Talambuhay ni Francisco Balagtas

Francisco Balagtas

Francisco Balagtas (Abril 2, 1788—Pebrero 20, 1862) who is more famously called Francisco Baltazar. He is considered as one of the greatest Filipino poet. Florante at Laura is his masterpiece that inspired and touched the heart and soul of the reader. 

He was born in Panginay, a small town in Bigaa, Bulacan (now called Balagtas) on Abril 2, 1788. He was the youngest among the four children of Juan Baltazar and Juana dela Cruz. 

He was just eleven years years when he was brought to Tondo, Manila. Because of his nature of being hardworking, Balagtas became a helper of Donya Trining, a rich relative of his. Because of his dedication and dedication to his job, Donya Trining was very fond  of him. Donya Trining sent him to Colegio de San Juan de Letran at Colegio de San Jose to finish his study. In 1812  he finished his law degree, Canones, Gramatica Castilla, Gramatica Latin, Pisika, Doctrina Cristiana, Humanidades, Teologia at Pilosopia at the age 24. 

Francisco Baltazar was called as "Prinsipe ng mga Manunulang Pilipino" and considered as  "Filipino William Shakespeare."

He learned to write poems from Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw) who was the famous poet in Tondo, Manila. Jose dela Cruz was a great inspiration for Balagtas to write good poems and masterpices. And Balagtas later became well-known and celebrated poet in the field of literature.

Francisco Balagtas's Literature Works:

• Florante at Laura
• Alamansor at Rosalinda 
• La India elegante y el negrito amante
•  Nudo gordeano 
• Rodolfo at Rosemonda 
• Don Nuño at Selinda 
• Claus (translated into Tagalog from Latin) 
• Bayaceto at Dorslica 
• Clara Belmore 
• Abdol at Misereanan 
• Orosmán at Zafira 
• Auredato at Astrome 
• Mahomet at Constanza 

In 1835, he moved to Pandakan, and here he met Maria Asuncion Rivera. She was beautiful lady that became an inspiration for Balagtas. She was nicknamed "Selya" and MAR of Balagtas in his masterpice Florante at Laura.

Mariano Kapule is his rival of the love for Maria Asuncion Rivera. Nanong Capule used his influence and money to defeat Balagtas. Caoule brought Balagtas to prison and there he wrote Florante at Laura.

He imprisoned again because of the accusation of the lady, that Balagtas cut her hair. He was released in 1860. He continued to write comedy, songs at choirs. 

Francisco Balagtas lived and died with his wife, Juana Tiambing and eleven children  on February 20, 1862 at the age of 74.