CITY OF MALOLOS—– Malacañang has declared April 2, this year’s 230th birth anniversary of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, as a non-working holiday in Bulacan province.
The province’s Lenten holiday weekend has been extended until Monday through Proclamation No. 454 signed on Mar. 20 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, which recognized the poet’s influence on contemporary literature. “It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Bulacan be given full opportunity to celebrate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation read.
Baltazar is known as the “Prinsipe ng Manunulang Tagalog (prince of Tagalog poets),” and has been remembered for writing the epic, “Florante at Laura.”
The renowned poet hails from Barangay (village) Panginay in Balagtas town (formerly Bigaa). A duel by verse, which was a popular community pastime decades ago, was referred to as the “balagtasan.”
On Monday, the Balagtas municipal government will hold a Mass, to be followed by a wreath laying activity at the monument of Baltazar in front of the municipal hall. /muf