Did you know: First Balagtasan

The first Balagtasan, a debate in verse, was held on April 6, 1924. Conceptualized as part of the celebration of the birth anniversary of Francisco Baltazar, or Balagtas, it was held at the Instituto de Mujeres (Women’s Institute) in Tondo, Manila. Two of the protagonists at the Balagtasan were poets Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng Batute) and Florentino Collantes. Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research