[Article] Ang Ama ng Balagtasan

Francisco Balagtas

“Ama ng Balagtasan”

Francisco Balagatas was born on April 2, 1788 in Bigga, Bulacan in the Philippines. He was died on February 20, 1862 at age of 73. His father was named, Juan Balagtas and his mother was named, Juana Balagtas. Donya Trinidad who was the one help Francisco or Kiko in attend in Colegio De San Jose. He achieves the Gramatica Castellana, Gramatica Latina, Geografia at Fisica, and Doctrina Chritiana. Magdalena Ana Ramos was the first lover of Francisco Balagtas. The popular Filipino debate form Balagtasan is named after Balagtas. Balagtas also won an award during his schooldays and graduated valedictorian in Madrid. He was recognized by the Pahayagang Kastilyano (Spanish Declaration) and became the front cover for two weeks. Maria Asuncion Rivera “Selya” the one who got the heart of the Father of all Makatas. When Kiko was happily in love with Maria there was a man named, Nanong Kapule. He was the man who put Kiko in the prison and make Maria to be his wife. When Kiko was in jail he wrote the Florante at Laura. After few years Kiko was release from prison and make love with Juana Tiambeng. He was married with Tiambeng at age of 54. 

(Achievements)

 

    Francisco Baltazar was born into a poor household; his father worked as a blacksmith. Despite this, Francisco Baltazar obtained an excellent education owing to his parents' efforts and his own desire to learn. He was educated in the famous San Juan de Letran Manila school and subsequently at the Colegio San José in the same city, where he studied Canon law, humanities, and philosophy while also working as a servant to help pay for his education. He was a student of Mariano Pilápil and José de la Cruz, the latter of whom was also known as José Sisiw, and who inspired him as a result of his literary career. He was born in the Manilense region of Pandacan (1835), where he fell in love and married Mara Asunción Rivera; his feelings for her inspired some of his most exquisite lines, just as his later rupture infused a deep sadness in his poetry. He left Manila in 1840, disillusioned with city life, and settled in the town of Balanga (Bataan), where he held different posts in the local administration. He subsequently moved to Orión, locality where he/she married again with Juana Tiambeng, with whom he had seven children. Facing the local Cacique power, in 1856 it was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to prison, being released four years later.

Baltazars work, dubbed the "King of the Tagalog Poets," is a representative of a continuing popular literature of local traditions in terms of form, with the usage of the Tagalog language and the structure of the run, but its subject matter is completely contemporary. His lyrics reflect dissatisfaction with the Philippines' colonial enslavement and condemn the Spaniards' oppressive government. Florante and Laura, his most renowned composition, is a masterful poetic depiction of the Filipino people's spirit of resistance against injustice. The content of these lines is implicit, maybe to avoid issues with the legal system: the nation alluded to is Albania. Baltazar addressed the topic of racial segregation, one of the Society Islands' core issues, in the love bold and stylish Filipina - next to the former the only one of his poems translated into English. The poems devoted to the reader and to Celia, the latter in honor of his first love, are his most well-known works. He was also thought to be the author of a large number of plays, while in fact he/she only wrote a few.

In developing his masterpiece; Francisco Baltazar became a very well-known and highly regarded poet not only because he had a gift for words but also because he associated with individuals who helped him hone his craft.

Two people that would influence Baltazar’s development as a poet were Dr. Mariano Pilapil who helped Baltazar develop his writing style. José de la Cruz (Joseng Sisiw), one of the most famous poets from the Tondo district of Manila, challenged Baltazar to always produce quality work. As Baltazar developed his writing style, he would submit his pieces to a number of different venues in order to continue improving his writing, while simultaneously gaining status as a quality poet and debater. His Legacy was continued very well. When considering the biography of Francisco Baltazar it is very important to acknowledge his legacy as one of the best Filipino poets in history. Baltazar is also known for writing his poems in Tagalog instead of Spanish to show resistance to Spanish rule. While his poetry was very influential, Baltazar would also hold other prestigious positions, which included being appointed as the translator of the courts, serving as assistant to the Justice of the Peace and serving as Major Lieutenant.

Baltazar's success as a poet has an ironic twist to it. Baltazar abandoned his ability for writing on his deathbed, saying that he did not want his children to follow in his footsteps and become poets because it had brought him and his family so much misery. He even went so far as to imply that cutting off their hands would be preferable to pursuing a career as a writer.

Despite Baltazar’s renunciation, he is highly regarded as a poet and writer and there is school named after him as well as a plaza and a park which feature the names of the characters in "Florante at Laura" as street names.

Summary of Florante at Laura (Tagalog Version)

    Sa isang gubat na madilim at mapanglaw sa may dakong labas ng Albanyà, malapit sa ilog Kositong, makamandag'ang tubig ay may isang lalaking nakagapos sa puno ng higera at kung titingnan ay kahabag-habag dahil să sinapit nitong masamang, kapalaran. Si Florante na ngayon ay puno ng hinagpis at pighati ay ginugunita ang mga alaala nya kay Laura. Mga masasakit na alaala , ang pagtataksil ni Laura, ang pagkasawi ng kanyang amang si Buke Briseo at ang kalunoslunos na kalagayan ng bayan nyang mahal ang lalong nagpapahirap sa kanya. Sa hindi sinasadyang pagkakataon, may isang Moro na naglalakad sa gubat. Narinig niya ang isang kaawa-awang tinig at agad pinuntahan ang pinanggagalingan nito. Sa pagdating ng Moro, agad na bumungad ang dalawang mababangis na leon na tila handa nang kainin ang kaawa-awang si Florante. Pinatay ng Moro ang mababangis na hayop na ito at pagkatapos ay kinalag ang taling nakagapos kay Florante. Hindi ito iniwan ng Moro ,sa halip ay inalagaan nya ang kaawa-awang si Florante.

    Nang lumakas na si Florante ay isinalaysay nito sa Moro ang kanyang buhay mula sa kanyang pagkabata. Isinalaysay nya kung paano siya muntik nang madagit ng isang buwitre,mabuti na lamang ay agad siyang nailigtas ng kanyang pinsan na nagngangalang Menalipo na taga-Epiro; Kung paano kinuha ng isang arkon ang kupidong dyamante mula sa kanyang dibdib. Isinalaysay din ni Florante kung paano siya ipinadala ng kanyang ama na si Duke Briseo sa Atenas upang mag-aral sa ilalim ng kanyang guro na si Antenor; Kung paano siya iniligtas ni Menandro mula sa mga taga ng kaaway niyang si Adolfo noong sila ay nagtatanghal sa isang dula; Kung paano niya nakuha ang isang liham na nagsasaad ng pagkamatay ng kanyang ina na si Prinsesa Floresca. Isinalaysay din niya kung paano siya nagbalik sa Albanya kasama si Menandro ang matalik niyang kaibigan, Ang pagpaslang niya kay Heneral Osmalik, Ang tagumpay niya sa labing pitong kaharian at ang pagtalo niya sa hukbong Turko ni Miramolin na lumusob sa Albanya. Tinapos niya ang pagsasalaysay sa pagkuha ni Adolfo sa trono ng Albanya at ang pag-agaw sa kanyang minamahal na si Laura hanggang sapitin niya ang masamang kalagayan sa gubat. Nagpakilala ang Moro bilang si Aladin, isang kaaway ng mahigpit ng relihiyon at bayang kinabibilangan ni Fiorante. Katulad ng malagim na sinapit ni Florante ay inagaw din ng kanyang ama na si Ali-Adab ang pinakamamahal niyang si Flerida kaya nilisan niya ang kanilang kaharian.

 Sa hindi kalayuan sa kagubatan ay may narinig si Florante at Aladin na tila pamilyar na boses. Agad nilang tinungo ito upang malaman ang pinanggagalingan ng tinig. Sa hindi inaasahan ay nakita nila sina Laura at Flerida. Tila walang kalagyan ang kanilang kaligayahan dahil muli na nilang namasdan ang kanilang minamahal. Isinaad ni Laura ang kalunos-lunos na sinapit ng kanilang kaharian at ang pagkamatay ng kanyang ama dahil sa kasamaan ni Adolfo. Samantalang si Flerida ay umalis naman ng Persya upang hanapin ang pinakamamahal niyang si Aladin. Sa kanilang paglalakbay ay nakita ni Flerida si Laura na tila balak gahasain ni Adolfo. Iniligtas ni Flerida si Laura gamit ang pang at palaso. Sa ganoon ay nabatid ning Florante at Aladin na ang kani-kanilang mga katipan ay pawang tapat sa kanila.

References:

Francisco-Balagtas.https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/francisco-baltazar-biography.html

Baltazar-Francisco. https://thebiography.us/en/baltazar-francisco

Ginoon-Laya.Florante-at-Laura-(buod).January-18-2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCIAnUBBXxg

Gramática castellana – Vikipedio. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Antonio_de_Nebrija_Introductiones_latinae_1550.jpg

Gramática latina (Spanish Edition): Votsch, W.: 9788497613255: Amazon.com: Books. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q9XtmT7fL._SX352_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Geografia física: Günther, Siegmund: Amazon.com: Books. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51W5CNgcK-L._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Doctrina Christiana – Wikipedia. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Doctrina-cristiana.jpg

Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas. https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537423914l/41859549._SY475_.jpg