F. SIONIL JOSÉ: THE VOICE OF THE PHILIPPINE SOCIAL JUSTICE

"We write from life and call it literature, and literature lives
 because we are in it."

    Francisco Sionil José, born on December 3, 1924, in Rosales, Pangasinan, is a key figure in Philippine Literature. His works, reflecting the complexities of Filipino society, have greatly influenced the country's literary scene. Growing up in a modest family, Jose faced social and economic challenges that deeply informed his writing. His early experiences in Rosales, where his father was a farmer and his mother a teacher, gave him a strong sense of realism and empathy in his stories.

    After World War II, F. Sionil José attended the University of Santo Tomas but left to focus writing and journalism in Manila. He quickly became involved in editing various publications, started his own publishing house, and founded the Philippine branch of PEN, an international writers' organization. Though he didn't complete his formal education, his experiences in Manila's literary scene greatly shaped his work. 

Works

    His novels, particularly the Rosales Saga, reflect his commitment to social justice and often draw on themes from José Rizal's writings. It is a series of five novels that explore Philippine history and society through the Rosales family. 

The Rosales series includes five novels that chronologically explore the Samson family's story and the Philippine socio-political landscape. "Po-on" is set during the Philippine-American War and is the first novel in the series, focusing on the Samson family's struggles. "Tree", the second novel, follows the unnamed grandson of Don Jacinto and depicts the hardships faced by Filipino peasants under Spanish rule. "My Brother, My Executioner", the third novel, is set in the 1950s and details Luis Asperri's conflict between his privileged position and the Hukbalahap rebellion. "The Pretenders", the fourth novel, tells the story of Antonio Samson, an Ilustrado who struggles with his past and ultimately takes his own life. The final novel, "Mass", moves to the 1970s and follows Pepe Samson, Antonio’s illegitimate son, who joins a revolutionary group and leaves Manila to support the guerrillas. 

             

    Each novel provides a different parts of Filipino history and society, from the Samson family's experiences during the Philippine-American War to the personal and social challenges in later times. 

Together, they showed on how the Philippines changed over time through different historical periods.

His other works similar to the novel, "Rosales Saga" is titled "Dusk".

 "Dusk" is a novel, set in the late 19th century and tells the story of a tenant family forced to leave their village due to social and political upheaval. They relocate to the small town of Rosales, where they face new struggles as they attempt to rebuild their lives. The novel explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the impact of societal changes on individuals and families. Through their experiences, José paints a vivid picture of the difficulties faced by those caught in the turmoil of their time.

Through the protagonist's experiences, José examines the moral and ethical challenges faced by individuals in a society dealing with its own complexities and injustices.

Awards

He has garnered numerous prestigious awards throughout his illustrious career reflecting his profound impact on literature. His notable accolades include the National Artist for Literature Award in 1997, none of the honors for a Filipino writer, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the country's heritage. Additionally, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1991, highlighting his commitment to social justice and insightful storytelling. 

Jose's work has been highly recognized by the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. He won for his short story "The God Sealer" in 1959,  

and then for "Waywaya" and  "Arbol de Fuego (Firetree)" in 1979 and 1980. His novel "Mass" earned him an award in 1981, and his essay "A Scenario for Philippine Resistance" also received an award in 1979 These awards highlight Jose's influence and the importance of stories in Philippine literature.

    Thoughts

    Francisco Sionil José is a highly impactful writer especially in the Philippines whose stories offer a clear view of Filipino society. His focus on real-life issues such as corruption and social injustices, combined with his engaging storytelling makes his work both compelling and meaningful. His ability to address social problems through relatable characters and gripping plots has earned him a respected place in literature, helping readers understand and reflect on important societal challenges especially to the current situation in the Philippines. 

References

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Sionil_Jos%C3%A9

https://up.edu.ph/celebrating-the-life-of-national-artist-f-sionil-jose-97/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/88800/dusk-by-f-sionil-jose/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rosales_Saga

Ricardo Manapat: The Courageous Against the Tyranny

    Jose Ricardo De Leon Manapat, known as "Ric", was born on May 24, 1954, in Manila, Philippines. He was a multi-faceted figure who wore many hats as an activist, scholar, writer, researcher, and educator. He served as Director of the Records Management and Archives Office of the Philippines for two terms, from 1996 to 1998 and in 2002 to 2008.

    In his elementary, high school, and college years, he was educated at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila. From there, he earned his degree in Philosophy with departmental honors in 1976.

Early Life and Interests

    Manapat was not an ordinary student. He is a total brainiac who had a passion for a broad range of subjects, beyond the norm. He simultaneously pursued a master’s degree in history, Spanish, and mathematics, which already says a lot about him being extraordinary. There are also other fields that he pursued, such as physics, economics, linguistics, and philosophy.

    Musical instruments are also part of Manapat’s life. He was proficient in playing violin, piano, clarinet, and trumpet. Apart from music, he was fluent in over 10 languages including German, Spanish, Sanskrit, and Latin.

    Despite his various talents and pursuits, Manapat's primary passion was to serve his country. The declaration of martial law in 1971 by Ferdinand Marcos sparked Manapat's activism. He recognized the dire consequences of the regime, seeing how civil rights were disregarded and anyone who voiced opposition was subjected to imprisonment or worse. This motivated him to actively fight for the rights and freedoms of the Filipino people, becoming an advocate for change.

  

Some Are Smarter Than Others: His Literary Work

    Greed, oppression, and tyranny. It was all the reasons why Manapat created his book “Some Are Smarter Than Others”. The book exposed the massive corruption and theft that occurred during Ferdinand Marcos’ time and showed how the Marcos family profited at the expense of the Filipino people.

    Initially, Manapat's work existed only as a 48-page pamphlet and had not yet been transformed into a full-length book. However, in December 1979, Manapat had the opportunity to meet Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Aquino praised Manapat's 48-page pamphlet "Some are Smarter than Others," describing it as "the most explosive document to have rocked the city of Manila." Impressed by the pamphlet, Aquino asked Manapat to turn it into a book. Working on it in 1980, Manapat eventually finished and published the book in 1991.

    The title of Manapat's book comes from a statement made by Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, in response to criticism about her relatives who became rich quickly during her husband Ferdinand Marcos's rule. She claimed that "some are smarter than others," implying that her relatives were just more skilled in business and better at making money. This claim became the inspiration for Manapat's book, which aimed to uncover the secrets behind the Marcoses' lavish lifestyle and the wealth they gained during the dictatorship.

Conclusion and Thoughts

    The authoritarianism that the Marcoses possessed during the martial law was both repressive and rigged. Journalists and activists who spoke for the truth disappeared and got killed unethically. Thousands were tortured and arrested, but Ricardo Manapat's unwavering passion to expose the sinister nature of the Marcoses is truly heroic and courageous.

     “Written 40 years ago in 1979, “Some Are Smarter Than Others” began its life as a 40-page pamphlet that slowly grew, and spread, by photocopy and by hand, during the Martial Law years. Today. It remains a living, burning example of how the plain and simple truth can and must become the most potent, persistent, and amplifiable tool against the powerful structures of oppression.” —Lacuesta Angelo.

References:

https://doi.org/10.1177/0725513609345379

https://frankfurtrights.com/Books/Details/some-are-smarter-than-others-18964350

Manapat, Ricardo (1991). Some are Smarter than Others: The History of Marcos' Crony Capitalism. New York: Aletheia Publ.

Enrico Lazaro Jr.

Author

Luis G. Dato: A Canonical Author Review

     From Baao, Camarines Sur, Luis Guevara Dato was a poet, writer, politician, and educator from the Philippines. He was among the pioneers of Filipino writers and publishers of English-language books. "Day on the Farm," "Among the Hills," and "The Spouse" are a few of his poems. From 1941 to 1947, he was also Baao's municipal mayor. He was Eugenio Dato y Espalana and Barbara Guevara y Imperial's third child out of five. His brother Rodolfo was also an academic; he edited the anthology Filipino Poetry, which was first published in 1924, and held the position of dean of the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City, in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.

      His famous literary works:

• ‘’The Spouse’’-  The poem paints a picture of the curse. The poem's third line describes the woman's love and loyalty for her husband, but she also suffers from being a prisoner and a slave. She creates a world for herself and her spouse, and in doing so, she has allowed herself to become limited to the point where she finally turns down any happiness life could have to give if she would just venture outside of her husband's and her own created world. Due to this, she exclusively looks to her husband for fulfillment, a rare exception that will inevitably result in disappointment due to the man's curse. From afar, the woman looks passionately who is described as her mind, her motion, her time and space. From where the wife stands, she suffers the curse of not being able to revel in such passion and devotion her wife pours out on him; he is too preoccupied to enjoy the beauty and luxury of his wife's love for him. He has to work, and as hard as he could he must. By doing so he doesn't just deprive himself of the extravagance of his wife's love and attention, but also deprives his wife of the very same things that he deprives himself of.

• ‘’Day on the Farm’’- The poem symbolizes the love of a husband for his wife, he offers her anything. All he wants perhaps is to please his wife so he is very happy to say to his wife that he found fruits that have the sweetest taste. His wife is pregnant by tradition he has to follow what his wife asks for. That is why he had gone to the hill to look for duhat fruit that his wife craves for. The husband assumed that he satisfied his wife but the crying of his wife indicates that his wife is still not happy or satisfied. And yet the husband will not allow that his wife is not satisfied, so he goes back to the hill and encounters a wild beautiful flower that he remembers her wife of. 

 

• ‘’Among the Hills’’- The poem portrays love, beauty, and longing, using the natural landscape as reference for human emotions. The hills  symbolize both a literal setting and a metaphor for life’s highs and lows, serenity, and permanence. They provide a contemplative space where the speaker reflects on emotions, perhaps love or longing, inspired by the beauty and solitude of the natural world. The poem likely explores the feelings of admiration or yearning that the speaker holds for another, using nature as a canvas to paint these emotions. The hills, sky, and landscape can be seen as a metaphor for the speaker’s inner emotional terrain where passion is both gentle and overwhelming, calm yet stirring.

   

        My thoughts:

Overall the mastery of Luis G. Dato when it comes to creating literary works is definitely outstanding, the way he makes the readers think when it comes to his poems you can say that he is very skillful in doing those kinds of works. Creating different kinds of poems in different genres, will amaze anyone that will read his literary works. Luis Dato needs to be known across the world, his masterpiece and creativity will inspire every aspiring author to continue and pursue the dream of being an literary author. I cant believe that he is an underrated canonical author, his masterpiece deserves more appreciation and tribute as one of the greatest canonical authors in the Philippines. Not only is he good at making English poems, he also makes literary work in his native language which is bikol language. That's why I picked him to make a literary blog, not just because he is a great author but because he is also from the Bicol region.    

 

 Katrina Tuvera: An author whose weapon is her words

    Katrina Tuvera is a nationally and internationally recognized expert with experience in reading, writing projects, transcribing highly technical language into understandable and reader-friendly text, and providing editorial services for a broad range of subjects.

Over the course of the past decade, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literature, writing, and art history before switching into an international development communications specialist role in 2013.

She is able to handle deadlines efficiently and well and has a comprehensive understanding of USAID branding guidelines, international development terminology, and USAID branding guidelines.

As a writer and consultant for two Philippine senators, additional knowledge of the legislative and policymaking processes can be gathered from her experiences as a writer and adviser.

    Her awards consist of National Book Award, Philippines Graphic Award for Literature, and Carlos Palanca Memorial Award that have all been bestowed upon her work.

 

WORKS

The two of her most famous and prominent works are “The Jupiter Effect” (2006) and “Testament and Other Stories” (2002). The Jupiter Effect is a novel by Katrina Tuvera, which explores power, history, and creating your own identity in the Philippines. 

Taking place in the Marcos regime, the book captures the human cost and ill effects of dictatorship. With the help of the characters, Tuvera illustrates how personal relationships are forged at the time.

 

"The Jupiter Effect" as told through the story of Kiko and Gaby, who have grown up under martial law, the novel focuses on their political initiations while living under the Marcos regime.

It raises questions about Filipino complicity in the dictatorship of Marcos and depicts the many compromises that still exist in the current state of Philippine politics.

The novel is divided into two parts. The first chapter presents the circumstances that mold the experiences of Gaby and Kiko Contreras, their insights into the political climate in which they live, and their observations of the world around them.

In the second chapter, we learn how years later, the same children become deeply involved in the same issues they were unaware of as children.

This novel focuses on the Contreras family, but it also introduces a number of other characters who undoubtedly play a significant role in understanding the key issues of the time, knowing the leaders of the time, and objectively seeing the president whose actions have earned him the loyalty of some and the contempt of many.

A deep part of Tuvera's work is rooted in the political history of the Philippines. It was during the Marcos era that the country was marked by corruption, human rights violations, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

There are many historical realities presented in “The Jupiter Effect” which makes the reader confront the uncomfortable truths about how political power works in this century and how it will continue to do so, especially to those who are directly involved in it. 

In addition to being a novel, it's also a commentary on how history gets written and remembered. “The Jupiter Effect” is more than a political novel, it's about how societies and individuals cope with history.

Another one of her well-known works is “Testament and Other Stories”, demonstrating that there are many themes explored, such as: poverty and corruption. In each story, Tuvera captures the characters' inner lives, exposing the complexity of their emotions and decisions with her prose.

This collection examines the complexities that drive people's motivations and relationships. Tuvera writes with subtlety, irony, often darkness, and sorrow, creating characters who are uncomfortably real, who make us confront our humanity with questions that can be frightening.

 It is one thing for her to accomplish a rare universality and depth, and another thing for her to offer a clear insight into Pinoy culture and the human psyche. It is impossible not to be moved by her stories when reading them.

 A number of other stories in the book attempt to explore relationships. The way she is able to convey the raw emotions of her characters makes each story resonate on a personal level, enabling the reader to empathize with them.

While “Testament and Other Stories” is rooted in personal and emotional experiences, it also offers pointed political views. In Tuvera's stories, she frequently explores the tensions that are present in Philippine society, particularly the differences between social classes and the effects of political regimes that have lasted for many decades.

Using characters who are able to navigate the difficult social landscapes, Tuvera reveals the harsh realities that are part of everyday Filipino lives and the struggle they face. No matter whether either her stories are told from the perspective of those who are privileged or those who are struggling to survive, they provide readers with a glimpse into the difficult choices people must make

 

 

SOURCES:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1831953.Testament_and_Other_Stories

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9591291-the-jupiter-effect

https://www.academia.edu/11967534/The_Jupiter_Effect

https://www.macdowell.org/artists/katrina-tuvera

 

 

  Resil B. Mojares(1943)

Resil B. Mojares, is a professor emeritus at the University of San Carlos and a member of the editorial board of the Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints. He was named a National Artist in Literature in 2018. Resil B. Mojares was born on  September 4, 1943 in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte. 

He attended public schools in Mindanao before attending Silliman University in Dumaguete City and the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City. He began teaching at University of zsan Carlos (USC) in 1965 and became the Cebuano Studies Center's founding director ten years later. In 1979, he received his PhD in Literature from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. Aside from time as a visiting scholar in the United States, Japan, and Singapore, he is a homegrown intellectual.

He also one of the first Cebuanos to become a political prisoner during Martial Law, arrested on September 23, 1972, the day Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under Martial law.

Resil B. Mojares is married to Salvacion Ouano Go, and has four children together: Kim Carmel, Mark Soren, Ressa Gail, and Anna Leigh. He resides in Barangay Talamban in Cebu City. 

Literature of Resil B. Mojares

He has written over twenty books and contributed numerous essays and articles in popular and scholarly publications. His books include such groundbreaking works as Origins and Rise of the Filipino Novel (1983), Theater in Society, Society in Theater (1985), and the 

      Interrogations in Philippine Cultural History (2017).

The Origins and Rise of the Filipino Novel is a generic study of the Filipino novel situates its development in the context of the narrative tradition and social history of the Philippines. It marks out lines of descent, identifies shifts in modes of narrative representation, considers literary changes in relation to the larger society, and thus offers the reader with a view of the novel not only in itself but also in history.

Theater in Society, Society in Theater is both a detailed and imaginative reconstruction of the history of a Philippine village, the barrio of Valladolid in Carcar, southern Cebu, Though the history ranges from the 1500s to 1940, the focus is trained on a time of increased peasantization, the late nineteenth century and the first four decades of the twentieth century. In tracing the history of the village, the author analyzes transformations in its moral order as revealed in the external and internal changes of the village theater tradition, the tradition of the linambay, or komedya.

This article Interrogations in Philippine Cultural History diverse issues in Philippine cultural history: the place of Nick Joaquin in the nation's historiography; the debate on the class position of Andres Bonifacio and the revolutionary outbreak of 1896; Filipino-Spanish interactions in the world of print; the social history of religious devotions; the state of regional literary studies and the case of Filipino crime fiction; and Philippine electoral politics as seen in the cracked mirror of Pascual Racuyal's career. The book ends with the author's reflections on the past four decades of Philippine cultural studies.

Awards of Resil B. Mojares

Resil B. Mojares received several "best book" awards from the Philippine National Book Awards and Book Development Association of the Philippines. His scholarship has been recognized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Awards, the Grant Goodman Prize in Philippine History, Hong Kong's Fok Ying Tung Southeast Asia Prize, and the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi.

 

 

Adonis Durado: A glimpse of a poet's soul

      Adonis Durado was born on August 25, 1975 in Cebu city, Philippines. Adonis durado is a fine arts graduate from the University of San Carlos. Even at 2017 in the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University, he received a Knight Fellowship award. Adonis is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Visual Communication within Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication. 

    Adonis Durado chose Cebuano as the language for his poems because for him, it was easier to use that language. Adonis said "For me, it's intrinsically onomatopoeic. I also find it adaptable and easy to bend".

Literatures of  Adonis Durado

     All of Adonis' works are entitled in Cebuano language. Dili Tanang Matagak Mahagbog or "Not All That Drops Falls", Minugbo Alang sa Mugbo og Kalipay or "Shorts for the Shortjoyed", Lisay sa Bugan  or "A Swelling in the Loins",  Pahinungod sa Di Hintungdan or "To Whom It May Not Concern",  Ang Nakayatak Kay Nayatakan or "Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon", Lastly, Tabyong sa Way Kinutoban" or "Swinging Without End". All of these titles/works are by Adonis Durado himself, he had translators in  each poem.                                                                           

                                                                                                                           

Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon

    Ang Nakayatak Kay Nayatakan or "Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon" was awarded the 2023 Philippine National Book Awards. The judges praised the poet for his skillful use of language, crafting diverse images by drawing inspiration from various visual forms such as postcards, paintings, photographs, and other non-prose texts. 

     Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon is Adonis Durado's fifth poetry collection. His previous books are: "Dili Tanang Matagak Mahagbong", "Minugbo", Lisay sa Bugan", and "Pahinungod sa Di Hintungdan". 

     Pahinungod sa Di Hintungdan (To Whom it May Not Concern). The book can be switched depending on what language the reader  would prefer because the translation is in the other side of the book,  and the corresponding pages of the poem and its translation are the same.         

                                                                                                                              

To Whom It May Concern

     Adonis once said; “The reason I asked other writers to translate it to English is that I go abroad and I have friends there who are also writers. So the only way I can promote Cebuano is for them to be able to read my balak. But if my balak is in Cebuano only, they will not be able to appreciate it. So I prefer for my works to have English transations even if they are not perfect. Because these books we have today, for example Tolstoy, his books have gone through hundreds of translators, even Shakespeare’s works, if not for that we won’t be able to read them".

Awards 

    Adonis Durado received numerous awards during his journey. In 2023, he had 1st Prize in Bienvenido Lumbera Prize For Cebuano Poetry. Also in 2023, He is the Winner in Philippine National Book Award for Who Steps Upon is Stepped Upon. While in 2022, He had 1st prize again in Bienvenido Lumbera Prize For Cebuano Poetry. His 2019 awards are International Book Award Finalist for To Whom It May Not Concern and Second prize, 1st Visayan Music Awards for "Balitaw", Lastly Vicente Ranudo Literary Excellence award. He also had two 2017 awards which are: VisCom Knight Fellowship (Ohio University) and NCCA Writers' Prize. He had a 2012 award which is the Writer of The Year (Bathalad Inc.). Adonis had an award in 2002; Faigao Prize (University of San Carlos - Cebuano Studies Center). Lastly, in 2000 he received a Lacaba Prize for Cebuano Poetry.

Conclusion/Thoughts

     I believe Adonis Durado's Literature gives an inspiration towards cebuano's, He is not only proud of being a filipino but also being a cebuano. He used cebuano language on his works and proved that him being cebuano poet has many capabilities and can achieve many goals. Though I have not read any of his work yet but I believe it has deeper meanings.

      

  

    

     

     

Amado V. Hernandez: Imprisoned National Treasure

Amado V. Hernandez: Imprisoned National Treasure

Amado Vera Hernandez
(1903-1970)

        Amado V. Hernandez also known as the “ Workers Writer” was a well known Filipino writer and a poet. He is also a labor leader and was known for his criticism of the social injustice happening in the Philippines. His deep involvement in the communist movement led to his imprisonment, but even behind the bars it did not hinder him from writing literature but it led to his growth and development as a writer and a person.

Early Life and Activism

Amado V. Hernandez was born on September 13, 1903, in Hagonoy, Bulacan, but grew up in Tondo thus witnessing the hardships of the Filipinos during the colonial period. Growing up in a community of poverty and inequality made his great desire for change. He pursued the career of journalism and was soon involved in the labor movement acting as the voice defending the Filipino workers rights. His ability to express the hardships of those abused was a powerful tool in both literature and politics.

Hernandez worked as a writer and editor of different literature and print media during the 1930s and 1940s. The poems written by him that supported social reform were criticized by the government. His works focuses on the injustices of the Filipino working class, where the abused Filipinos that lived in the same condition were able to relate and connect with him through his works. Hernandez’s works caught the attention of the labor union and leftist groups, so he became an advocate for workers rights. 

Imprisonment and Legacy

"Ibong mandaragit"

In 1951 Amado V. Hernandez was accused of rebellion and arrested for his strong involvement in the communist movement of the Philippines. The government was suspicious of his left wing groups, so he was accused of planning to overthrow the government.He was imprisoned for 5 whole years, from different detention facilities and even the New Bilibid Prison. Despite being behind bars, Hernandez still continued writing and producing his literary works. He sees literature as a powerful tool and opportunity to awaken the minds of the Filipinos, and his imprisonment made him grow and be more creative. He also used it as an opportunity to reflect, sharpen his skills and strengthen his place in Philippine literature.

During his stay in Prison, he wrote one of his notable literary works “Mga Ibong Mandaragit”. This is a novel that shows the struggles of the Filipinos against corruption and inequality. The book mirrored the personal experiences of Hernandez towards injustice and exploitation, this also strengthened his reputation as the “People's Poet” and “Workers Writer”.

This wonderful work of his enlightened the Filipino people with the use of his personal experiences where the readers can relate to thus taking his side. It also encapsulates the contemporary and the latest issues that our country is experiencing. This kind of literature does not only preserve the works of the past but it also preserves our culture, heritage, and history. Thus we must keep and help take care of the products of the past as it helps in developing the future.

Recognition and Philippine National Artist AWARD

In 1956 the Supreme Court dismissed the case of Amado V. Hernandez and was eventually released. This became a significant change since it established advocacy for social change, even if radical, was not a crime.

He was awarded the Philippine National Artist in Literature in 1973 with his great contribution to Filipino culture and society. His works of literature are still studied and admired by the Filipinos, especially those who experienced the struggles of the abused. Sadly on March 24, 1970 he passed away at the age of 66, and even if he passed away his memories still remains.

All in all Amado V. Hernandez has been through a great transformation from a prisoner to a Philippine National Artist in Literature. Despite being a prisoner, he used  his time behind the bars to refine and create  his works about the struggles of the Filipino People. He and his notable literary works just like the novel “Mga Ibong Mandaragit” will still remain in our history and will still continue in capturing the essence of the Filipino experiences and the fight against different issues like inequality. Hernandez’s legacy will always have a powerful role in the Philippine literature in advocating change and empowering those without or less power.

References:

https://www.penguin.sg/book_author/amado-v-hernandez/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/796596.Amado_V_Hernandez

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amado_V._Hernandez

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17226908-

Author: Fritz Leeshan DC. Reynante