A writer for workers

It has been said that “his poetry is his biography." The works of Amado V, Hernandez reflect a life lived fighting against social injustice and foreign domination. As journalist, he was witness to and documenter of social-political events while poetry was Ka Amado’s medium for his sentiments. And these sentiments lay with the interests of Filipino workers for he was after all called “writer for the laborers." Ka Amado, as he is fondly called because he was indeed companion (kasama) in a journey for freedom and workers’ rights, believed in the power of the laborers to change society. He was member of one of the biggest militant groups in the Philippines, the Congress of Labor Organizations (CLO,) in 1945-1950. He led at least 49 rallies when he became the head of the CLO and became the voice of the laborers in the fight against American control during the government of then President Elpidio Quirino. When World War II broke out, Ka Amado left his job as a journalist and joined the rebel group in Sierra Madre. Writing in detention Because of his revolutionary writings, Ka Amado was arrested on January 26, 1951 in their CLO office in P. Campa, Sampaloc, Manila. He was charged with “rebellion complex with other crimes" and jailed for five years and six months. While in prison, he wrote the novel Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Birds of Prey), the first Filipino realist and political novel in the ‘50s. It exposed social ills, particularly the agrarian problem. Other works he accomplished while in detention were poems that were later put together in an anthology: Isang Dipang Langit, Bartolina, Sa Bilangguan and Lupa. In Isang Dipang Langit he expressed the strong faith of a prisoner, unjustly accused, in his battle for justice. His detention never hindered him from pursuing his appeal for justice and equality in the country. In our heroes’ likeness Like national Jose Rizal, Ka Amado used the power of literature to make war against colonizers who continue to dominate in the country and government officials who became “puppets" of foreigners. His poetry carried not only the theme of anger but also hope that one day Filipinos would be genuinely free and justice would prevail in the country. Ka Amado also inherited Andres Bonifacio’s revolutionary mind. Both were heroes of the poor people. About Ka Amado Amado V. Hernandez was born in September 13, 1903 in Hagonoy, Bulacan but grew up in Tondo, Manila. He did not finish his degree in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas and instead became a journalist. He was married to another artist Atang dela Rama. He died on March 24, 1970. He was posthumously honored as the National Artist for Literature in 1973. He was also the first to receive the title in the Literature category. HELEN FLORES, GMANews.TV At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw/sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha/sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay…/laying sasalubong ako sa paglaya!" Amado V. Hernandez, Isang Dipang Langit