"The Arhat Son" is a social thriller novel that revolves around the sudden appearance of Simon, a young man claiming to be the illegitimate son of Ignatius Ong Sr., head of the Aloysius Ong Group of Companies. After losing his favored sons, Ignatius sees Simon as the potential heir. However, his remaining legitimate son, Iggy, becomes suspicious and, with the help of his former literature student Vanessa and the enigmatic bodyguard Robles, delves into Simon's past. The novel explores themes of identity, inheritance, and family tensions within a contemporary Chinese-Filipino society.
Charlson Ong is a prominent Filipino writer and director, recipient of the Philippine National Book Award for both short fiction and novel. His notable works include "Banyaga: A Song of War," "Blue Angel, White Shadow," and "White Lady, Black Christ." He also co-wrote and directed the award-winning film "Tanabata’s Wife."
