FRANCISCO BALAGTAS Ang Hari ng Balagtasang Pinoy (The King of Filipino Poets) (1788-1862)


Francisco Balagtas was born in Panginay, Bigaa (now Balagtas), Bulacan on April 2,1788 to Juan Balagtas and Juana de la Cruz. He was also called Francisco Baltazar or Kikong Balagtas. He was married to Juana Tiambeng of Orion, Bataan by whom he had seven children. Even as a boy, Kiko was a lover of beauty. He loved to watch the green country and hear the rustling of the leaves. He could see "stars" in the sparks caused by the pounding of his father, a blacksmith. He could hear music in the sound of horses' shoes. Even as a boy too, Kiko could sense that there were injustices in his country and that his countrymen were suffering in the hands of the Spanish rulers. He could feel something was wrong, but could not fully understand why. He came to understand these when as a young man he fell in love with Celia, a love which brought trouble to his life. He was put to prison by his strong rival who was the town cacique. He depicted the injustices his people suffered in his poems, notably "Florante at Laura" (Florante and Laura in Pilipino).