Learn About Amado V. Hernandez on good-read.club

Amado V. Hernandez

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Born: September 12 1903

Died: 2323 03 19701970

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 . 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 . 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 , Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan , Panata sa Kalayaan , and the novel Luha ng Buwaya .

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.

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Amado V. Hernandez

Amado V. Hernandez

Books from Amado V. Hernandez

Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Birds of Prey)

Luha ng Buwaya

Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas at Iba Pang Kuwento

Isang Dipang Langit: Katipunan ng mga Tula ni Amado V. Hernandez

Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda: Koleksyon ng mga Dula at Sanaysay

Bullets and Roses: The Poetry of Amado V. Hernandez: A Bilingual Edition

Amado V. Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling: Katipunan ng mga Nalathalang Tula 1921-1970

Rice Grains

Birds of Prey

The Preying Birds