Amado V.

Hernandez

Reporter:

Lady Ann Apple Colipano

Kezia Ricshiel T. Candido
Place of Origin and Family Background
• Was born in Hagonoy, Bulacan (September 13, 1903)
• He is the son of Juan Hernandez and Clara Vera.
• He studied at the Manila High School.
• He also honed his poetic craft. He received the Public
Cultural Heritage Award, a number of Palancas and
an award from the National Press Club for his
journalistic achievements.
 Place of Origin and Family Background
• After World War II, he became a member of the
Philippine Newspaper Guild.
• In 1947, he became the president of the Congress of
Labor Organization (CLO).
• Even in prison, he was still a leader and artist,
spearheading education programs and mounting musical
Place of Origin and Family Background

productions, plays and poetry reading.

• 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
Place of Origin and Family Background

• 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).
• National Artist for Literature in 1973.
DETAILS ABOUT BEING A NATIONAL
ARTIST
• He began his writing career, as a journalist and later
editor of various Tagalog newspapers
• He joined the Akademya ng Wikang Tagalog and the
Manila Press Club.
• he was a member and vice-president of Aklatang Bayan
• later he joined Ilaw at Panitik
• In 1925, he was proclaimed “Makata ng Ilaw at
Panitik” (Poet of Ilaw and Panitik).
• In 1931 his story “Wala ng Lunas” won two gold
medals also from the Ilaw and Panitik.
• His stories, “Pilipinas” (Philippines) and
“Kayumanggi” (Brown), both won first prize in the
Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1938 and 1940,
respectively.
• He won the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Isang
Dipang Langit, 1962
• the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
fro his four plays: Muntinglupa, 1958
• the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature fro his four plays: Muntinglupa.
• Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol , 1961, both first
prize winners
• Hagdan sa Bahaghari, 1959, and Ang mga Kagalang-
galang , 1960, both second prize winners
• the NPC-ESSO Journalism Award for his novel Luha ng
Buwaya, 1963
• his “Pili sa Pinili” (Chosen form the Select) in Taliba,
1964
“Report on Indonesia,” in 1965
• the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award from the city
government of Manila, 1964
• the first Balagtas Memorial Award from the Cultural
Center of the Philippines for Bayang Malaya , 1969
• the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from the Ateneo de Manila,
1970
• He was proclaimed National Artist for posthumously in
1973 for “his contribution to the development of Tagalog
prose.”
Most widely held works by Amado V
Hernandez
Poems
• “Sariling Hardin” (My Own Garden)
• “Pangkasalukuyan” (Today)
• “King of Balagtasan,”
• Kayumanggi at Iba pang Tula (Brown and Other Poems)
• Isang Dipang Langit (A Stretch of Sky)
• Bayang Malaya (Free Country)
• “Isang Dipang Langit,” “Panata sa Kalayaan” (Oath to
Freedom), “Bartolina” (Solitary Confinement), “Ang
Dalaw” (The Visit), and “Kung Tuyo Na ang Luha Mo
Aking Bayan” (When Your Tears Dry Up, My Country).

Short Stories
• “Wala ng Lunas” (No More Remedy)
• “Kulang sa Dilig” (Needs Watering)
• “Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas” (Fly in a Glass of Milk)
• “Dalawang Metro sa Lupang Di-Malipad ng Uwak”
(Two Meters in Land That Stretches Forever)
• “Ipinanganak ang Isang Kaaway sa Sosyedad” (An
Enemy of the Society is Born)
• “Isang Ulo ng Litson” (Head of a Roast Pig)
• “Kislap ng Utak,Pawis ng Noo” (Sparkle of Brain,
Sweat on the Forehead).
Novels
• Mga Ibong Mandaranggit (Birds of Prey), 1969, and
Luha ng Buwaya (Crocodile's Tears), 1972.
Plays
• Hagdan sa Bahaghari (Stairway to the Rainbow)
• Ang mga Kagalang- galang (The Venerables)
• Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol (Two Sides of A Coin)
• “Si Atang at ang Dulaan” (Atang and the Theater)
• “Si Jose Corazon de Jesus at ang Ating Panulaan” (Jose
Corazon de Jesus and Our Poetry)
• “Pilipinismo: Susi sa Bayang Tagumpay” (Filipinism: Key
to a Successful Country)
GIST / SYNOPSIS
Gist/ Synopsis
• Luha ng Buwaya
• Luha ng Buwaya was based on the
author’s personal experiences while
imprisoned in the New Bilibid Prison from
1951 until his release on parole in 1956.
End of the Discussion