Who’s Who in Bataan – FRANCISCO DELA CRUZ BALTAZAR

FRANCISCO DELA CRUZ BALTAZAR (1788-1862) was the author of the much-acclaimed Tagalog epic “Florante at Laura.”

Born in Bigaa, Bulacan on April 2, 1788 to parents Juan Baltazar and Juana dela Cruz, Baltazar was baptized on April 3 of the same year. It is said that he learned to write poetry from Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw), one of the most famous poets of Tondo, Manila.

In 1835, Baltazar moved to Pandacan where he met Maria Asuncion Rivera who reportedly became his inspiration in writing the ‘Florante at Laura” epic while in prison. The book was only published after his release from prison.

In 1840,Francisco Baltazar became an auxiliary clerk to the residential judge of Balanga named Don Victor Figueroa. It was in Orion where he met and later married a mestiza lady named Juana Tiambeng, the daughter of Don Juan Tiambeng and Dona Dominga Rodriguez.

The civil wedding was solemnized by Fr. Cayetano Arellano (an uncle of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano). The Baltazar couple had 11 children: five boys and six girls named Isabel, Silveria, Victor, Ceferino and Josefa, to name a few.

It was also in Orion where he became involved in the ‘fight for freedom’ from the Spaniards. He joined a secret society of rebels and served as a major lieutenant.

Francisco Baltazar’s son, Victor Baltazar,was the one who formed and led a Katipunan unit in Orion during the last years of Spanish domination. After freeing the town from the Spaniards, he joined the liberation of Balanga, Abucay, Samal and Orani.

Though a Bulakeno, it was also in Orion where Francisco Baltazar received his inspiration in writing his other masterpieces: Mahomet at Constanza (1841), Almanzor y Rosalina, Orosoman at Zafira, Don Nuno y Zelinda, La India Elegante y el Negrito Amante (asonnet), Hatol Hari Kaya? (a kundiman), Parangal sa Isang Binibining Ikakasal (a poem), Paalam sa Iyo (a song), Rodolfo at Rosamunda (a comedy), Pagpuri kay San Miguel (a poem translated into a song), Pagpupuri kay Isabel II, Reyna ng Espana (a poem), Auredato y Astrone (a comedy), Nudo Gordiano (a comedy), Abdal y Miserena (a comedy), Clara Belmori (a comedy). Baltazar also published his El Ensayo de Gramatica Hispano-Tagala in 1878.

Also known as the prince of Tagalog poets, he continued writing poetry until his death in Orion in 1862 at the age of 74. Barangay Balagtas in Orion was named after him. Also, April 2 is regularly celebrated as Balagtas Day, a special public holiday in Orion.

Editor’s Note:

Last year, a bronze statue of Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, done by renowned sculptor Julie Lluch, was unveiled at the Hardin ni Balagtas in Brgy. Wawa in Orion in observance of the poet’s 227th birthday.

Historical records showed that his eldest grandson, Primitivo Baltazar became a parish priest of Orion while two other grandsons Luis and Jose Baltazar became the first and 13th mayors of the town, respectively. Balagtas has a surviving great granddaughter, 97-year old Ligaya Baltazar vda de Guzman.

The poet was born with the surname Balagtas but changed it to Baltazar after a Spanish governor-general ordered Filipinos to adopt Hispanic names from a master list.

Records also showed that Balagtas worked as “escribano” or the equivalent of a secretary at the Catholic church in Orion and as clerk of court in Balanga.