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“Ang katuturan ng karanasan at istoriya'y di ang pagtanda sa mga pangyayari, kundi ang pagtatamo ng aral sa kanila.”
“The importance of history is not in remembering the events but in learning from them.” - Amado V. Hernandez, Mga Ibong Mandaragit
About the Book
About the Book
Birds of Prey (Mga Ibong Mandaragit) is a story of the valiant fight for justice and social change during and after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II.
Originally written in Tagalog by revered Philippine National Artist in Literature Amado V. Hernandez, and first translated to English by Estelita Constantino-Pangilinan, this socio-political novel depicts the oppression of the Filipino people by both the brutal occupiers and their own corrupt leaders, while holding out hope for a vision of an egalitarian society.
Inspired by Jose Rizal’s novels, it is a sequel to El Filibusterismo. Birds of Prey follows Mando Plaridel, the guerrilla warrior who discovers his strength and greater purpose as he searches for and finds the treasure left behind by Rizal’s protagonist Simoun.
This historical fiction examines one country’s past but its message resonates with the real and present struggles in societies around the world.
"We shall use all our strength and do everything we can so that our nation will be truly free and independent, and the Filipino people will be the true masters of their own land. A just democracy; equality before the law and in opportunities in life. This is our vow and ultimate goal, for which we shall lay down our lives."
Amado V. Hernandez
Amado V. Hernandez
1903 - 1970
About the Author
About the Author
Amado V. Hernandez was a Filipino journalist, patriot, poet laureate, activist, labor leader, guerrilla fighter and educator. Besides his newspaper work, he wrote about the working class, social injustice, oppression, guerrilla activities, political intrigues and corruption. Because Hernandez’s works were influenced by his own experiences and strong beliefs, it has been said that the artist and the man were one.
Mga Ibong Mandaragit is one of his best works. It was written between 1951-1956 while the author was imprisoned for crimes of rebellion. It took thirteen years before he was acquitted of all charges in 1964 by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
As newspaper editor and columnist, Hernandez was widely read and respected for his nationalistic, pro-labor views. He de¬clared in the preface to Mga Ibong Mandaragit, “My involvement in the labor movement and in politics was a direct fulfillment of my principles and beliefs. I don’t wish to write from an ‘ivory tower,’ the writer is not a mere observer in a democracy.”
He died in May 1970 and later received several posthumous awards, the most prestigious of which was the award of National Artist of the Philippines on June 12, 1973 in recognition of his rare excellence and significant contribution to literature.
Other Award-Winning Novel:
Luha ng Buwaya (Crocodile’s Tears) (1962)
Estelita Constantino-Pangilinan
Estelita Constantino-Pangilinan
1926 - 1997
About the Translator
About the Translator
Estelita Constantino-Pangilinan was an educator and a published author. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Santo Tomas with dual degrees of Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Science in Education–English. She later earned her Master of Arts in English also from UST. For her master's thesis in 1976, she submitted A Translation and Critical Analysis of Mga Ibong Mandaragit.
She taught English at the Manila Central University and at La Salle Green Hills High School where she became assistant principal. After a long and successful career in academia, she worked as a speech writer for the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Other Published Works:
Journalism Handbook (National Book Store, 1974)
Speech and Drama (National Book Store, 1991)
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