lessons on first aid and martial arts, among other things, and featured cultural presentations and discussions on the importance of Balagtas’s life and legacy. During its opening, the winners of Talaang Ginto: Makata ng Taon and Gawad Dangal ni Balagtas were declared. Freelance writer Christian Ray Pilares was honored as Makata ng Taon in the poetry contest in Filipino for his poem “Pingkian,” while Michael Jude Cagumbay Tumamac placed second for “Pananaginip kay Tud Bulul” and Francisco Arias Montesena third for “Bahagdan, Walang Sukat ang Bayaning Kabataan.” Rogelio Mangahas, known as part of a triumvirate that ushered in the second movement in Modernism in poetry in Filipino, was given the lifetime achievement award. Literary events for the rest of the month included Tertulya sa Tula: Isang Hapon ng mga Makata ng Taon every Monday at the KWF headquarters, where audiences had the opportunity to interact with the Makata ng Taon winners. Meanwhile, the Filipino poets’ group Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) conducted the Lakbay-Panitik para kay Emilio Jacinto in Majayjay, Laguna, in celebration of the hero’s death anniversary. On the other hand, Gumil Filipinas (Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas) or Ilokano Writers Association of the Philippines held its 47th national conference at the Cubao Expo in Quezon City with the theme “Ang Papel ng Gumiliano sa Lipunang Ilokano.” (The role of a Gumil member in Ilocano society). LIRA also had a poetry reading program at the Conspiracy Bar in Quezon City, while in Davao City, the Davao Writers’ Guild and Young Davao Writers held Kumbira! which included a poetry reading, an exhibit and a book sale. A poetry reading by the Katig Writers Network was mounted at University of the Philippines Tacloban in Leyte and at the Northwestern State University in Calbayog City, Samar. A Cebuano version of the play The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, called V-Latanay, was staged at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. Some of the activities were educational such as “Tradisyon at Modernidad: Isang Simposyum” of the University of Santo Tomas’s Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, and a translation seminar for teachers at the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City. The Old Tagalog abugida or baybayin was the focus of a summit in Lingayen, Pangasinan, from April 9 to 11, participated in by teachers, scholars, researchers and students, tackling the issue of introducing the abugida into the school curriculum. On the other hand, the Ortograpiyang Pambansa, KWF Manwal sa
Masinop na Pagsulat, and Korespondensiya Opisyal was tackled at the Uswag Filipino!, an annual seminar-workshop on language and literature for teachers, at the Bulacan State University. The Klasrum Adarna session for teachers tackled “Pagtuturo ng Noli at Fili/Ibong Adarna” in Makati City while the “Folk on Badiw: Ibaloy Legacy to Poetry and Music” was held at the University of the Philippines in Baguio City with National Artist for music Ramon Santos as guest of honor. Also in Baguio City, the Kapisanan ng mga Superbisor at Guro sa Filipino (Kasugufil) mounted the Pambansang Kongreso sa Wikang Filipino. The Pambansang Araw ng Gawad sa KWF Timpalak Uswag Darepdep , a contest of the KWF for 12 to 17-year-old aspiring writers writing in different Philippine languages was opened. This year, language categories open for competition are Ilocano, Cebuano, Bicol and Mëranaw. The month also abounded in writing workshops. Ateneo de Manila University’s Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices held the High Fantasy and Young Adult Writing Workshop every Saturday of the month while the Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center of the De La Salle University held the Young Writers Workshop for very young children with literary inclinations. The Manila Times College in Intramuros, Manila conducted a literary journalism workshop with veterans that included critic and playwright Dr. Isagani Cruz. From April 26 to 28, the Iyas National Writers Workshop of the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod was held in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. On April 23, the National Book Development Board spearheaded the celebration of the National Book and Copyright Day. The Holy Week is not the only occasion that provides spirituality, reflection and meaningfulness during this season popularly known for excursions and beaches. With the newly declared Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino or National Literature Month, April in the Philippines will be a more enriching and soulful time. “Mas malalaki at bonggang uri ng mga gawain,” (Bigger and spectacular activities) promised Torralba on future celebrations. “Noong huling meeting sa NCCA, nakaiisip na ng ilang malalaking gawain para sa susunod na taong pagdiriwang. Nariyan ang mga pagkakaroon ng mga pambansang timpalak sa mga tradisyonal na anyo ng panitikan ng bansa gaya ng timpalak sa balagtasan, tigsik, ambahan, balitao, etc. Isa ding mungkahi ay ang pagkakaroon ng Gawad Alab Panitikan. Siyempre, ninanais na buong bansa o karamihan ng mga sektor, institusyon, o organ-
FRANCISCO “BALAGTAS” BALTAZAR
Francsico “Balagtas” Baltazar is widely considered as the Prince of Tagalog Poets because of his masterpiece, the metrical romance Florante at Laura. He is also considered to have changed the course of literature during the Spanish colonial period. He was admired by both Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio for the outstanding craftsmanship of Florante at Laura. Balagtas’ revolutionary political and social ideas were admired also by them as well as by poets of today. It is very unfortunate that many of Balagtas’ awit and komedya were destroyed when his home in Bataan burned down, save for one saynete, La india elegante y el negrito amante. The manuscript of the komedya Orosman at Zafira was recently discovered, attesting to his immense talent as poet-playwright and showing his advanced political leanings. Balagtas was born on April 2, 1788, in Panginay, Bigaa (now Balagtas), Bulacan, to Juan Balagtas and Juana Cruz. He was sent to relatives in Tondo, Manila, to serve as house help in exchange for education. He attended Colegio de San Jose and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. In Colegio de San Jose, he was listed as “Francisco Baltazar.” This is also the name used in the marriage document when he married Juana Tiambeng in July 22, 1842. There is no clear explanation on the change of surname. In 1835, he fell in love with Maria Asuncion Rivera of a wealthy clan in Pandacan, but the affair did not prosper. “Kay Celia,” the introductory poem of Florante at Laura, was dedicated to her. In Pandacan, Balagtas was incarcerated, the reason of which is still unknown. He was freed on 1838, the year Florante at Laura is said to have been published. Balagtas moved to Udyong (now Orion) in Bataan, where he married Juana Tiambeng and raised eleven children. He was again imprisoned in 1856, following a complaint by a house help whose hair was cut off by Balagtas for unknown reason. The case impoverished the Balagtas family. He was imprisoned in Balanga, Bataan, and was transferred to Tondo, where he wrote many komedyas for Teatro de Tondo from 1857 to 1860. After the imprisonment, he went back Udyong, where he wrote many poems and komedyas until his death in February 20, 1862.