“I came through and I shall return” were the noted words of Gen. Douglas Macarthur that were among the very few things which were retained in the memories of people like me who has selective amnesia especially towards History 101.
Filipino Author Bob Ong made a notable return with his 6th book, Macarthur. First printed in April 2007, I found it in the local bookstore only a few weeks ago and immediately bought a copy. I’ve never even heard about Ong’s latest book before neither did I anticipate it because if I recall it right, he wrote in Stainless Longanisa, his 5th book, something similar to having fulfilled his purpose in enlightening the Filipino people about our socio-political situation and even discontinued his website bobongpinoy which derives from his name (or is it the other way around?) but when concatenated translates to “stupid Filipino”. Thus, I construed that Longanisa will be his last work.
Since I’d read a Bob Ong, I’ve always admired his writing style. Foremost, he’s able to tackle significant social issues in an amusing manner. He employs humor from daily life scenes to disguise his criticisms of something or someone as a light but lasting blow hence make readers ponder again on his stories and nod in agreement to his point. Second, Ong’s books are always full of surprises and intriguing not only the text itself, but also its titles and cover designs. His first book, ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!?, derived from the old native alphabet which when read syllabically imply the statement “Aha! I can read now?!?” is written on a chalkboard as cover art while Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang Mga Pilipino? (Why do Filipinos read books upside-down?) has its cover literally upside-down. On the other hand, Stainless Longanisa features different pens on its front when longanisa is a kind of local sausage. Macarthur’s front gives us a silhouette of what seems to be a top view of a toilet.
While ABNKKBSNPLAko?!? tackled issues with our education system, Bakit Baliktad Magbasa on the common forms of our negligence as Filipino citizens, and Alamat ng Gubat (Legend of the Jungle) on greed of power especially in politics, Macarthur gives us the vivid picture of the lives of youth hooked on illegal drugs. More than a stereotype story of chase, police corruption, and effects of drugging, this book is a story of struggle for self-worth, dreams, friendship, family and reformation. Ong’s talking in native tongue reaches to more readers and assures that his message is clearly conveyed to his intended audience. His casual but tactful style creates the impression that he’s just chatting over a cup of coffee and even invited us to the different homes of the characters in the slums and to their pot sessions. Macarthur compares its characters to its slang meaning: stools that cannot be flushed at once hence the lives of these youth are but a waste. More inspiringly however is its implication that some of them are given a chance to return to a loving family abundant of concern and acceptance.
Macarthur is a triumphant return of an epic author too interesting to be flushed down the toilet.
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