ORION, Bataan — The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in coordination with the provincial government of Bataan celebrated the 231st birth anniversary of the Prince of Tagalog Poets Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar in simple but colorful ceremony here Tuesday.
Activities were held first at the Hardin ni Balagtas in Barangay Wawa and later at the Pambansang Kampong Balagtas in the Orion Elementary School.
Wreaths of flowers were offered at the monument of the poet after a parade from the school to Wawa, a fishing community fronting Manila Bay.
A short program followed at the elementary school where the “Makata ng Taon” and “Dangal ni Balagtas” were conferred to five outstanding individuals.
In both occasions, the Aetas of the Magbukon Tribe of Abucay, Bataan were on center stage. Members of the Magbukon choir rendered songs in the Ayta language while some children performed Aeta dances.
Virgilio Almario, KWF chair, said an Aeta was one of the main characters in one of the sonnets of Baltazar. He urged the audience to read “La india Elegante y El Negrito Amante.”
He said that the place of the story was Udyong, how Orion used to be called, and the main character, a Kapitan Tuning, an Aeta from Magbukun.
“Panahon pa ng Kastila nakita na ni Balagtas na nagsa-suffer ang ating mga kapatid na Ayta sa racial discrimination at yan ang paksa ng saynete,” Almario said. “Ito ang dahilan kung bakit inimbitahan natin ngayon ang ating mga kapatid na Ayta ng Magbukun.”
He announced that UNESCO has declared 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. He said that modernization contributes to the decline in use of local language. “Nanganganib maglaho,” he said.
“Ang kadakilaan ni Balagtas kung tutuusin ay may hamon sa atin na hindi lamang pumunta dito sa hardin ni Balagtas tuwing April 2. Ang hamon sa atin ay basahin ang mga aklat niya ng mabuti at mag-umpisa tayo sa maikling La India Elegante Y El Negrito,” he said.
In the same rites, MJ Cagumbay Tumanac of General Santos City was adjudged “Makata ng Taon 2019” for his poem “Mga Mungkahi ng Pagdanas ng Dahas sa Maitum.”
Fr. Arnel Samson of the Transfiguracion parish in Antipolo City got the second prize for his “May Nakakatawa ba Sakaling May Mamatay: At Iba pang Tula”.
For the poem “Ang Dulok: Gunita ng Tubig,” Richard Gappi of Angono, Rizal received the third prize.
Since 1963, the Talaang Ginto of KWF has recognized high-caliber old and new Filipino poets.
Singer, composer Rey Valera and theater director Rody Vera received the “Dangal ni Balagtas” award.
Valera sang some of his songs to the cheering of the audience. Vera was not able to come to receive his award.
The great Filipino poet’s birthday marked the start of the observance of “Buwan ng Panitikan” in the Philippines.
