Did you know: Gabriel Beato Francisco

Today, March 18, is the 164th birth anniversary of Tagalog novelist Gabriel Beato Francisco. Born in Sampaloc, Manila, in 1850, Francisco is the author of the first published Tagalog novel titled “Cababalaghan ni P. Bravo” which was serialized in “Ang Kapatid ng Bayan” in 1899. He died on Dec. 19, 1935.—Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research