Francisco Baltazar, was a prominent poet, widely considered as the Tagalog equivalent of William Shakespeare for his impact on Filipino literature.

FRANCISCO BALTAZAR

Baltazar, (known much more widely through his nom-de-plume Francisco Balagtas) wrote his poems in Tagalog, during an age when Filipino writing was predominantly written in Spanish.

The famous epic, Florante at Laura, is regarded as his defining work. In 1835 he met Maria Asuncion Rivera, who would effectively serve as his muse for future works. She is referenced in Florante at Laura as 'Celia' and 'MAR'. Balagtas' affections for Celia were challenged by the influential Mariano Capule. Capule won the battle for Celia when he used his wealth to get Balagtas imprisoned. It was here that he wrote Florante at Laura (the events of this poem were meant to parallel his own situation) which was published upon his release in 1838.

2 April 1788

to 20 February 1862