21st Century Literature | Amado Hernandez as National Artist

Justin Magdato

3 Nov 202106:14

Summary

TLDRAmado V. Hernandez, a Filipino poet, playwright, and novelist born in 1903, is celebrated for his significant contributions to Tagalog prose and Philippine literature. His work, particularly 'Mga Ibu Mandaragit,' highlights sociological issues of the 1950s. Hernandez, a labor leader and freedom fighter, was honored with numerous awards and posthumously declared a National Artist for Literature in 1973, recognizing his impact on Philippine arts and his role in shaping a Filipino sense of community.

Takeaways

📚 Amado V. Hernandez was a Filipino poet, playwright, and novelist born on September 13, 1903, in Hagon.
🏫 He spent his early years in Tondo, Manila, and attended Manila High School and the American Correspondence School.
📰 Hernandez worked as a reporter, writer, and journalist for various publications, which led to his imprisonment from 1951 to 1954.
📝 He significantly contributed to the development of Tagalog prose by writing in a more colloquial style, as opposed to the ornamental styles of the time.
📖 While in prison, he wrote 'Mga Ibu Mandaragit,' one of his best works, a social and political novel illustrating sociological issues like agrarian problems in the 1950s.
🏆 Hernandez was recognized for his literary contributions with more than 20 awards for his short stories and poems.
🏅 His works 'Pilipinas' and 'Kayumangi' won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1938 and 1940, respectively.
🏛 In 1962, he received the Public Cultural Heritage Award for 'Isandipan Langet,' and the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for 'Mounting Lupa' and 'Huged Bensabag'.
🏅 He was awarded the NPCSO Journalism Award for his novel 'Luha Nabuwaya,' and for his essays in 1963, 1964, and 1965.
🎖 In 1973, Hernandez was posthumously proclaimed a National Artist for his contribution to the development of Tagalog prose.
🌟 To be considered a National Artist, one must be a natural-born Filipino citizen with significant contributions to Philippine arts and a sense of Filipino neighborhood.

Q & A

When and where was Amado V. Hernandez born?
-Amado V. Hernandez was born on September 13th, 1903, in Hagon.
What were Amado V. Hernandez's early educational experiences?
-He spent his early years in Tondo, Manila, where he attended Manila High School and the American Correspondence School.
What professions did Amado V. Hernandez hold before his imprisonment?
-He worked as a reporter, writer, and journalist for various publications, including newspapers and magazines.
Why was Amado V. Hernandez imprisoned?
-The script does not specify the exact reason for his imprisonment, only mentioning that it occurred from 1951 to 1953.
How did Amado V. Hernandez contribute to the development of Tagalog prose?
-He made a significant contribution by stripping Tagalog of its ornamental styles and writing in a more colloquial style than the official style.
What is one of Amado V. Hernandez's best-known works?
-One of his best-known works is 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit,' which he wrote while in prison.
What themes does Amado V. Hernandez's work often explore?
-His works often illustrate sociological issues, such as agrarian problems in the 1950s.
What was Amado V. Hernandez's opinion on the role of a writer in society?
-According to the script, Hernandez believed that a writer's role is to uplift society's conscience and affirm the nobility of the human spirit in the face of injustice and persecution.
What awards did Amado V. Hernandez receive in his lifetime?
-He won more than 20 awards for his short stories and poems, including the Commonwealth Literary Contest first prizes for 'Pilipinas' and 'Kayumangi,' and the Public Cultural Heritage Award for 'Isandipan Langet.'
When was Amado V. Hernandez posthumously declared a National Artist?
-He was posthumously declared a National Artist in 1973 for his contribution to the development of Tagalog prose.
What are the qualifications to be considered as a National Artist in the Philippines?
-To be considered as a National Artist, one must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, have made a significant contribution to the development of Philippine arts, and have contributed to building a Filipino sense of neighborhood.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Life and Literary Impact of Amado V. Hernandez

Amado V. Hernandez, born September 13, 1903, in Hagon, was a Filipino poet, playwright, and novelist. He spent his early years in Tondo, Manila, attending Manila High School and the American Correspondence School. Hernandez worked as a journalist for various publications, which led to his imprisonment from 1951 to 1954. He revolutionized Tagalog prose by adopting a colloquial style, contrasting the official ornate style. His notable work, 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit,' written during his imprisonment, is a social and political novel addressing agrarian issues of the 1950s. Hernandez's other works include 'Bayang Malaya,' 'Sandip,' and 'Luhan.' He was recognized for his commitment to art and his belief in the writer's role in awakening societal conscience and affirming human nobility amidst injustice. His contributions to Philippine literature, labor leadership, and activism earned him numerous awards, including the National Artist for Literature posthumously in 1973.

05:02

🏆 Hernandez's Unique Writing Style and National Artistry

Amado V. Hernandez is celebrated for his love and contribution to the Philippines, particularly for his significant impact on Tagalog prose. His unique writing style, which differed from other Filipino writers, reflected the state of Filipinos during his time, incorporating social and political beliefs shaped by his experiences as an intelligence officer during the Japanese rule. His masterworks are imbued with these beliefs, further proving his worthiness as a National Artist for Literature. His legacy is marked by numerous awards, including the Public Cultural Heritage Award for 'Isandipang Liyet' in 1962, the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the NPCSO Journalism Award for his novel 'Luha Nabuwaya,' and the Patnubayang Kalinda Award from the City Government of Manila in 1964. In 1969, he received the first Balagtas Memorial Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines for 'Bayang Malaya,' and the Tanglaw and Lali Award from Manila in 1917.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Amado V. Hernandez

Amado V. Hernandez is a central figure in the video, a Filipino poet, playwright, and novelist born in 1903. He is known for his significant contributions to Tagalog prose and his commitment to social and political issues through his literature. His works reflect the societal and political climate of the Philippines during his time, and he is recognized for his unique colloquial writing style that deviated from the ornamental styles of the era.

💡Tagalog prose

Tagalog prose refers to written works in the Tagalog language, which is the basis for Filipino, the national language of the Philippines. In the video, Amado V. Hernandez is credited with developing this literary form by simplifying the language and making it more accessible, which is exemplified by his work 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit'.

💡Imprisonment

Imprisonment is a recurring theme in the video, highlighting the period from 1951 to 1954 when Amado V. Hernandez was incarcerated. This experience is believed to have influenced his writing, as he composed 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit' during this time, reflecting on the social and political issues of the era.

💡Social and political novel

A social and political novel is a genre that addresses societal issues and political themes. The video mentions 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit' as an example of such a novel, illustrating agrarian problems in the 1950s, thus connecting literature with the real-life challenges faced by Filipinos.

💡Agrarian problems

Agrarian problems refer to issues related to land ownership and agriculture, which were prevalent in the Philippines during the 1950s. The video describes how Amado V. Hernandez's novel 'Mga Ibong Mandaragit' brings attention to these issues, showing the impact of such problems on society.

💡Literary awards

Literary awards are honors given to recognize excellence in writing. The video details numerous awards won by Amado V. Hernandez, such as the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, demonstrating his impact and acclaim within the literary community.

💡National Artist

The title of National Artist is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos for their contributions to the arts. The video discusses how Amado V. Hernandez was posthumously awarded this title in 1973, acknowledging his significant role in the development of Tagalog prose and his commitment to social justice.

💡Cultural Center of the Philippines

The Cultural Center of the Philippines is the primary institution for the promotion and development of the arts in the country. In the video, it is mentioned as the organization that awarded Amado V. Hernandez the first Balagtas Memorial Award for 'Bayang Malaya,' recognizing his literary achievements.

💡Commonwealth Literary Contest

The Commonwealth Literary Contest was a prestigious competition for writers within the British Commonwealth. The video notes that Amado V. Hernandez's stories 'Pilipinas' and 'Kayumangi' won first prizes in this contest in 1938 and 1940, respectively, showcasing his literary prowess on an international stage.

💡Intellectual contributions

Intellectual contributions refer to the ideas, theories, or works that significantly influence a field of study or society. The video emphasizes Amado V. Hernandez's contributions to Philippine literature, particularly his role in shaping Tagalog prose and advocating for social justice through his writing.

💡Freedom fighter

A freedom fighter is an individual who actively opposes oppression and fights for justice and liberty. The video portrays Amado V. Hernandez not only as a writer but also as a labor leader, liberation activist, and freedom fighter, highlighting his multifaceted role in advocating for the rights and welfare of the Filipino people.

Highlights

Amado V. Hernandez was born on September 13, 1903, in Hagon.

He is a Filipino poet, playwright, and novelist.

Spent early years in Tondo, Manila, attending Manila High School and the American Correspondence School.

Worked as a reporter, writer, and journalist for various publications.

Imprisoned from 1951 to 1954.

Made significant contributions to the development of Tagalog prose by simplifying its style.

Wrote 'Manga Ibu Mandaragit', a social and political novel, while in prison.

His works address sociological issues such as agrarian problems in the 1950s.

Hernandez's other works include 'Bayang Malaya' and 'Sandeep Luhan'.

Hernandez engaged in committed art, believing in the writer's role to uplift society's conscience.

He was a labor leader, liberation activist, and freedom fighter.

Received numerous awards and recognitions, including over 20 awards for his short stories and poems.

Won first prizes in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1938 and 1940.

Awarded the Public Cultural Heritage Award for 'Isandipan Langet' in 1962.

Received the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for his works.

Honored with the NPCSO Journalism Award for his novel and essays.

Received the Patnubay Singing at Kalinda Award for the City Government of Manila in 1964.

First Balagtas Memorial Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines for 'Bayang Malaya' in 1969.

Proclaimed National Artist for Literature posthumously in 1973 for his contributions to Tagalog prose.

National Artist title requires significant contributions to Philippine arts and building a Filipino sense of identity.

Hernandez's unique writing style and reflection of Filipino state during his time make him worthy of the title.