga regalo ng aming buhay. utinimi aming mga katawan na templo ng mga maaaring maging sa iyong isip. Ako ay dumating sa pamamagitan ng at magbigay sa amin ng iyong kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng na hayaan sila sa amin patayin ang ating mga kaaway, at ang mga ito sa ilalim ng mga mata sa iyong mga paa, ilalabas ang purge out kaya't ang mga kaluluwa ng mga ay ang kaluwalhatian ng mo tumulong. ---the tagalog version of latin words in the book :D
November 19, 2019
I think people are rating this low because it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I actually liked it. Even the slow build/seemingly dragging pace made sense to me. It worked for the ending it was intended for. You have to discard all biases and expectations before reading the book to truly appreciate it for what it is.
I’ve subjected myself to the horror genre since I was a kid, and not saying that makes me an expert, but the experience gives me at least a bit of credibility I think. This book is a different kind of horror, not the kind with long hair, dressed in white with one dark eye visible, but the kind that latches on without you knowing, the kind that lies in wait while you get comfortable enough, before taking it all away, making a mess of your remaining sanity.
I’ve subjected myself to the horror genre since I was a kid, and not saying that makes me an expert, but the experience gives me at least a bit of credibility I think. This book is a different kind of horror, not the kind with long hair, dressed in white with one dark eye visible, but the kind that latches on without you knowing, the kind that lies in wait while you get comfortable enough, before taking it all away, making a mess of your remaining sanity.
January 6, 2011
First Bob Ong book I read in its entirety. This better be the worst of his books. The concept was there but I did not find it satisfying any of the reader hunger in me. The highest point of the book is when he quoted Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel.
I got to admire the author's effort on getting a certain demographic to read (intentionally or unintentionally). I just hope these people would grow out of his works after a book or two. A gazillion of better stuff out there.
I got to admire the author's effort on getting a certain demographic to read (intentionally or unintentionally). I just hope these people would grow out of his works after a book or two. A gazillion of better stuff out there.
November 16, 2020
Tagalog novel (novella??) so my review is gonna be in Tagalog-English format.
Not a fan of the epistolary writing style. Stream of consciousness lang talaga siya na may halong cursing sometimes. I do like the atmosphere though pero di talaga ako natakot.
I read the Latin passages, but I felt nothing. A little bit of a meh. Maybe I'm the devil's son??
Not a fan of the epistolary writing style. Stream of consciousness lang talaga siya na may halong cursing sometimes. I do like the atmosphere though pero di talaga ako natakot.
I read the Latin passages, but I felt nothing. A little bit of a meh. Maybe I'm the devil's son??
September 11, 2011
Ok lang, Creepy, Dadalhin ka sa 90's, (binili ko kasi cool yung kulay ng cover, tapos may nakasilip na ale sa likod).
July 27, 2021
pwede na. pwede na kong matulog kasi maliwanag na.
September 1, 2020
WEIRD. Every time I read Bob Ong’s works I just don’t know if there’s more to it or I am putting so much allusion to it. I read this book because I heard that it will be adapted to movie soon. The main character will be Joshua Garcia. The older book turned to movie by Bob Ong, ABNKKBSNPLAKo? (Aba Nakakabasa Na Pala Ako), is great. It was lead by Jericho Rosales and he’s a great actor.
I am a reader of Bob Ong way back high school (2011-2014) and I always, literally always, feel like “wth is this author wants to tell” or “are you really an author?” Even the ‘Alamat ng Gubat’ , ‘McArthur’ , ‘Si’ , idk if ‘Ang Paboritong Libro ni Judas’ is included are all a question mark to me. There’s this little subconciousness inside me telling that “yes, there’s something that meets and reads by the eye” and Bob Ong is insane in a good way. So I am planning to get my hands to his books either ebook or plain traditional paper type book as long as I read them again by this year.
Okay, back to review of Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. I don’t have money to buy the book so I downloaded free pdf online. Fortunately, there’s still somewhere just dig in deeper in the online world. This is my 14th to the last goal to-read this year. And as usual, Bob Ong started the story with the ordinary life of Gilberto “Galo” P. Manansala writing his journal as a requirement for one of his subjects in college (I think he’s in college because he said 1st semester and he entered Grade 1 by the age of 5). He wrote everything from the way he breathe, love story of his ex-girlfriend, the mess of the family he’s currently living, how he hated the teachers and their boring lessons, and how the teacher who required the journal stuff is not reading those journals which is typical in the education system of the Philippines and maybe other countries, too. He can wrote anything because the teacher is not even reading it. He is living in the Manila with his relative since his family is wreck. But this relatives is abusive and obviously has a line between him and them. His Aunt idk-the-name is treating him like a heavy burden while his Uncle i-forgot-the-name-too is secretly assisting his education because they want Galo to feel like his father is still supporting him. Though Galo already knows this one. He also narrated in his journal how his cousins (children of his aunt and uncle) focused on watching the cable tv while eating chicharya. Sometimes this siblings fight each other due to the possession of the TV remote. He comapred his life back when he was in the province Ternares where life is simple and all he did is read his lola’s Reader’s Digest collection at home. He included the heartbreak and pain from the breakup of his current girlfriend Andrea (or other name?). His most used curses are “pakers” or in English fuckers.
Just to clear, Bob Ong is a Filipino writer and he wrote the book in Tagalog but I more incline in English language so ignore my English review. Lol.
The whole book is a series of Galo’s journal. And the way he narrated is from using ellipses (...) to making full sentences. While he’s in Manila, he keeps using ellipses and it bothers me because he never completed a sentence. Though the content is still comprehensible. Then, he returnd back to his province and his sentences became complete and better. Yes, I am even bothered by this little stuff. This is because all I read is English novel, non-fiction, and etc.
While in Manila, he received a letter from their lola’s helper that his lola is sick. He even received a call telling that he must return back. But his financial problem obstructs it and he’s even ashame to ask for money since the last time he did this, his aunt started nagging a lot. He let this problem settle at the back of his mind and focused other financial problem in school tuition. There’s even payment of 200.00 for Christmas Party for their classroom. Where the hell will he get that? The one supporting him, his uncle, is no longer sending money. He even discovered that this uncle is not working abroad but still in their country. I think this uncle is having an illicit affair and that’s the reason why the Aunt is always drinking and smoking. One night, when his only-gift-to-himself guitar is broken by his cousin Shelly and she didn’t even said sorry but also ranted that it’s only cheap. Galo popped like a volcano due to angst and being fed up to what they are doing to him. They are making him do all the household chores and still they make him feel he has heavy utang na loob to them for adopting him but as a slave.
The fact that it’s real is making me want to vomit. In the Philippines or even other countries, family messed up one another. The moment that the child doesn’t belong to the biological parents makes everything needed to cross some lines. Broken families are uncommon and the children who are always victims are passed from one family to family and sometimes to the orphanage. This is the case of Galo, passed like ball from four relatives because of his biological family. Sabi nga niya, “nag-anak anak pa kayo, pakers!”
Since Galo is fed up already, he leave the house without telling his Aunt because of also her drunkenness. He went to the bus station and waited for hours before the scheduled trip. Then, the bus is nasiraan and waited for hours again in the remote area. Followed by the boat just to reach their islands. Estimatedly, maybe it took for a day just to come back home. Upon arriving to the place, he noticed how his lola aged a lot but still strong, how the house also aged but still looks like someone is handling, and how his lola’s collection of Reader’s Digest is turned to collection of rebultos and religious stuff. In fact, this house is a memorial house for the people who died due to epidemic in their village. The house is huge compared to other houses and lola is living alone that’s why she let them turn it to sementeryo. (They didn’t use the term sementeryo but something similar to his since this is where they bury the victims/dead ones.)
Unlike Manila, the province of Ternares is a quiet, sometimes creepy, civilized but uncivilized in a way that it is turning to old ways of living. Before Galo went away from Ternares, there’s power but now he’s returned, they are only using gasera. The people are living by farming. There’s no alarm clock to wake up, just the sound of the animals. There’s no any literatures to read because lola hid them away. No annoying cousings who only watch TV while eating just foods. No Aunt and Uncle fighting everyday. But there’s creepy sounds every 3AM inside the house. There are people who are members of the religious group called Kapatirans. They meet every dawn inside the house where they sing, pray, cry, and praise their god. (I don’t know if I should use God or god. Idk if The Lord is the one their worshipping or they are just another cult since it is said that the Catholic separated themselves from them.) I think I’ll for the latter. I think this Kapatiran is a cult because they suspicious in their clothes and beliefs, or maybe I am another great prejudice.
The curious Galo who is already afraid and has goosebumps almost every night went outside at 3AM to jingle and there he saw them. His lola told them that he’s his grandson by whispering. It’s really creepy how Galo is narrating and he keeps reiterating that he is having goosebumps. He also noticed how the foods sacrifices are gone by the morning. He discovered that there are two kids, Niko and Jezel. They are eating those kalamay and other sacrificial foods. These kids became his playmates during his time in the province. Until later on, these kids told him that there’s something creepy going on in the house. Jezel even told him that his lola is no longer his lola. They also call his lola as Mama Susan. Jezel also see other people and sometimes these people are ang mga kaibigan ni Mama Susan. I think it’s either ghosts or spirits.
While the four of them are having breakfast, the kids non-chalantly and innocently asked Mama Susan if she is mangkukulam and kills people. After long quiet waiting, she answered in not-angry-but-calm voice that she is not. She started talking about how people are wasting their energy in making useless technologies; how people can live without this stuff that keeps thrashing the world. This is ironic to Galo’s course of Computer Engineering (I guess because when his relative bought a computer, they asked him to set it up since he’s an engineering). In the industry of his course, the industry should keep evolving and they should keep searching for better. That’s why he keep his head down while his lola is talking.
Later on, Galo said lola to his lola/Mama Susan and the old woman started cursing him. She told that he is just alive because she adopted him when his parents left him. She told him how his mother went abroad to work and only went home for a month then leave again. Until she was arrested due to her own actions and punished of death. Then his father remarried again. His father also reasoned out that Melissa (Galo’s mother) and him are not married so he didn’t have any obligations at his child. Upon hearing this, Galo is hurt by the way his lola talk and how his family turned out. Lastly, the last hurtful words his lola told him: “Don’t call me lola because Melissa is not my child. Call me Mama Susan from now on.” This is where I am really confuse. Is she telling him not to call him lola because his real lola is already dead and the one possessing her is the spirit of something-they-are-praising? Mama Susan and his real old lola before are different, right? Yeah, I really don’t know. This book is full of the reader’s speculation.
On the following day, Galo heard sounds and he though it is the kids but then he saw them playing in the street. So he followed the sound and it is coming from the other room he haven’t entered. He feels creepy and the way he describe the room is indeed creepy. He tried to open the door even he feels heavy already due to fear. The door is opened only a little and it’s enough for him to see the inside. There he saw 12 black people wearing purple/violet robe like the same of the Kapatiran. I think these people are the dead ones but whyyyyy? The answer, it’s a horror story. Then he saw the box containing the remains of his lola. Hence, his real lola is already dead and the one living now is a possessed one. Creepy! That’s why he planned to leave the house right away. He also now remember how he feared his lola when he was young and this is also the reason why he went away before.
It’s 12-something AM while Mama Susan is sleeping, he went to the window to leave the place but Niko already knows the plan and wants to follow him. Galo went to the kids’ room and wake up Jezel who didn’t know any plans they are making. They all ran to the window and jumped. They tried to go to the baybay despite the thunder and rain. Galo even hurt his toe because may natapakan siyang something sharp. There’s also an old man who is a member of Kapatiran walking up to them. But Jezel, the one whi has third eye, is shaking in fear and keeps iterating that they will get him/her. Because of the bad weather and the wounds in Galo’s toe, the three went back to Mama Susan’s house and plans to leave the following day. But then another person is waiting in the house. Another member of the Kapatiran and also a caretaker of the house and Mama Susan. She didn’t asked anything from them but just assisted them. In the second floor of the house, Mama Susan is resting in his room. Her physical appearance changed again. She became more thin and in a coma. There are two more members of the group and they are kneeling while praying. Suddenly, Mama Susan asked for Galo. He is shaking in fear but still went to them. He kneeled and followed their prayer. Then Mama Susan sit down and Galo started crawling backwards. She started shouting all the misdeeds of Galo such as pagnanakaw sa kaibigan at relatives niya at how he didn’t care sa dalagang nabuntisan niya. Galo is surprised by how Mama Susan knew this secret of him. (I am astounded by Galo’s actions here. I mean I am rooting for this kid to have a normal life but then he repeated what his parents did to him by ignoring his existence. Galo admitted that when his girlfriend didn’t want to talk about it, he just let it go.) It made me more confused. Is Mama Susan a reincarnation of the devil or is she a conscience of living people? Who is the bad guy, is it Galo or Mama Susan? Is Galo another hyprocrite in this messy world?
The journal is set is 1998-1999. It is old and I read reviews and comments that it was based on real life and maybe the timeline is also a legit history. There’s already phone and cable tv during the ‘90s.
Then, there’s a kid that was possessed by the spirit and can heal other people. He acquired this ability after he survived a fatal illness. But right now, he’s the one in danger and they want Mama Susan to heal him. They also said the spirit already leave his body and it is looking for someone to possess.
In the following morning, Niko is burning in fever because of their failed-leaving-this-creepy-town plan last night. That’s why they send him to the hospital leaving Galo and Jezel at home. In this time, Mama Susan is confirmed dead by the people and now she is laying in her bed. Just the opposite of her room is where Galo and Jezel are sleeping. The caretaker asked them not to leave her side even she’s dead. It’s midnight or dawn when Galo wakes up after hearing creepy sounds from the opposite room. Jezel also wakes up and started shaking and crying and telling that there’s a lolo in her side. While Galo is lighting the gasera that keeps turning off, he saw Mama Susan standing in front of him. She is asking for her eye that is soaked in the side of his bed. Another highlight: Mama Susan has only working eye and the other one is just blank socket. They ran to the stairs and hid in the kids’ small room below. It’s 10-something AM when the dead body of Mama Susan is lay in the center of the house and there are people mourning. Then, there are some people knocking at their small room and asking Galo to move outside. They are both afraid and Galo is just writing and writing. He said that whoever reads his journal to pray for his soul. And while writing, there are words keep adding to whatever he is writing and words that continue to exist without him writing. There are Latin words that I don’t know the meaning. I keep searching for other people’s review but I am unlucky. In the end of his journal, the last words he didn’t wrote but were in there, it says that:
That’s the way it is written and the content is still comprehensible enough to understand though I don’t get the deeper meaning. Nararamdaman mo ba ang mahigpit na yakap sa iyo ng ayon sa isang kaibigan? Is this referring to good friends or the spirits that we cannot see? It is obviously open ending and here’s what I think the end means: Galo is either possessed by the spirit from the former healer or Galo is already dead with Jezel by his side. Both of them are already dead and Niko is only alive after he went to the hospital due to fever. And yet I don’t know and preferably leave it as blank space. I am open to hearing your theory and endings.
Still this book’s craziness and weirdness, I enjoyed it. The title is already weird but the story is more weird. It took me longer to write this review/summary than reading the book. I constantly pause to what should I write since I am really confused.
The profound lessons that I think exists in the story.
1. The corruption of the government is what caused the backward living of the province of Ternares. It’s not because of people boycotting it instead it’s the unending political graft and corruption that made them fed up and just embrace the simple civilized but uncivilized lifestyle.
2. I agree to what Lola told that we keep looking for new technology to ease our lifestyles and at the same thrashing our world. Yes, plastic are a must today but they are also the cause of the global warming, pollution and even deaths of animals and also with humans.
3. Galo is a hypocrite person. He hate his messed family by leaving him alone when in fact, he did the same to the maiden he impregnanted.
4. Premarital sex became popular among teens and Galo with his girlfriend experimented it already.
5. The children the number one victim of the broken family and sad to say, it is already not uncommon.
6. We chase for material things and once we achieve it, we want more. It’s what happened to Galo’s mother by going abroad to seek more money for them and end up dying in a death row by doing something against their law.
•••••
Maybe there’s more but I think that’s what I learned. Maybe if I reread this in the future, I can easily understand it.
I am a reader of Bob Ong way back high school (2011-2014) and I always, literally always, feel like “wth is this author wants to tell” or “are you really an author?” Even the ‘Alamat ng Gubat’ , ‘McArthur’ , ‘Si’ , idk if ‘Ang Paboritong Libro ni Judas’ is included are all a question mark to me. There’s this little subconciousness inside me telling that “yes, there’s something that meets and reads by the eye” and Bob Ong is insane in a good way. So I am planning to get my hands to his books either ebook or plain traditional paper type book as long as I read them again by this year.
Okay, back to review of Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. I don’t have money to buy the book so I downloaded free pdf online. Fortunately, there’s still somewhere just dig in deeper in the online world. This is my 14th to the last goal to-read this year. And as usual, Bob Ong started the story with the ordinary life of Gilberto “Galo” P. Manansala writing his journal as a requirement for one of his subjects in college (I think he’s in college because he said 1st semester and he entered Grade 1 by the age of 5). He wrote everything from the way he breathe, love story of his ex-girlfriend, the mess of the family he’s currently living, how he hated the teachers and their boring lessons, and how the teacher who required the journal stuff is not reading those journals which is typical in the education system of the Philippines and maybe other countries, too. He can wrote anything because the teacher is not even reading it. He is living in the Manila with his relative since his family is wreck. But this relatives is abusive and obviously has a line between him and them. His Aunt idk-the-name is treating him like a heavy burden while his Uncle i-forgot-the-name-too is secretly assisting his education because they want Galo to feel like his father is still supporting him. Though Galo already knows this one. He also narrated in his journal how his cousins (children of his aunt and uncle) focused on watching the cable tv while eating chicharya. Sometimes this siblings fight each other due to the possession of the TV remote. He comapred his life back when he was in the province Ternares where life is simple and all he did is read his lola’s Reader’s Digest collection at home. He included the heartbreak and pain from the breakup of his current girlfriend Andrea (or other name?). His most used curses are “pakers” or in English fuckers.
Just to clear, Bob Ong is a Filipino writer and he wrote the book in Tagalog but I more incline in English language so ignore my English review. Lol.
The whole book is a series of Galo’s journal. And the way he narrated is from using ellipses (...) to making full sentences. While he’s in Manila, he keeps using ellipses and it bothers me because he never completed a sentence. Though the content is still comprehensible. Then, he returnd back to his province and his sentences became complete and better. Yes, I am even bothered by this little stuff. This is because all I read is English novel, non-fiction, and etc.
While in Manila, he received a letter from their lola’s helper that his lola is sick. He even received a call telling that he must return back. But his financial problem obstructs it and he’s even ashame to ask for money since the last time he did this, his aunt started nagging a lot. He let this problem settle at the back of his mind and focused other financial problem in school tuition. There’s even payment of 200.00 for Christmas Party for their classroom. Where the hell will he get that? The one supporting him, his uncle, is no longer sending money. He even discovered that this uncle is not working abroad but still in their country. I think this uncle is having an illicit affair and that’s the reason why the Aunt is always drinking and smoking. One night, when his only-gift-to-himself guitar is broken by his cousin Shelly and she didn’t even said sorry but also ranted that it’s only cheap. Galo popped like a volcano due to angst and being fed up to what they are doing to him. They are making him do all the household chores and still they make him feel he has heavy utang na loob to them for adopting him but as a slave.
The fact that it’s real is making me want to vomit. In the Philippines or even other countries, family messed up one another. The moment that the child doesn’t belong to the biological parents makes everything needed to cross some lines. Broken families are uncommon and the children who are always victims are passed from one family to family and sometimes to the orphanage. This is the case of Galo, passed like ball from four relatives because of his biological family. Sabi nga niya, “nag-anak anak pa kayo, pakers!”
Since Galo is fed up already, he leave the house without telling his Aunt because of also her drunkenness. He went to the bus station and waited for hours before the scheduled trip. Then, the bus is nasiraan and waited for hours again in the remote area. Followed by the boat just to reach their islands. Estimatedly, maybe it took for a day just to come back home. Upon arriving to the place, he noticed how his lola aged a lot but still strong, how the house also aged but still looks like someone is handling, and how his lola’s collection of Reader’s Digest is turned to collection of rebultos and religious stuff. In fact, this house is a memorial house for the people who died due to epidemic in their village. The house is huge compared to other houses and lola is living alone that’s why she let them turn it to sementeryo. (They didn’t use the term sementeryo but something similar to his since this is where they bury the victims/dead ones.)
Unlike Manila, the province of Ternares is a quiet, sometimes creepy, civilized but uncivilized in a way that it is turning to old ways of living. Before Galo went away from Ternares, there’s power but now he’s returned, they are only using gasera. The people are living by farming. There’s no alarm clock to wake up, just the sound of the animals. There’s no any literatures to read because lola hid them away. No annoying cousings who only watch TV while eating just foods. No Aunt and Uncle fighting everyday. But there’s creepy sounds every 3AM inside the house. There are people who are members of the religious group called Kapatirans. They meet every dawn inside the house where they sing, pray, cry, and praise their god. (I don’t know if I should use God or god. Idk if The Lord is the one their worshipping or they are just another cult since it is said that the Catholic separated themselves from them.) I think I’ll for the latter. I think this Kapatiran is a cult because they suspicious in their clothes and beliefs, or maybe I am another great prejudice.
The curious Galo who is already afraid and has goosebumps almost every night went outside at 3AM to jingle and there he saw them. His lola told them that he’s his grandson by whispering. It’s really creepy how Galo is narrating and he keeps reiterating that he is having goosebumps. He also noticed how the foods sacrifices are gone by the morning. He discovered that there are two kids, Niko and Jezel. They are eating those kalamay and other sacrificial foods. These kids became his playmates during his time in the province. Until later on, these kids told him that there’s something creepy going on in the house. Jezel even told him that his lola is no longer his lola. They also call his lola as Mama Susan. Jezel also see other people and sometimes these people are ang mga kaibigan ni Mama Susan. I think it’s either ghosts or spirits.
While the four of them are having breakfast, the kids non-chalantly and innocently asked Mama Susan if she is mangkukulam and kills people. After long quiet waiting, she answered in not-angry-but-calm voice that she is not. She started talking about how people are wasting their energy in making useless technologies; how people can live without this stuff that keeps thrashing the world. This is ironic to Galo’s course of Computer Engineering (I guess because when his relative bought a computer, they asked him to set it up since he’s an engineering). In the industry of his course, the industry should keep evolving and they should keep searching for better. That’s why he keep his head down while his lola is talking.
Later on, Galo said lola to his lola/Mama Susan and the old woman started cursing him. She told that he is just alive because she adopted him when his parents left him. She told him how his mother went abroad to work and only went home for a month then leave again. Until she was arrested due to her own actions and punished of death. Then his father remarried again. His father also reasoned out that Melissa (Galo’s mother) and him are not married so he didn’t have any obligations at his child. Upon hearing this, Galo is hurt by the way his lola talk and how his family turned out. Lastly, the last hurtful words his lola told him: “Don’t call me lola because Melissa is not my child. Call me Mama Susan from now on.” This is where I am really confuse. Is she telling him not to call him lola because his real lola is already dead and the one possessing her is the spirit of something-they-are-praising? Mama Susan and his real old lola before are different, right? Yeah, I really don’t know. This book is full of the reader’s speculation.
On the following day, Galo heard sounds and he though it is the kids but then he saw them playing in the street. So he followed the sound and it is coming from the other room he haven’t entered. He feels creepy and the way he describe the room is indeed creepy. He tried to open the door even he feels heavy already due to fear. The door is opened only a little and it’s enough for him to see the inside. There he saw 12 black people wearing purple/violet robe like the same of the Kapatiran. I think these people are the dead ones but whyyyyy? The answer, it’s a horror story. Then he saw the box containing the remains of his lola. Hence, his real lola is already dead and the one living now is a possessed one. Creepy! That’s why he planned to leave the house right away. He also now remember how he feared his lola when he was young and this is also the reason why he went away before.
It’s 12-something AM while Mama Susan is sleeping, he went to the window to leave the place but Niko already knows the plan and wants to follow him. Galo went to the kids’ room and wake up Jezel who didn’t know any plans they are making. They all ran to the window and jumped. They tried to go to the baybay despite the thunder and rain. Galo even hurt his toe because may natapakan siyang something sharp. There’s also an old man who is a member of Kapatiran walking up to them. But Jezel, the one whi has third eye, is shaking in fear and keeps iterating that they will get him/her. Because of the bad weather and the wounds in Galo’s toe, the three went back to Mama Susan’s house and plans to leave the following day. But then another person is waiting in the house. Another member of the Kapatiran and also a caretaker of the house and Mama Susan. She didn’t asked anything from them but just assisted them. In the second floor of the house, Mama Susan is resting in his room. Her physical appearance changed again. She became more thin and in a coma. There are two more members of the group and they are kneeling while praying. Suddenly, Mama Susan asked for Galo. He is shaking in fear but still went to them. He kneeled and followed their prayer. Then Mama Susan sit down and Galo started crawling backwards. She started shouting all the misdeeds of Galo such as pagnanakaw sa kaibigan at relatives niya at how he didn’t care sa dalagang nabuntisan niya. Galo is surprised by how Mama Susan knew this secret of him. (I am astounded by Galo’s actions here. I mean I am rooting for this kid to have a normal life but then he repeated what his parents did to him by ignoring his existence. Galo admitted that when his girlfriend didn’t want to talk about it, he just let it go.) It made me more confused. Is Mama Susan a reincarnation of the devil or is she a conscience of living people? Who is the bad guy, is it Galo or Mama Susan? Is Galo another hyprocrite in this messy world?
The journal is set is 1998-1999. It is old and I read reviews and comments that it was based on real life and maybe the timeline is also a legit history. There’s already phone and cable tv during the ‘90s.
Then, there’s a kid that was possessed by the spirit and can heal other people. He acquired this ability after he survived a fatal illness. But right now, he’s the one in danger and they want Mama Susan to heal him. They also said the spirit already leave his body and it is looking for someone to possess.
In the following morning, Niko is burning in fever because of their failed-leaving-this-creepy-town plan last night. That’s why they send him to the hospital leaving Galo and Jezel at home. In this time, Mama Susan is confirmed dead by the people and now she is laying in her bed. Just the opposite of her room is where Galo and Jezel are sleeping. The caretaker asked them not to leave her side even she’s dead. It’s midnight or dawn when Galo wakes up after hearing creepy sounds from the opposite room. Jezel also wakes up and started shaking and crying and telling that there’s a lolo in her side. While Galo is lighting the gasera that keeps turning off, he saw Mama Susan standing in front of him. She is asking for her eye that is soaked in the side of his bed. Another highlight: Mama Susan has only working eye and the other one is just blank socket. They ran to the stairs and hid in the kids’ small room below. It’s 10-something AM when the dead body of Mama Susan is lay in the center of the house and there are people mourning. Then, there are some people knocking at their small room and asking Galo to move outside. They are both afraid and Galo is just writing and writing. He said that whoever reads his journal to pray for his soul. And while writing, there are words keep adding to whatever he is writing and words that continue to exist without him writing. There are Latin words that I don’t know the meaning. I keep searching for other people’s review but I am unlucky. In the end of his journal, the last words he didn’t wrote but were in there, it says that:
“...Angs umulat nitoay sa akin. ang nagbabasa nitoay saakin. Ik a w ay pinili.N araramdam an mo ba angm a higpit nayakap sa iyonga yon ng isangka ibigan?”
That’s the way it is written and the content is still comprehensible enough to understand though I don’t get the deeper meaning. Nararamdaman mo ba ang mahigpit na yakap sa iyo ng ayon sa isang kaibigan? Is this referring to good friends or the spirits that we cannot see? It is obviously open ending and here’s what I think the end means: Galo is either possessed by the spirit from the former healer or Galo is already dead with Jezel by his side. Both of them are already dead and Niko is only alive after he went to the hospital due to fever. And yet I don’t know and preferably leave it as blank space. I am open to hearing your theory and endings.
Still this book’s craziness and weirdness, I enjoyed it. The title is already weird but the story is more weird. It took me longer to write this review/summary than reading the book. I constantly pause to what should I write since I am really confused.
The profound lessons that I think exists in the story.
1. The corruption of the government is what caused the backward living of the province of Ternares. It’s not because of people boycotting it instead it’s the unending political graft and corruption that made them fed up and just embrace the simple civilized but uncivilized lifestyle.
2. I agree to what Lola told that we keep looking for new technology to ease our lifestyles and at the same thrashing our world. Yes, plastic are a must today but they are also the cause of the global warming, pollution and even deaths of animals and also with humans.
3. Galo is a hypocrite person. He hate his messed family by leaving him alone when in fact, he did the same to the maiden he impregnanted.
4. Premarital sex became popular among teens and Galo with his girlfriend experimented it already.
5. The children the number one victim of the broken family and sad to say, it is already not uncommon.
6. We chase for material things and once we achieve it, we want more. It’s what happened to Galo’s mother by going abroad to seek more money for them and end up dying in a death row by doing something against their law.
•••••
Maybe there’s more but I think that’s what I learned. Maybe if I reread this in the future, I can easily understand it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
0 OUT OF 5 STARS. DNF.
My first DNF this year. I used to be a fan of Bob Ong books back in College. And this book, 'Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan' used to be my most favorite out of all his works (from what I can vaguely remember). Please do not attack me with my review but I just want to be honest with my thoughts here...
I find this boring. Almost half of this book was just random thoughts and banter from the protagonist. I like the journal type with the writing and story-telling. But I feel like it's also the same style that ruined the experience for me. This used to be one of the "scariest" local book that I have read (again, from what I vaguely remember). I used to have nightmares and days of sleepless nights when I first read this. But now, it's just... bland. Even the peak/climax part where the story starts to "get exciting," it's just... I can't seem to think of the right word to use other than anti-climactic.
Anyway, I'll end my review here 'cause I'll feel like I might spit more negative commentaries about this book. Overall, I didn't like it. Didn't enjoyed it (like how it used to) and it's not working for me.
My first DNF this year. I used to be a fan of Bob Ong books back in College. And this book, 'Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan' used to be my most favorite out of all his works (from what I can vaguely remember). Please do not attack me with my review but I just want to be honest with my thoughts here...
I find this boring. Almost half of this book was just random thoughts and banter from the protagonist. I like the journal type with the writing and story-telling. But I feel like it's also the same style that ruined the experience for me. This used to be one of the "scariest" local book that I have read (again, from what I vaguely remember). I used to have nightmares and days of sleepless nights when I first read this. But now, it's just... bland. Even the peak/climax part where the story starts to "get exciting," it's just... I can't seem to think of the right word to use other than anti-climactic.
Anyway, I'll end my review here 'cause I'll feel like I might spit more negative commentaries about this book. Overall, I didn't like it. Didn't enjoyed it (like how it used to) and it's not working for me.
March 29, 2021
There are some unanswered questions in this novel as well as weird scene, however the feeling that I felt when I read it before intensifies. Sobra pa ding nakakapanghilakbot at nakakatinding balahibo ang mga kaganapan sa librong ito. Grabe grabe. Kung horror lang naman ang hanap mo, invest on this book kasi sobrang nakakatakot sya also hanggang ngayon sariwa pa sa isip ko ang nga nangyayari. Bakakatakot tuloy magising ng madaling araw.
July 14, 2021
Monday, July 12, 2021
11:39pm. I’d give this book 3.5 at the very least. It’s a social commentary disguised as a horror novel which I really liked. However, in my opinion, the hype it was given as THE FILIPINO HORROR THRILLER just made me disappointed. I think if it wasn’t for the hype and if I read it without expecting anything, I’d give it a higher rating. Still worth the read tho.
Thursday, July 14, 2021
12:14am. Giving this a raise at 4 stars because I literally can’t stop thinking about that one line on page 85. Bob Ong, you win this round. 🤧
11:39pm. I’d give this book 3.5 at the very least. It’s a social commentary disguised as a horror novel which I really liked. However, in my opinion, the hype it was given as THE FILIPINO HORROR THRILLER just made me disappointed. I think if it wasn’t for the hype and if I read it without expecting anything, I’d give it a higher rating. Still worth the read tho.
Thursday, July 14, 2021
12:14am. Giving this a raise at 4 stars because I literally can’t stop thinking about that one line on page 85. Bob Ong, you win this round. 🤧
Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews