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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Francisco Baltazar 150th Death Anniversary

MANILA, Philippines — Today, we remember the life and works of Francisco (Balagtas) Baltazar, Father of Modern Tagalog Poetry.

Francisco Balagtas was born on April 2, 1788, in Panginay, Bigaa, which was renamed Balagtas in his honor, in the province of Bulacan. He was the youngest among the four children of Juan Balagtas and Juana de la Cruz. He studied in a parochial school in Bigaa before moving to Manila when he was eleven years old to work as a housebody for his aunt Doña Trinidad. In return for his services, Doña Trinidad paid for his education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Balagtas loved to watch the land and could hear music in the rustling of the leaves. In college, he wrote love letters and beautiful verses for friends. He wrote awits, corridos, and moro-moros. In 1835, Balagtas fell in love with a lady named Maria Asuncion Rivera but a rival suitor fabricated charges against Balagtas which sent him to prison. While in prison, he wrote his greatest masterpiece, Florante at Laura, which he dedicated to “Celia.” The epic depicted the abuses that the country suffered under the Spanish friars. Florante at Laura was published in 1838 after Balagtas’ release from prison.

In 1840, Balagtas moved to Bataan. There he held various government positions such as Assistant Judge, “Teniente Mayor,” and “Juez de Comentera” in Orion, Bataan. There he met Juana Tiambeng who became his wife in 1842. They were blessed with eleven children, although seven died. In 1849, when every Filipino was ordered by Governor-General Narciso Claveria to adopt a Spanish surname, Balagtas chose Baltazar. Thus he became known as Francisco Baltazar. He passed away on February 20, 1862, at the age of 74.

As we mark the 150th Death Anniversary of Francisco Baltazar today, let us be inspired by his dedication to his work and his genius in writing such an epic as Florante at Laura, a great part ofour national heritage.

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