a.k.a. Francisco Balagtas
Prince of Filipino Poets
April 2, 1788 - February 20, 1862
He first studied in a parochial school in Bigaa. At age of eleven, he worked as a houseboy of the rich Trinidad family in Tondo. His intelligence, industry, and loyalty were noted by his employer who financed his education. He studied he studied at the Colegio de San Jose where he took Humanities, Philosophy, and Religion. He continued his studies at the Colegio de San Juan. Here, he was recognized as a poet. It was his teacher in college, Mariano Pilapil, the author of "Passio" who encouraged him to write poems.
During his time, Tondo was literary center, and Baltazar was one of those who were frequently sought for his literary endeavors. Another poet who was popular in Tondo was Jose de la Cruz, called Huseng Sisiw because he accepted chicks as payment for poems he wrote his patrons. He was a friend of Balagtas until Balagtas forgot to bring the chicks he promised.
Balagtas transferred to Pandacan in 1835 and wrote corridos, poems, ballads and moro-moro. It was then that he came to love Maria Asuncion Rivera(Celia). His rival was Mariano Capuli, an influential rich man who found ways to have Balagtas jailed. While Balagtas was jailed, Capuli married Celia.
In prison, he wrote the epic "Florante at Laura", which he dedicated to Celia. When he was freed in 1840, he went to Balayan, Bataan. There he met and married Juana Tiambeng in 1842. He worked as a clerk in the court of Victor Figueroa. Later, he was elected to become a Tinyente Mayor of Orion. In 1856, he worked as a transcriber in court. That year, he was accused and sentenced to jail for four years for shaving the hair of a servant of an eminent Spaniards. his wife sold their land and jewelry to pay their dues during the trial. He was imprisoned for six months in Balanga, Bataan then was later transferred to the Bilibid Prison in Manila, there he continued to write moro-moros.
He was freed in 1860. He returned to his home in Orion and wrote poems. He wrote poems and duplicated Spanish documents to support his family.
His epic poem "Florante at Laura" is known for its beauty and rhythmic lines. Many believe that this was the secret declaration of Balagtas political ideas, decrying the social decay during that time. He died on February 20, 1862.
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(Tagalog Version)
Isinilang si Francisco ‘Balagtas’ Baltazar y dela Cruz noong Abril 2, 1788 sa Panginay, Bigaa (ngayo’y Balagtas), Bulacan. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay sina Juan Balagtas at Juana Dela Cruz. May tatlo siyang nakatatandang kapatid, sina Felipe, Concha at Nicolasa.
Isang panday ang ama ni Balagtas. Upang makapag-aral, pumasok siyang katulong sa isang nakaririwasang malayong kamag-anak na naninirahan sa Tundo. Noon ay 1799, at lalabing-isang taon ang batang si Kiko. Noong 1812, sa gulang na 24, natapos niya ang Canones sa Colegio de San Jose, na paaralan ng mga Heswita sa Intramuros. Isa sa mga naging guro niya si Padre Mariano Pilapil, na itinuturing na isa sa mga nangungunang palaaral sa panulaang Tagalog nang panahong iyon. Ang Pasyon ng 1814 ay nalathala sa kanyang pamamahala.
Nang panahong iyon, itinuturing na pinakatanyag na makata si Jose Dela Cruz na kilala sa tawag na Huseng Sisiw. Ganito ang tawag sa kanya sapagkat sisiw ang hinihingi niyang bayad sa bawat tulang ipinapasulat o ipinaaayos sa kanya ng mga binata para sa kanilang mga nililigawan. Isa sa mga “suki” ni Huseng Sisiw ay si Kiko, na minsa’y tinanggihan ni Huseng Sisiw nang di ito makapagbayad ng hinihinging sisiw. Mula noon, hindi na muling nagpaayos ng tula si Kiko na mula noon ay nag-aral nang sumulat ayon sa sariling istilo.
Sa kasamaang-palad, nakaagaw ni Balagtas sa pag-ibig ni Maria Asuncion ang isang mayamang binata, si Mariano Capule, na gumamit ng kapangyarihan ng salapi upang maipakulong si Balagtas sa maling bintang. Isang gabi, pagkagaling sa bahay ng dalaga, bigla na lamang dinampot ng mga guwardiya sibil si Balagtas at ikinulong.
Sinasabing sa loob ng bilangguan hinabi ang Florante at Laura. Maaring itinulak ang makata ng pangungulila sa dalagang minamahal at ng tinitimping poot sa kanyang kaapihan upang makalikha ng isang tulang naglalarawan sa kalupitang pinamamayani ng mga Kastila sa nasasakupang mga Pilipino. Ayon na rin sa makata: “Itong di matiis na pagdaralita ang siyang umakay na ako’y tumula.”
Sinasabi ring pagkalabas sa bilangguan, ipinalathala ng makata ang Florante noong 1838. Noong 1840, lumipat si Balagtas sa Bataan. Humawak siya rito ng iba’t-ibang tungkulin sa pamahalaan. Dito niya nakilala ang magandang si Juana Tiambeng, na taga-Orion at bata sa kanya ng maraming taon. Ikinasal ang dalawa noong 1842. Labing-isa ang naging anak nila: limang lalaki at anim na babae.
Muling nabilanggo si Balagtas dahil sa sumbong ng katulong na babae ni Alferez Lucas. Di umano’y pinutulan niya ito ng buhok, na nang panahong iyon ay karaniwang parusa sa mga babaing may nagawang pagkakasala. Noon, malaking bagay ang pagputol sa buhok ng babae. Anim na buwang nakulong sa piitan ng Balanga si Balagtas; pagkaraan, nalipat siya sa Bilibid sa Maynila. Nakalaya siya noong 1868, matapos mabilanggo nang halos apat na taon.
Namatay siya noong 1862. Bago namatay, nakasulat siya ng mahigit sandaang dula, komedya, awit at korido. Sa kasamaang palad, nasunog ang marami sa mga ito nang magkasunod sa Udyong noong 1892.
Books of Francisco Baltazar:
Books of Francisco Baltazar:
► Florante at Laura click here
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