Francisco Baltasar (Balagtas)

Ang kumatha ng walang kamatayang “Florante at Laura” na si Francisco Baltasar o Balagtas ay mula sa isang maralitang angkan sa nayon ng Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan. Siya’y ipinanganak noong Abril 2, 1788. Anak siya nina Juana dela Cruz at Juan Baltasar.

Siya’s may pambihirang katalinuhan. Sa gulang na labing-isang taon ay iniluwas siya sa Maynila ng kanyang mga magulang upang sa ilalim ng anumang kaparaanan ay makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral.

Sa Tundo, si Francisco ay nabantog sa pagiging makata. Dito rin niya nakilala ang balitang si Huseng Sisiw, na masasabing unang pinagparangalan ng kanyang mga kinathang awit bago limbagin.

Nanirahan din siya sa Pandakan. Dito niya nakilala si Selya o Maria Asuncion Rivera. Hindi napangasawa ni Francisco si Selya at ang pangingibig niya rito’y nagbunga ng kanyang pagkabilanggo dahil sa mga maling paratang.

Sa Bataan, si Francisco ay humawak ng mga tungkuling kinikilala at pinagpipitagan ng bayan nang panahon yaon. Namatay si Francisco Baltasar noong Pebrero 20, 1862, sa gulang na 74 na taon. Ang kaniyang pagkamatay ay dinamdam at ipinagluksa ng buong bayan.

Ang karamihan sa mga sinulat ni Baltasar ay tungkol sa aping kalagayan ng Pilipinas noon. Ang pinakabantog sa mga ito’y ang kanyang “Florante at Laura,” isang nobelang patula tungkol sa isang kaharian sa Europa, at di-tuwirang tumatalakay sa kahabag-habag na kalagayan ng bansang ito noong panahon ng mga Kastila.

Ani Mariano Ponce, “Si Balagtas ang prinsipe ng mga makatang Tagalog.” Sinabi ni Dr. Jose Rizal nang tukuyin ang walang-kamatayang awit ni Balagtas, “Ang Florante at Laura ay isang katha sa wikang Tagalog na lumusog at dumingal.”

Pagpapasalamat
Ang talambuhay ni Francisco Baltasar (Balagtas) na nakalathala dito ay hango sa aklat na pinamagatang Pilipino I – Sining at Husay sa Kumunikasyong Pilipino ng Philippine Book Company. / webmaster rc, 22 August 1999 -  Emanila Team

Francisco Baltasar (Balagtas)

No other works of a Filipino has been as popularly immortalised as the Florante at Laura of Francisco Baltasar, a Tagalog poet known as Balagtas. Passages from his poem are often quoted by Filipino parents and elders for their moral influence on children.

Balagtas was born in the barrio of Panginay, in Bigaa, Bulacan, on April 2, 1788. He was the youngest child of Juan Balagtas, a blacksmith, and Juana dela Cruz. He learned his cartilla, caton, trisagio, and the religious mysteries from the parochial school of Bigaa. His parents were so poor that at the age of 11, he was sent to Tondo, Manila, to work as a houseboy and enable him to study further.

Nothing was known of him until the age of 24, when he enrolled at the Colegio de San Jose. He studied ecclesiastical law, the humanities, theology and philosophy. He had as his mentor the famous professor, Father Mariano Pilapil, author of religious books in Tagalog. Finishing his courses, he continued his studies at the San Juan de Letran College.

From Tondo, he moved to Pandacan, Manila, in 1835. Having started to become a poet, here he met, ‘Celia’, who was Maria Asuncion Rivera, the inspiration for his future successes. His rival for her hand caused him to be put to jail and there, many believed, he spend his time creating his masterpiece, the famous Florante at Laura. Upon his release, he was appointed an auxilliary justice of the peace of Bataan. He won the affection of a pretty, rich woman, Juana Tiambeng, whom he married on July 22, 1842. They had 11 children, seven of whom died before 1906.

Baltasar became teniente mayor of Orion, and a juez de mayor desementeras. But one time, being accused of shearing the head of a rich man’s maidservant, he was placed in jail in Bataan and, later, in the Bilibid Prison, Manila. During his second incarceration, he devoted his time to the writing of many moro-moro plays until 1860, when he was released.

Returning to Orion, Bataan, he continued writing poetry and engaged himself in translating Spanish documents until his death on February 20, 1862.

Acknowledgment
We thank the officers and researchers of the National Historical Institute, Manila for this piece. Thanks also to Mr Renato Perdon for taking the time to send this to us. Mr Perdon is a professional translator, author, and historian. / webmaster rc 220899 – Emanila Team