Bataan governor extols heroic deeds of Francisco Balagtas

ORION, Bataan – Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia yesterday extolled the heroic deeds of  the Prince of Tagalog poets, Francisco Balagtas, through his patriotic  writings in voicing out his opposition against the Spanish administration during the simple ceremonies  transferring, the great poet’s ashes from San Miguel Church to Hardin ni  Balagtas in the coastal village of Wawa, here.

Governor Garcia has stressed the provincial government joins the nation this day in celebrating Balagtas Day, on his 230^th birthday where he resided, worked, raised a family and died.

Malacanang, through Proclamation 458 has declared Monday (April 2, 2018) as a special non-working holiday in the province of Bataan to commemorate the birth of Francisco Balagtas, considered as the Prince of Tagalog Poets.

His never-ending contributions as a folk poet and court translator of enriching Tagalog arts and cultures were indicatives of Balagtas unwavering dedication of promoting the native language.

Francisco Balagtas was born on April 2, 1788, in Barrio Panginay, Balagtas (formerly “Bigaa”), Bulacan, as the youngest of the four children of Juan Baltazar, a blacksmith and Juana de la Cruz. He was baptized on April 30 that same year. He studied Canon Law, Philosophy, Latin, and the Classics in Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Colegio de San Jose. He finished school in 1812.

Only 3 of Balagtas’ works survived complete and intact to this day. Out of the three, “Florante at Laura” is considered Balagtas’ defining work and is a cultural touchstone for the Philippines

Balagtas published “Florante at Laura” upon his release from prison in 1838. He moved to Balanga Bataan, in 1840 where he served as the assistant to the Justice of the Peace. He was also appointed as the translator of the court. He married Juana Tiambeng on July 22, 1842, in a ceremony officiated by Fr. Cayetano Arellano, uncle of future Chief Justice,Supreme Court of the Philippines Chief Justice Arellano had eleven children but only four survived to adulthood.

He sold his land and all of his riches, in order for him to be imprisoned in 1861, and continued writing poetry, along with translating Spanish documents, but a year later, he died on February 20, 1862, at the age of 73. Upon his deathbed, he asked a favor that none of his children become poets like him, who had suffered under his gift as well as under others. He even went as far as to tell them it would be better to cut their hands off than let them be writers