MALOLOS CITY –
It’s a long weekend for Bulakenyos due to the declaration of Monday,
April 2, 2012 as a special non-working holiday in Bulacan in observance of the
224th birth anniversary of the prominent poet and orator Gat Francisco Baltazar
also known as Balagtas.
The said announcement is pursuant to the Provincial
Ordinance No.C-004 also known as “An Ordinance Enacting the New Provincial
Administrative Code of Bulacan”, Chapter II, Section 27, The Provincial Legal
Holidays and Proclamation No. 355, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa,
Jr. by authority of President Benigno Aquino III dated March 27, 2012.
“Sama-sama nating gunitain ang araw ng kanyang pagsilang sa
pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa kanyang mga kontribusyon hindi lamang sa lalawigan
kundi sa buong bansa," Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said.
Baltazar was born in Panginay, Balagtas (formerly Bigaa),
Bulacan on April 2, 1788 to Juan Baltazar, a blacksmith, and Juana de la Cruz.
Called Prince of Tagalog Poets for his impact on Filipino Literature
equivalent of William Shakespeare, he became famous on his epic Florante at
Laura.
The popular Filipino debate form Balagtasan was named after
Balagtas and he was recognized and became the front cover for two weeks of the
Pahayagang Kastilyano, a Spanish publication. (PPAO)
