Francisco Baltazar

“ Hari ng Makatang Tagalog”

Francisco Baltazar

(April 2, 1788—February 20, 1862) “Hari ng Makatang Tagalog”

Francisco Balagtas

EARLY LIFE

Born in Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan on April 2, 1788

•PARENTS:-Juan Baltazar, a blacksmith, and Juana dela Cruz

•“Kiko”•3 siblings: Felipe, Concha,

and Nicholasa•Wife: Juana Tiambeng

Family

•1799 -he moved to Tondo, Manila•Doña Trinidad

•Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Colegio de

San Jose•Jose de la Cruz (or

Huseng Sisiw)

The Flowering of His Career

•Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw)

-The person who taught him how to write poems.• In 1835- he met Maria

Asuncion Rivera.

Mariano Capule- rich man who had been Francisco’s rival in Maria Asuncion Rivera’s heart -he used his wealth and influence to send Balagtas to jail

-he then married Rivera which caused Balagtas great anguish

Juana Tiambeng-a well-off mestiza who was a native of Orion, Bataan

-she financed the publication of Balagtas’ masterpiece at the Colegio de Santo Tomas press.-she married Balagtas in 1842 and they had 11 children

1849-he chose the surname Baltazar when Governor-General

Narcisco Claveria ordered every Filipino to adopt native names from a mater list

1856-he was appointed as translator of the court

-he continued to reside in Orion where he was incarcerated for the second time

-the victim sued in court and demanded remuneration

-Baltazar paid damages by selling their properties which made the family suffer financially

WORKS

• A true child of Hispanic Philippines • master of both Tagalog

and Spanish• produced Tagalog writings

full of native, Spanish and foreign literary allusions and inspiration.

• caught in two cultures –he could switch codes

• His narrative poem Florante at Laura written in sublime Tagalog, is about tyranny in Albania

• His verse plays were performed to the motley crowd

• His poems were sung by the literate for the benefit of the unlettered

• Tempo newspaper –wrote on Baltazar’s anniversary:

“The era when Baltazar lived was already dominated by European ideals and practices….”

• Moro, Corido, And Pasyon -dominated Philippine literary works• Florante at Laura 

–became the first Filipino literary piece

• Work –became a tool against evil and a means to educate his

people.

• His insertion of the saying

“ Sa loob at labas ng kaharian kong sawi, kaliluhan ang naghahari”

Or “Evil reigns throughout

my unfortunate land”

He also included adages like: “Ang laki sa layaw karaniwa’y hubad” or “ Spare the rod, spoil the child”

• Through Florante at Laura, –he laid the foundations of a new literary traditions in the Philippines, one that was not subservient to colonial models, that expressed the people’s own feelings and sentiments

-Considered as an awit- genre:

fantastic/chivalric-heroic

themes

• 1838 -was published• Pinagdaanang Buhay ni

Florante at ni Laura sa Cahariang Albania –

Quinuha sa Madlang Cuadro Historico o Pinturang

Nagsasabi nang manga Nangyari nang unang

Panahon sa Imperio nang Grecia – at Tinula nang

isang Matouian sa Versong Tagalog

CHARACTERS

• Florante - son of the second in command of the Kingdom of Albania• Laura - daughter of King Linceus• Aladdin - the son of Sultan Ali-Adab of Persia• Flerida - a Muslim princess

• Antenor- Florante’s teacher• Adolfo – Florante’s rival with

Laura• Menandro- Florante’s friend• Heneral Osmalik- Persian

general• Miramolin-acclaimed conqueror• Sultan Ali-Adab –father of

Aladdin

The end