Amado V. Hernandez
Amado Vera Hernandez was born in Hagonoy, Bulacan but grew up Tondo, Manila, where he studied at the Manila High School and at the American Correspondence School. While being a reporter, columnist and editor of several newspaper and magazines including Watawat, Mabuhay, Pilipino, Makabayan and Sampaguita, he also honed his poetic craft. He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, a number of Palancas and an award from the National Press Club for his journalistic achievements.
After World War II, he became a member of the Philippine Newspaper Guild and his writings increasingly dealt with the plight of the peasants and laborers. Influenced by the philosophy of Hobbes and Locke, he advocated revolution as a means of change. In 1947, he became the president of the Congress of Labor Organization (CLO). His activities and writings led him to imprisonment from 1951 to 1956. Even in prison, he was still a leader and artist, spearheading education programs and mounting musical productions, plays and poetry reading. It was during his incarceration that he wrote one his masterpiece, Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Predatory Birds). His prison writings were smuggled out by his wife, zarzuela star Honarata “Atang” dela Rama, who would become our National Artist for Music and Theater.
Ka Amado died on 24 March 1970 in the wake of the First Quarter Storm, whose leaders and activists recited his words. He left a legacy that includes Isang Dipang Langit (An Arm-Stretch of Sky), Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan (When Your Tears Have Dried, My Country), Panata sa Kalayaan (Pledge to Freedom), and the novel Luha ng Buwaya (Crocodile Tears).
He was posthumously honored as our National Artist for Literature in 1973. Together with poet Jose Garcia Villa, Amado V. Hernandez was the first to receive the title in literature.
Ka Amado gave voices to the oppressed peasants and laborers, rendering them powerful verses and plots that should have gone down as a compelling chronicle of a struggle of a people, but still prove to be an influential instrument in constituting reform and empowerment. A literary artist that he is, Ka Amado remains to be a social and political leader, fast becoming to be an icon of the working-class.
“Napakaraming magaling na bagay ang dapat uliranin ng Pilipinas sa Amerika. Sa kasamaang palad, tulad ng ipinangamba ni Rizal, and unang pinulot ay ang masasamang halimbawa, ang mga bisyo at kahinaan. Tinangka ng karamihang Pilipino na magbuhay-Amerikano sa wika, sa damit, sa kilos at ugali, gayong ito’y hindi maaari kalian pa man. Pilit na ipinatatakwil sa kabataan ang huwad ng gaslaw at ikot ng sa banyaga, walang nais panoorin kundi mga laro, pelikula at ibang libangang dayuhan, walang nais basahin kundi mga babasahing sinulat ng dayo at limbag sa labas ng Pilipinas. Saan patutungo ang kabataang may ganitong kamulatan?”
“Hindi masama ang dumayo sa banyagang lupalop upang paunlarin ang sarili. Pero kung ikaw e maunlad na'y dapat bumalik sa pinagmulan at du'n gamitin ang kaunlaran. Walang lupang dayuhan na maaari mong ipalit sa 'yong sinilangan.”
“Hindi kokonti ang kababayan nating sa akala nila'y pwede at mabuti ang maging estaranghero sila. Ginagawa nila ito sa wika, sa damit, sa kilos. Pati sa kanilang bahay e di na kinakausap ang mga anak kung di sa Ingles, ikinahihiyang magsuot ng barong katutubo, ayaw manood ng dula ar pelikula sa sariling wika, ayaw kumain ng kanin, at sumasama ang sikmura pagka humithit ng sigarilyong di imported. Subalit nagiging katatawanan lamang sila sa tingin ng kanilang mga hinuhuwad.”
“Naryan ang kaibhan ng armas sa isang ideya. Ang sandata'y nakagigiba't pumapatay lamang; ang ideya'y nakagigiba't nakabubuo, pumapatay at bumubuhay.”
“Ang bawa't bayani ay may kaukulang panahon, kung panong ang kapanahunan at mgapangyayaring umiiral ay lumilikha ng mga bayaning kailangan niya.”
“Ang kahapo'y saliga ng ngayon, at ang ngayo'y haligi ng kinabukasan. Gusto kong sabihi'y ang diwa ng ating mga bayaning nangabulid sa karimla'y siya ring dapat tumanglaw sa mga nagmamahal sa bayan sa panahong ito. Pagka't ang magiging bunga ng inyong mga gawai'y siyang magbibigay ng lakas sa hahaliling salin.”
“Ang kagandahan ng demokrasya'y di lamang ang karapatan ng nakakarami upang mamahala, kundi angkapantay na karapatan ng kaunti upang sumalungat”
“Ang katuturan ng karanasan at istoriya'y di ang pagtanda sa mga pangyayari, kundi ang pagtatamo ng aral sa kanila.”