A HERO LIES IN YOU
A Book Report On Literature 1
By: Jobelle A. Manguerra (BSC 2)
This book report is for Mrs. El Angeles as a requirement in our class of Literature 1. The book was entitled “Kapitan Sino” written by Bob Ong, a Filipino author. It has 166 pages
published by VISPRINT, INC. It was first printed on April 2009. The author chose this book because aside from it is a required reading list, it was made to entertain readers while persuading the people to start the change from themselves and to establish a good relationship within the community. The main characters of the story are Rogelio and the community of Pelaez. Rogelio Manglicmot also known as “Kapitan Sino” who happened to have a special ability and power is the protagonist in the story, explored his new persona with trepidation as he fails to foil a bank hold-up in his first official act as a hero but later on saved the whole town from the virus, the town’s killer monster and the people themselves. The people in Pelaez, who were detained by
their corrupted mind, guilt and were imprisoned with a town of gossips because they used to be blind in their town’s dilemma and let Pelaez to be disordered.
Other character of the story is Bok-bok, Rogelio’s best friend who served to be his mentor on what he should do in handling that kind of special ability. Tessa/Teng was a blind young woman, Rogelio and Bok- bok’s childhood friend and the love interest of Rogelio who made his costume and unfortunately, happened to die on the story. Aling Hasmin and Mang Ernesto were Rogelio’s parents who advised him on what he is regardless of what he had. Mayor Solomon Suico, the father of Michael, a monster who killed many people in the town of Pelaez including Tessa. Aling Precious, Aling Baby, Aling Chummy and Anghela were the town’s gossipers. Last character was Ging-ging, an innocent child who was inspired by Rogelio’s great ability and concern for the town.
Bob Ong’s “Kapitan Sino” is a superhero book but not whimsical, it is not an ordinary superhero book. It was happened on the town of Pelaez during 80s. Somehow, though it was fantasy, the whole series was made with the usual scenario in a town and seemed to be realistic except that the hero had a power which cannot happen to anyone. Rogelio himself was trying to motivate Pelaez to a change and the government officials free from greed, corruption, anomaly and guilt. In the end, Kapitan Sino saved Pelaez from the monster-killer, used his blood to cure the people from epidemic virus and the people learned to have unity in the development of their community yet the politicians were still deceived by money, power and wealth. The author’s final contemplation about Kapitan Sino is that being a hero is not just
about the name, the costume, the popularity and the intention to help people out of danger but to let the people do an action to help themselves to stop crimes and corruption. It enlightened the author’s mind thus, an eye-opener to see the present condition of our country and its government. The author liked this book because it could make the readers laugh and in between laughs, made us to ponder the intricacies and implications of being a hero. Hence, it is Bob Ong’s patriotic way in expressing his ideas and opinions as a writer. This book is a depiction on what he aims in bringing his message to everybody especially to the Philippine government. Topics from poverty to politics to corruption are tackled but in a comedic way. There were a lot of painful truths in the story which some might find offensive but as they say, the truth hurts. The author recommends it to Filipinos hoping that they would learn to help in simple ways even without recognition, take the words from the book to heart and put them into action in our own lives.
