A poet, playwright, and novelist.

He is a Filipino writer who practiced “commited

art”. His name is Amado Vera Hernandez. His contribution to the development of the
tagalog prose is considerable. He stripped tagalog of its ornate character and wrote in
prose closer to the colloquial than the “official”. Hernandez was known for his criticism
of social injustices in the Philippines and was later imprisoned for his involvement in the
communist movement. Hernandez’s works includes “Bayang Malaya,” “Isang Dipang
Langit,” “Luha ng Buwaya,” and Amado V. Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling: katipunan ng
mga Nalathalang Tula 1921-1970,” etc.
It was while he was imprisoned that he wrote his most notable works.His Novel
“Mga Ibong Mandaragit,” first written by Hernandez while in prison, is the first Filipino
socio-political novel that exposes the ills of the society as evident in agrarian problems of
the 50s. Just like Andoy, the main character of his work, Amado V. Hernandez also
suffered from a lot of different complicated situations. In his novel “Mga Ibong
Mandaragit” shows the difficulties that he is experiencing during his period.
Hernandez was an intelligence operative of the guerilla, as a matter of fact, being a
member of this organization shaped him to do his novels including “Mga Ibong
Mandaragi.” It resembles Mando Plaridel, the new version of Andoy, who build and
found a publication called “Ang kampilan.” Hernandez became a member of the
Philippine Newspaper Guild and his writings increasingly dealt with the unfortunate
situations of the laborers in his place.
Being imprison does not stop him to do novels that dictates the injustices in the
Philippines. After five years of imprisonment, the Court allowed Hernandez to be free.
He then resumed his journalistic career, teach after his discharge, and continued to serve
as a leader.
His works are not just about the injustices and criticisms but it also teaches us
different morals and a lot of knowledge that we can use in the future. Amado
Hernandez’s works also values the different cultures, traditions, and traits of the
Filipinos.