Amado Vera Hernandez

(September 13, 1903 – March 24, 1970)

Was a Filipino writer and labor leader who was known for his criticism of social injustices in the Philippines and was later imprisoned for his involvement in the communist movement. He was the central figure in a landmark legal case that took 13 years to settle. He was born in Tondo, Manila, to parents from Hagonoy, Bulacan. He grew up and studied at the Gagalangin, Tondo, the Manila High School and at the American Correspondence School.

Body of works

Novels

His socio-political novels were based on his experiences as a guerrilla, as a labour leader and as a political detainee.

• Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Birds of Prey),1969.
• Luha Ng Buwaya (Crocodile's Tears), 1972.
• Pili sa Pinili (Chosen from the Selected), 1964.

Poems

• Isang Dipang Langit
• Panata sa Kalayaan
• Ang Mga Kayamanan ng Tao
• Ang Dalaw Kay Silaw
• Bartolina
• Kung Tuyo Na ang Luha Mo Aking Bayan
• Bayang Malaya
• Ang Taong Kapos
• Bayani
• Sa Batang Walang Bagong Damit
• Isang Sining ng Pagbigkas
• Ang Panday
• Inang Wika
• Ang Tao
• Pamana
• Ang Aklasan

Essays

• 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)

Literary Work

Isang Dipang Langit

Ako’y ipiniit ng linsil na puno

hangad palibhasang diwa ko’y piitin,

katawang marupok, aniya’y pagsuko,

damdami’y supil na’t mithiin ay supil.

Ikinulong ako sa kutang malupit:

bato, bakal, punlo, balasik ng bantay;

lubos na tiwalag sa buong daigdig

at inaring kahit buhay man ay patay.

Sa munting dungawan, tanging abot-malas

ay sandipang langit na puno ng luha,

maramot na birang ng pusong may sugat,

watawat ng aking pagkapariwara.

Sintalim ng kidlat ang mata ng tanod,

sa pintong may susi’t walang makalapit;

sigaw ng bilanggo sa katabing moog,

anaki’y atungal ng hayop sa yungib.

Ang maghapo’y tila isang tanikala

na kala-kaladkad ng paang madugo

ang buong magdamag ay kulambong luksa

ng kabaong waring lungga ng bilanggo.

Kung minsa’y magdaan ang payak na yabag,

kawil ng kadena ang kumakalanding;

sa maputlang araw saglit ibibilad,

sanlibong aninong iniluwa ng dilim.

Kung minsan, ang gabi’y biglang magulantang

sa hudyat – may takas! – at asod ng punlo;

kung minsa’y tumangis ang lumang batingaw,

sa bitayang moog, may naghihingalo.

At ito ang tanging daigdig ko ngayon –

bilangguang mandi’y libingan ng buhay;

sampu, dalawampu, at lahat ng taon

ng buong buhay ko’y dito mapipigtal.

Nguni’t yaring diwa’y walang takot-hirap

at batis pa rin itong aking puso:

piita’y bahagi ng pakikilamas,

mapiit ay tanda ng di pagsuko.

Ang tao’t Bathala ay di natutulog

at di habang araw ang api ay api,

tanang paniniil ay may pagtutuos,

habang may Bastilya’y may bayang gaganti.

At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw

sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha,

sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay…

layang sasalubong ako sa paglaya!

Analysis of the literary work

The poem Isang Dipang Langit by Amado V. Hernadez he made it in prison and this is his experience. The first verse in the poem tells that the person is being bullied by the culprits of the higher society. Although he had done no wrong, he had been charged with a sin that he had not committed.

In the second verse, that was the time he was locked up in a place where there was a harsh guard. Here he realizes that his life is like in the death, because even when he is breathing his life is useless.

In the third verse, all he did was look down through the small hole in the fold overlooking the sky. At the sight of heaven he wept and mourned. He was hurt because the people he was guarding, fighting and serving were the ones who betrayed him and dragged him to jail.

In the fourth verse, the character tells how the guards who were guarding their jail seemed furious while there was a prisoner yelling out loud like a beast in the cave.

In the fifth verse, it implies that he spent all day and all night in tears. And in his mourning he imagined the prison cave to be like a coffin. This means that during his time in prison he was presumed dead by guards and other detainees.

In the sixth verse, it depicts the sight of a person passing by in front of him who has a chance to match him, an offender exposed to the force of the heat of the sun and unable to withstand in death.

In the seventh verse, the person describes that sometimes on a quiet night everyone is suddenly startled by the noise of the fugitive. And at times, the person who lives to the point of death can be seen and killed by the death penalty.

In the eighth verse, the person says that the prison is now his world, in prison like a grave. The man had also been sentenced to twenty years in prison and had said that he might die in prison.

In the ninth verse, it means that even though he is a senior in prison, he still does not give up that he might get out of it. Because he is still alive, he still hopes with hope even in pain, fear and difficulty.

In the tenth verse, the person says that Bathala is not asleep, that is, God knows all the facts, true or false. Everything everyone in the world is doing is well known in Bathala. So, the person said that not all oppressors are oppressors. This means that there is a limit to the suffering that people experience in life. And at the time of reckoning he was acquitted.

At the last moment, the person is released. She was happy because she could see the sky without tears. The day of triumph will mean that a new hope will come into her life, coming tomorrow.

This poem Isang Dipang Langit reflects the hope of human life. There is hope when you have life. Don't underestimate any of the difficulties we will face and most of all do not face the problems that we face or face because every time we are alive we also have the hope of eventually coming and this is the victory.

What is the  significance of the literary work to the youth like yourself and to the Philippine culture, society and politics as a whole?

• Through literature, the Filipino identifies and shares the wealth of the mind and the intelligence of the people of origin.
• The greatness and dignity of the Filipino tradition is reflected in the world as the foundation of our culture.
• Consciousness in writing and practice is recognized so that it can be organized and corrected.
• Recognizes and uses writing skills and is diligent in its development and development.
• Cultivating a sense of culture is reflected in literature.

As mentioned, through the literature Filipinos have had the opportunity to introduce our race to others. Through their ingenuity and skill, they have created clues that reflect the old customs and traditions that make up our culture. Filipinos also embraced their strengths and weaknesses in writing and creation, which made it easier for them to develop and develop texts. Many Filipino writers have discovered the ability and given recognition for their works that are deeply ingrained and impressed by their fellow Filipinos on the beauty of the country and their appreciation for it.

Above all, they had the opportunity to express their overflowing love for the Filipino nation because they had always been proud of being of Filipino descent and every literature they do reflects the rich culture of the Philippines. The Philippines is rich in not only its natural resources but also its ingenuity and ability to cultivate culture through the use of literature. This is why more and more countries are becoming interested in visiting and living in our country.