Kung Tuyo Na Ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan!

On the occasion of the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence, this early morning message was shared online – “let us commemorate our Independence Day with this poem of Amado V. Hernandez sang by a Filipino singer.”

Amado V. Hernandez, or Ka Amado, as he was more intimately referred to by nationalist leaders and activists of the First Quarter Storm, was posthumously awarded as National Artist for Literature in 1973.

His works highlighted the struggle of our people, the oppression of our peasants and laborers under foreign colonizers in the past which continued under Filipinos within a powerful unequal structure and system. His works still resonate at present with our people still victims of persistent inequality, still oppressed by the abusive among the powerful and privileged.

His poem, “Kung Tuyo Na Ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan” is in his book “Isang Dipang Langit.” Ka Amado’s poem continues to be a very powerful reminder and call to Filipinos not to give up on our quest for genuine freedom, for genuine independence.

The song interpretation of his poem dramatically captures every nationalist Filipino’s continuing mission to see our country truly free- “makita kang sakdal laya!” Refer to this link - https://youtu.be/Zvzj_68A9D4 - for his poem and the poem’s song interpretation.

For those who have yet to read this beautiful poem, may we share this here below as a precious Independence Day reminder not to give up on our quest for genuine freedom for our people, for our land:

Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan by Amado V. Hernandez: “Lumuha ka, aking Bayan; buong lungkot mong iluha, Ang kawawang kapalaran ng lupain mong kawawa: Ang bandilang sagisag mo’y lukob ng dayong bandila, Pati wikang minana mo’y busabos ng ibang wika, Ganito ring araw nang agawan ka ng laya, Labintatlo ng Agosto nang saklutin ang Maynila.

“Lumuha ka, habang sila ay palalong nagdiriwang, Sa libingan ng maliit, ang malaki’y may libangan; Katulad mo ay si Huli, naaliping bayad-utang, Katulad mo ay si Sisa, binaliw ng kahirapan; Walang lakas na magtanggol, walang tapang na lumaban, Tumataghoy, kung paslangin; tumatangis, kung nakawan!

“Iluha mo ang sambuntong kasawiang nagtalakop, Na sa iyo’y pampahirap, sa banyaga’y pampalusog: Ang lahat mong kayamana’y kamal-kamal na naubos, Ang lahat mong kalayaa’y sabay-sabay na natapos; Masdan mo ang iyong lupa, dayong hukbo’y nakatanod, Masdan mo ang iyong dagat, dayong bapor, nasa laot!

“Lumuha ka kung sa puso ay nagmaliw na ang layon, Kung ang araw sa langit mo ay lagi nang dapithapon, Kung ang alon sa dagat mo ay ayaw nang magdaluyong, Kung ang bulkan sa dibdib mo ay hindi man umuungol, Kung wala nang maglalamay sa gabi ng pagbabangon, Lumuha ka nang lumuha’t ang laya mo’y nakaburol.

“May araw ding ang luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo, May araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto. Ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo, Samantalang ang dugo mo ay aserong kumukulo; Sisigaw kang buong giting sa liyab ng libong sulo, At ang lumang tanikala’y lalagutin mo ng punglo!”

The last stanza of Ka Amado’s poem ended on the hopeful tone that a day will come when tears will finally stop flowing and dry up. It envisioned a time when Filipinos will stop crying.

His poem concluded with the forceful, promising tone that the sorrow/pain/humiliation and bondage experienced by our people will give way to a new day where instead, where in place of tears, a fire, with the color of blood, will burn strongly within, among our people who, with a loud, united cry, will finally, resolutely, courageously break the chain of bondage from the arrogant/shameless/and abusive.

Will our people/our country experience genuine freedom/independence as expressed in his poem?

Ka Aado’s reply – “when your tears have stopped and dried up, my people/my country.”