Phlippine Contemporary Writers

Francisco C. Baltazar (Balagtas) ( 1788 - 1862 ) Bibliography Achievements Works / Contributions Bibliography Francisco Baltazar, was born in the barrio of Panginay, Bigaa, and Bulacan on April 2, 1788 to Juan de la Cruz. He was the fourth and youngest of the Balagtas children, the others being Felipe, Concha, and Nicolasa. Francisco obtained his early education at the parochial school of Bigaa, where he was drilled in the cartilla, the prayers and the cathecism. He enrolled at the Colegio de San Jose, where he took up humanities, theology, philosophy, and canon law. He continued his studies at the Colgeio de San Juan de Letran, where he got to be known as a poet, his reputation reinforce by the fact that he wrote love letters and poems for his friends. In truth, many people in Tondo sought him for his simple but beautiful verses. One of his professors in college influenced him to write poetry. He was Dr. Mariano Pilapil, a Latinist and the author of the famous Pasion. During Balagta’s time, Tondo became the favorite rendezvous of many seasoned Tagalog poets. The most renowned among them was Jose de la Cruz, commonly called Huseng Sisiw, whom Balagtas admired. Since they were the best of friends, Balagtas would not hesitate to ask for Jose’s help in editing his youthful work. However, their friendship ended when Balagtas forgot to brin the customary chicken in exchange for his services. This incident marked the beginning of his way to independence as a poet. In 1835, Balagtas transferred to Pandacan, a town of artist, where he lived in the residence of Pedro Sulit. He earned a living by writings awits, corridos, and moro-moros. As a result. His popularity grew not only as a poet but as a dramatist as well. He used to dress in style of those days the barong tagalog-piña embroidered from Hagonoy and pantalones from Baliwag, Bulacan. In his cell, Balagtas lamented the cruelty of his fate. His grief became greater upon hearing of the marriage of his beloved “Celia” to Mariano Capuli. In the loneliness of his imprisonment. He wrote his greatest poem Florante at Laura which He dedicated to “Celia” indicated by her initials, M.A.R. In 1860 an embittered old man of seventy-two, he was released from prison. He returned to Orion and spent the last years of his life writing poetry and copying Spanish documents in order to supports his poor family. On February 20, 1862, Balagtas died on Orion at the age of seventy-four. Shortly before he died, he told his wife. “Don’t ever permit any of our children to became poet.” Two of his sons, however, became poets like him. ^ Achievements In 1840, after his release, Balagtas went to Balanga, Bataan. There he worked as an assistant to a justice of the peace and, later as an assistant to the clerk of court of Don Victor Figueroa. Subsequently, he was appointed head lieutenant of the town and judge of the rice fields. In 1856 Balagtas was appointed translator of the court. By this time, he was using the name Franco Narvaez Baltazar as shown by a record of his oath of office and the signature on it. According to his baptismal certificate, his family name was Balagtas and that of his mother was de la Cruz. He most like adapted the surname Baltazar (paternal) and Naraez (maternal) in 1849 when Governor General Narc iso Claveria decreed that all Filipinos should use Spanish surnames taken from Madrid directory. ^ Works / Contributions Better known by his pen name Balagtas, is the acknowledge ‘Prince of Tagalog Poets,” His masterpiece Florante at Laura is the greatest popular epic in Tagalog literature. Dr. Jose Rizal - National Hero of the Philippines Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Realonda Alonzo was born in the town of Calamba, Laguna on 19th June 1861. The second son and the seventh among the eleven children of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso. With his mother as his first teacher, he began his early education at home and continued in Binan, Laguna. He entered a Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1872 and obtained a bachelor's degree with highest honors in 1876. He studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop because he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated by their Dominican tutors. He went to Madrid at Universidad Central de Madrid and in 1885 at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "Excellent". He took graduate studies in Paris, France & Heidelberg, Germany. He also studied painting, sculpture, he learned to read and write in at least 10 languages. Rizal was a prolific writer and was anti-violence. He rather fight using his pen than his might. Rizal's two books "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me Not) which he wrote while he was in Berlin, Germany in 1887 and "El Filibusterismo" (The Rebel) in Ghent, Belgiun in 1891 exposed the cruelties of the Spanish friars in the Philippines, the defects of the Spanish administration and the vices of the clergy, these books told about the oppression of the Spanish colonial rule. These two books made Rizal as a marked man to the Spanish friars. In 1892 when Rizal returned to the Philippines, he formed La Liga Filipina ,an non violent reform society of patriotic citizen and a forum for Filipinos to express their hopes for reform, to promote progress through commerce, industry and agriculture and freedom from the oppressive Spanish colonial administration. On July 6, 1892, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, on the charge of instigating unrest against Spain, he was exiled to Dapitan, in northwestern Mindanao. He remained in exile for four years, while he was in political exile in Dapitan, he practice medicine, he established a school for boys, promoted community development projects, he applied his knowledge in engineering by constructing a system of waterworks in order to furnish clean water to the towns people. In Dapitan he also met, fell in love and lived with Josephine Bracken. Books written by Jose Rizal Source: MM del Rosario Photo Gallery In 1896, the Katipunan, a nationalist secret society launched a revolt against the Spaniards, although Jose Rizal had no connection with the organization, his enemies were able to linked him with the revolt. To avoid being involved in the move to start a revolution, he asked Governor Ramon Blanco to send him to Cuba but instead he was brought back to Manila and jailed for the second time in Fort Santiago. Rizal Monument at Luneta Park The Rizal monument was created by a Swiss sculptor named Richard Kissling. The site is guarded 24 hours a day 7 days a week by ceremonial soldiers known as Kabalyeros de Rizal. On December 26, 1896, after a trial, Rizal was sentenced to die, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition, and of forming illegal association. On the eve of his execution while confined in Fort Santiago, Rizal wrote a poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) and hid it inside the gas burner and gave the gas burner to his sister Trinidad and his wife Josephine. He was executed on December 30, 1896 at the age of 35 by a firing squad at Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta Park in Manila. Jose Rizal was a man of many accomplishments - a linguist, a novelist, a poet, a scientist, a doctor, a painter, an educator, a reformer and a visionary, he left his people his greatest patriotic poem, Mi Ultimo Adios to serve as an inspiration for the next generations. Map data ©2013 Google Terms of Use Map Satellite Luneta, Manila, Philippines -  Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines  [get directions] Words of Wisdom Quotes from Dr Jose Rizal - A collection of wise words from Dr Jose Rizal from his various writings. I hope you will find this collection helpful if you are doing research for your assignments or projects in school. Dr.Jose Rizal Monument - site of countless wreath-laying activities year round honouring the national hero. 2011 Philippines Jose Rizal @150 (Noli Me Tangere) Full Mint Sheet Current Bid: $7.00 1961 Phillipines One Peso - Commemorating Jose Rizal - .90 Silver Beautiful Coin Current Bid: $19.49 Interesting Trivia About Dr Jose Rizal Rizal's Contribution to Science Rizal found Mindanao a rich virgin field for collecting specimens. With his baroto (sailboat) and accompanied by his pupils, he explored the jungles and coasts seeking specimens of insects, birds, snakes lizards frogs shells and plants. He sent these specimens to the museum of Europe especially the Dresden Museum. In payment for these valuable specimens, the European scientists sent him scientific books and surgical instruments. Manila Lottery Winner On September 21, 1892 the mail boat “Butuan” arrived in Dapitan carrying lottery Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Dr Jose Rizal and Francisco Equilior won the second prize of P20,000 in the government-owned Manila Lottery. Rizal’s share of the winning loterry was P6,200. He gave P2,000 to his father and P200 to his friend Basa in Hongkong and the rest he invested well by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay about one kilometer away from Dapitan. Rizal Discovered Rare Specimens For four years during his exile in Dapitan, Rizal discovered some rare specimens which were named in his honor by the scientists. Among these were : Draco Rizali—a flying dragon Apogonia Rizali -a small beetle Rhacophorus Rizali—a rare frog ^

May Day Eve : by Nick Joaquin

The old people had ordered that the dancing should stop at ten o’clock but it was almost midnight before the carriages came filing up the departing guests, while the girls who were staying were promptly herded upstairs to the bedrooms, the young men gathering around to wish them a good night and lamenting their ascent with mock signs and moaning, proclaiming themselves disconsolate but straightway going off to finish the punch and the brandy though they were quite drunk already and simply bursting with wild spirits, merriment, arrogance and audacity, for they were young bucks newly arrived from Europe; the ball had been in their honor; and they had waltzed and polka-ed and bragged and swaggered and flirted all night and where in no mood to sleep yet--no, caramba, not on this moist tropic eve! not on this mystic May eve! --with the night still young and so seductive that it was madness not to go out, not to go forth---and serenade the neighbors! cried one; and swim in the Pasid! cried another; and gather fireflies! cried a third—whereupon there arose a great clamor for coats and capes, for hats and canes, and they were a couple of street-lamps flickered and a last carriage rattled away upon the cobbles while the blind black houses muttered hush-hush, their tile roofs looming like sinister chessboards against a wile sky murky with clouds, save where an evil young moon prowled about in a corner or where a murderous wind whirled, whistling and whining, smelling now of the sea and now of the summer orchards and wafting unbearable childhood fragrances or ripe guavas to the young men trooping so uproariously down the street that the girls who were desiring upstairs in the bedrooms catered screaming to the windows, crowded giggling at the windows, but were soon sighing amorously over those young men bawling below; over those wicked young men and their handsome apparel, their proud flashing eyes, and their elegant mustaches so black and vivid in the moonlight that the girls were quite ravished with love, and began crying to one another how carefree were men but how awful to be a girl and what a horrid, horrid world it was, till old Anastasia plucked them off by the ear or the pigtail and chases them off to bed---while from up the street came the clackety-clack of the watchman’s boots on the cobble and the clang-clang of his lantern against his knee, and the mighty roll of his great voice booming through the night, "Guardia serno-o-o! A las doce han dado-o-o.

And it was May again, said the old Anastasia. It was the first day of May and witches were abroad in the night, she said--for it was a night of divination, and night of lovers, and those who cared might peer into a mirror and would there behold the face of whoever it was they were fated to marry, said the old Anastasia as she hobble about picking up the piled crinolines and folding up shawls and raking slippers in corner while the girls climbing into four great poster-beds that overwhelmed the room began shrieking with terror, scrambling over each other and imploring the old woman not to frighten them.

"Enough, enough, Anastasia! We want to sleep!"

"Go scare the boys instead, you old witch!"

"She is not a witch, she is a maga. She is a maga. She was born of Christmas Eve!"

"St. Anastasia, virgin and martyr."

"Huh? Impossible! She has conquered seven husbands! Are you a virgin, Anastasia?"

"No, but I am seven times a martyr because of you girls!"

"Let her prophesy, let her prophesy! Whom will I marry, old gypsy? Come, tell me."

"You may learn in a mirror if you are not afraid."

"I am not afraid, I will go," cried the young cousin Agueda, jumping up in bed.

"Girls, girls---we are making too much noise! My mother will hear and will come and pinch us all. Agueda, lie down! And you Anastasia, I command you to shut your mouth and go away!""Your mother told me to stay here all night, my grand lady!"

"And I will not lie down!" cried the rebellious Agueda, leaping to the floor. "Stay, old woman. Tell me what I have to do."

"Tell her! Tell her!" chimed the other girls.

The old woman dropped the clothes she had gathered and approached and fixed her eyes on the girl. "You must take a candle," she instructed, "and go into a room that is dark and that has a mirror in it and you must be alone in the room. Go up to the mirror and close your eyes and shy:

Mirror, mirror, show to me him whose woman I will be. If all goes right, just above your left shoulder will appear the face of the man you will marry." A silence. Then: "And hat if all does not go right?" asked Agueda. "Ah, then the Lord have mercy on you!" "Why." "Because you may see--the Devil!"

The girls screamed and clutched one another, shivering. "But what nonsense!" cried Agueda. "This is the year 1847. There are no devil anymore!" Nevertheless she had turned pale. "But where could I go, hugh? Yes, I know! Down to the sala. It has that big mirror and no one is there now." "No, Agueda, no! It is a mortal sin! You will see the devil!" "I do not care! I am not afraid! I will go!" "Oh, you wicked girl! Oh, you mad girl!" "If you do not come to bed, Agueda, I will call my mother." "And if you do I will tell her who came to visit you at the convent last March. Come, old woman---give me that candle. I go." "Oh girls---give me that candle, I go."

But Agueda had already slipped outside; was already tiptoeing across the hall; her feet bare and her dark hair falling down her shoulders and streaming in the wind as she fled down the stairs, the lighted candle sputtering in one hand while with the other she pulled up her white gown from her ankles. She paused breathless in the doorway to the sala and her heart failed her. She tried to imagine the room filled again with lights, laughter, whirling couples, and the jolly jerky music of the fiddlers. But, oh, it was a dark den, a weird cavern for the windows had been closed and the furniture stacked up against the walls. She crossed herself and stepped inside.

The mirror hung on the wall before her; a big antique mirror with a gold frame carved into leaves and flowers and mysterious curlicues. She saw herself approaching fearfully in it: a small while ghost that the darkness bodied forth---but not willingly, not completely, for her eyes and hair were so dark that the face approaching in the mirror seemed only a mask that floated forward; a bright mask with two holes gaping in it, blown forward by the white cloud of her gown. But when she stood before the mirror she lifted the candle level with her chin and the dead mask bloomed into her living face.

She closed her eyes and whispered the incantation. When she had finished such a terror took hold of her that she felt unable to move, unable to open her eyes and thought she would stand there forever, enchanted. But she heard a step behind her, and a smothered giggle, and instantly opened her eyes.

"And what did you see, Mama? Oh, what was it?" But Dona Agueda had forgotten the little girl on her lap: she was staring pass the curly head nestling at her breast and seeing herself in the big mirror hanging in the room. It was the same room and the same mirror out the face she now saw in it was an old face---a hard, bitter, vengeful face, framed in graying hair, and so sadly altered, so sadly different from that other face like a white mask, that fresh young face like a pure mask than she had brought before this mirror one wild May Day midnight years and years ago.... "But what was it Mama? Oh please go on! What did you see?" Dona Agueda looked down at her daughter but her face did not soften though her eyes filled with tears. "I saw the devil." she said bitterly. The child blanched. "The devil, Mama? Oh... Oh..." "Yes, my love. I opened my eyes and there in the mirror, smiling at me over my left shoulder, was the face of the devil." "Oh, my poor little Mama! And were you very frightened?" "You can imagine. And that is why good little girls do not look into mirrors except when their mothers tell them. You must stop this naughty habit, darling, of admiring yourself in every mirror you pass- or you may see something frightful some day." "But the devil, Mama---what did he look like?" "Well, let me see... he has curly hair and a scar on his cheek---" "Like the scar of Papa?" "Well, yes. But this of the devil was a scar of sin, while that of your Papa is a scar of honor. Or so he says." "Go on about the devil." "Well, he had mustaches." "Like those of Papa?" "Oh, no. Those of your Papa are dirty and graying and smell horribly of tobacco, while these of the devil were very black and elegant--oh, how elegant!" "And did he speak to you, Mama?" "Yes… Yes, he spoke to me," said Dona Agueda. And bowing her graying head; she wept.

"Charms like yours have no need for a candle, fair one," he had said, smiling at her in the mirror and stepping back to give her a low mocking bow. She had whirled around and glared at him and he had burst into laughter. "But I remember you!" he cried. "You are Agueda, whom I left a mere infant and came home to find a tremendous beauty, and I danced a waltz with you but you would not give me the polka." "Let me pass," she muttered fiercely, for he was barring the way. "But I want to dance the polka with you, fair one," he said. So they stood before the mirror; their panting breath the only sound in the dark room; the candle shining between them and flinging their shadows to the wall. And young Badoy Montiya (who had crept home very drunk to pass out quietly in bed) suddenly found himself cold sober and very much awake and ready for anything. His eyes sparkled and the scar on his face gleamed scarlet. "Let me pass!" she cried again, in a voice of fury, but he grasped her by the wrist. "No," he smiled. "Not until we have danced." "Go to the devil!" "What a temper has my serrana!" "I am not your serrana!" "Whose, then? Someone I know? Someone I have offended grievously? Because you treat me, you treat all my friends like your mortal enemies." "And why not?" she demanded, jerking her wrist away and flashing her teeth in his face. "Oh, how I detest you, you pompous young men! You go to Europe and you come back elegant lords and we poor girls are too tame to please you. We have no grace like the Parisiennes, we have no fire like the Sevillians, and we have no salt, no salt, no salt! Aie, how you weary me, how you bore me, you fastidious men!" "Come, come---how do you know about us?"

"I was not admiring myself, sir!" "You were admiring the moon perhaps?" "Oh!" she gasped, and burst into tears. The candle dropped from her hand and she covered her face and sobbed piteously. The candle had gone out and they stood in darkness, and young Badoy was conscience-stricken. "Oh, do not cry, little one!" Oh, please forgive me! Please do not cry! But what a brute I am! I was drunk, little one, I was drunk and knew not what I said." He groped and found her hand and touched it to his lips. She shuddered in her white gown. "Let me go," she moaned, and tugged feebly. "No. Say you forgive me first. Say you forgive me, Agueda." But instead she pulled his hand to her mouth and bit it - bit so sharply in the knuckles that he cried with pain and lashed cut with his other hand--lashed out and hit the air, for she was gone, she had fled, and he heard the rustling of her skirts up the stairs as he furiously sucked his bleeding fingers. Cruel thoughts raced through his head: he would go and tell his mother and make her turn the savage girl out of the house--or he would go himself to the girl’s room and drag her out of bed and slap, slap, slap her silly face! But at the same time he was thinking that they were all going to Antipolo in the morning and was already planning how he would maneuver himself into the same boat with her. Oh, he would have his revenge, he would make her pay, that little harlot! She should suffer for this, he thought greedily, licking his bleeding knuckles. But---Judas! He remembered her bare shoulders: gold in her candlelight and delicately furred. He saw the mobile insolence of her neck, and her taut breasts steady in the fluid gown. Son of a Turk, but she was quite enchanting! How could she think she had no fire or grace? And no salt? An arroba she had of it!

"... No lack of salt in the chrism At the moment of thy baptism!" He sang aloud in the dark room and suddenly realized that he had fallen madly in love with her. He ached intensely to see her again---at once! ---to touch her hands and her hair; to hear her harsh voice. He ran to the window and flung open the casements and the beauty of the night struck him back like a blow. It was May, it was summer, and he was young---young! ---and deliriously in love. Such a happiness welled up within him that the tears spurted from his eyes. But he did not forgive her--no! He would still make her pay, he would still have his revenge, he thought viciously, and kissed his wounded fingers. But what a night it had been! "I will never forge this night! he thought aloud in an awed voice, standing by the window in the dark room, the tears in his eyes and the wind in his hair and his bleeding knuckles pressed to his mouth.

But, alas, the heart forgets; the heart is distracted; and May time passes; summer lends; the storms break over the rot-tipe orchards and the heart grows old; while the hours, the days, the months, and the years pile up and pile up, till the mind becomes too crowded, too confused: dust gathers in it; cobwebs multiply; the walls darken and fall into ruin and decay; the memory perished...and there came a time when Don Badoy Montiya walked home through a May Day midnight without remembering, without even caring to remember; being merely concerned in feeling his way across the street with his cane; his eyes having grown quite dim and his legs uncertain--for he was old; he was over sixty; he was a very stopped and shivered old man with white hair and mustaches coming home from a secret meeting of conspirators; his mind still resounding with the speeches and his patriot heart still exultant as he picked his way up the steps to the front door and inside into the slumbering darkness of the house; wholly unconscious of the May night, till on his way down the hall, chancing to glance into the sala, he shuddered, he stopped, his blood ran cold-- for he had seen a face in the mirror there---a ghostly candlelight face with the eyes closed and the lips moving, a face that he suddenly felt he had been there before though it was a full minutes before the lost memory came flowing, came tiding back, so overflooding the actual moment and so swiftly washing away the piled hours and days and months and years that he was left suddenly young again; he was a gay young buck again, lately came from Europe; he had been dancing all night; he was very drunk; he s stepped in the doorway; he saw a face in the dark; he called out...and the lad standing before the mirror (for it was a lad in a night go jumped with fright and almost dropped his candle, but looking around and seeing the old man, laughed out with relief and came running.

"Oh Grandpa, how you frightened me. Don Badoy had turned very pale. "So it was you, you young bandit! And what is all this, hey? What are you doing down here at this hour?" "Nothing, Grandpa. I was only... I am only ..." "Yes, you are the great Señor only and how delighted I am to make your acquaintance, Señor Only! But if I break this cane on your head you maga wish you were someone else, Sir!" "It was just foolishness, Grandpa. They told me I would see my wife."

"Wife? What wife?" "Mine. The boys at school said I would see her if I looked in a mirror tonight and said: Mirror, mirror show to me her whose lover I will be.

Don Badoy cackled ruefully. He took the boy by the hair, pulled him along into the room, sat down on a chair, and drew the boy between his knees. "Now, put your cane down the floor, son, and let us talk this over. So you want your wife already, hey? You want to see her in advance, hey? But so you know that these are wicked games and that wicked boys who play them are in danger of seeing horrors?"

"Well, the boys did warn me I might see a witch instead."

"Exactly! A witch so horrible you may die of fright. And she will be witch you, she will torture you, she will eat

your heart and drink your blood!"

"Oh, come now Grandpa. This is 1890. There are no witches anymore."

"Oh-ho, my young Voltaire! And what if I tell you that I myself have seen a witch.

"You? Where?

"Right in this room land right in that mirror," said the old man, and his playful voice had turned savage.

"When, Grandpa?"

"Not so long ago. When I was a bit older than you. Oh, I was a vain fellow and though I was feeling very sick that night and merely wanted to lie down somewhere and die I could not pass that doorway of course without stopping to see in the mirror what I looked like when dying. But when I poked my head in what should I see in the mirror but...but..."

"The witch?"

"Exactly!"

"And then she bewitch you, Grandpa!"

"She bewitched me and she tortured me. l She ate my heart and drank my blood." said the old man bitterly.

"Oh, my poor little Grandpa! Why have you never told me! And she very horrible?

"Horrible? God, no--- she was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen! Her eyes were somewhat like yours but her hair was like black waters and her golden shoulders were bare. My God, she was enchanting! But I should have known---I should have known even then---the dark and fatal creature she was!"

A silence. Then: "What a horrid mirror this is, Grandpa," whispered the boy.

"What makes you slay that, hey?"

"Well, you saw this witch in it. And Mama once told me that Grandma once told her that Grandma once saw the devil in this mirror. Was it of the scare that Grandma died?"

Don Badoy started. For a moment he had forgotten that she was dead, that she had perished---the poor Agueda; that they were at peace at last, the two of them, her tired body at rest; her broken body set free at last from the brutal pranks of the earth---from the trap of a May night; from the snare of summer; from the terrible silver nets of the moon. She had been a mere heap of white hair and bones in the end: a whimpering withered consumptive, lashing out with her cruel tongue; her eye like live coals; her face like ashes... Now, nothing--- nothing save a name on a stone; save a stone in a graveyard---nothing! was left of the young girl who had flamed so vividly in a mirror one wild May Day midnight, long, long ago.

And remembering how she had sobbed so piteously; remembering how she had bitten his hand and fled and how he had sung aloud in the dark room and surprised his heart in the instant of falling in love: such a grief tore up his throat and eyes that he felt ashamed before the boy; pushed the boy away; stood up and looked out----looked out upon the medieval shadows of the foul street where a couple of street-lamps flickered and a last carriage was rattling away upon the cobbles, while the blind black houses muttered hush-hush, their tiled roofs looming like sinister chessboards against a wild sky murky with clouds, save where an evil old moon prowled about in a corner or where a murderous wind whirled, whistling and whining, smelling now of the sea and now of the summer orchards and wafting unbearable the window; the bowed old man sobbing so bitterly at the window; the tears streaming down his cheeks and the wind in his hair and one hand pressed to his mouth---while from up the street came the clackety-clack of the watchman’s boots on the cobbles, and the clang-clang of his lantern against his knee, and the mighty roll of his voice booming through the night:

"Guardia sereno-o-o! A las doce han dado-o-o!"

“Florante at Laura”

The Florante at Laura is a shorter version of its original title, written in ancient Tagalog: Pinagdaanang Buhay ni Florante at ni Laura sa Cahariang Albania. Quinuha sa madlang "cuadro histórico" o pinturang nag sasabi sa mga nangyayari nang unang panahón sa Imperio nang Grecia, at tinula nang isang matouain sa versong tagálog. (The Life of Florante and Laura in the Kingdom of Albania: Culled from a publicly-displayed "cuadro histórico" or historical painting which describes the events which were occurring during ancient times in the empire of Greece, and penned by someone who enjoys Tagalog verse)

      The story begins with a description of a dark, dangerous, deserted forest in the kingdom of Albania, that is inhabited by serpents, basilisks, hyenas, and tigers.  Deep in the heart of the depressing jungle where the tangled growth of vines and thickets intertwined, and the great canopy of heavy foliaged trees formed a roof over the dismal jungle clearing, the moans and anguished cries of a forsaken man filled the savage stillness of the air.  The man is tied to a tree and is barely alive.  He is Florante, the son of Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca.  He has blonde hair, fair smooth skin, and a face and body that is comparable to that of Narcissus and Adonis.

      Florante, while tied to a tree, questions the heavens for the suffering of the people of Albania.  Here he describes the treachery and suffering that are happening inside and outside of the kingdom of Albania.  Gone are the days of peace and and justice.  Innocent people have become victims of those who are hungry for power and money. Those who fought to save the kingdom have suffered grievously.   He mentions that Count Adolfo was said to be behind the treachery with his plot to steal the crown from King Linceo and the wealth of Duke Briseo.  Florante begs heaven to save the kingdom of Albania.

     The man tells the heavens that he can take whatever trial or challenge that may come his way as long as Laura will always remember him.  Aside from all that is happening to Albania, he takes refuge in the memories of the times he shared with Laura.  He mentions that he would be pleased to see Laura crying over his dead body if Laura would betray him.  With this, he imagines Laura in the arms of Count Adolfo. This thought brings him to tears and devastation which made him tired and cause him to pass out.

     The man cries for Laura to save him, but she does not come.  With this, the man thinks that Count Adolfo has finally stolen Laura from him. He mentions that he will thank Count Adolfo for all the hardship as long as he doesn't take Laura from him.  With too much to bear, the man cries in despair and faintes.

     In another part of the forest comes Aladin, a Muslim soldier.  He sits on a stump and professes his love for a woman named Flerida.  He talks about his overwhelming love for Flerida and vows to kill for the sake of love.  He says that no one can stand in his way nor is there anyone who can take his love from him, not even his father.  He also says that love can make a person blind to the truth and make him forget about reason and honor.

      After professing his love for Flerida, the Muslim soldier hears a voice in the forest.  This voice talks about the brutal death of his loving father.  The man talks about how his father was beheaded and had his body thrown somewhere else.  No one attempted to bury his father's remains for fear of Count Adolfo's wrath.   Even without seeing his father, the man knew that the old man was thinking of him until the end of his life.

While tied to a tree, Florante was approached by two lingering lions.  But the lions did not seem to attack, thinking that the man might already be dead.  Realizing the approach of death, the man says his farewell to Albania, the land he wished to serve since he was a child, and to Laura, whom he will forever love.

      Upon hearing the man's cries, Aladin set off to find the man.  His timing was impeccable because the lions were about to attack Florante.  With a swift motion of his weapon, the Muslim soldier killed the two lions.  With his courage and precision in combat, he was compared to Ares, the god of war.

     After rescuing Florante, Aladin frees him and lays him down.  Florante wakes up delirious looking for Laura.  The Muslim soldier does not respond and Florante goes back to sleep.   When he finally wakes up, Florante is surprised to see an enemy taking care of him.  Aladin told him that he wishes the man no harm and that the command of heaven to help is what's important.  The man said that he did not want the soldier's pity, what he needs is death.   Aladin yelled at him for speaking such nonsense.

      Due to all that they have been through recently, Aladin and Florante decide to become silent.  When nightfall comes, Aladin carried Florante and rests on a flat rock.  The Muslim soldier feeds Florante and has him sleep on his lap.  He watches over Florante because he is still delirious and he is devastated every time the latter wakes up.  In the morning, Florante thanks Aladin for what he has done for him.  The soldier asked Florante why he was so devastated, and the latter willingly narrated his story.

The man tells the Muslim soldier that his name is Florante.  Florante tells him that he came from Albania and that he is the son of Duke Briseus, second in command of the kingdom, and Princess Floresca of Croton.  He proudly talks about his father saying what a brave and kind man he was.  He also emphasizes that there is no one who can outdo his father in loving a child and in teaching him good manners.  Florante also spoke of two accounts when he almost died as a child.  One was when he was almost caught by a vulture but was rescued by his cousin Menalipo.  The other was when someone attempted to take the diamond that was on his chest.

     Florante spoke about his happy childhood.  When he was a child, he loved playing outdoors and hunting. He realized that a child must not be raised with too much freedom and security because life is tougher when one grows older.  He also says that a child will have difficulty in facing challenges if he is too pampered and safe as a child.  Duke Briseus taught him how to stand alone by sending him to Athens to study under Antenor.

      Florante studies in Athens under Antenor.   He becomes homesick and longs to be with his parents again but he is comforted by Antenor.  Adolfo, a boy from Albania and the son of Duke Sileno, becomes his classmate.  Adolfo is two years older than him and is admired by everyone in school for his wisdom and kindness.  Due to his intelligence, Florante was able to learn the lessons about philosophy, astrology and mathematics in no time at all which astonished his teachers.  He even surpassed Adolfo in all aspect and became known all across Athens.  Everyone distrusted the kindness that Adolfo is showing.  In a sporting competition, Adolfo's true color began to show which aroused the people's suspicions.

     During a play performed by the students, Adolfo attempted to kill Florante but did not succeed due to his classmate Menandro's interference.  After two months, Florante received a letter from his father bringing bad news and summoning him to come home.  It was difficult for Florante to say his goodbyes to his classmates and his mentor, Antenor.  Before leaving, Antenor advised Florante not to be too trusting because there are enemies all around us.   Florante went home with his friend, Menandro. Upon arriving at Albania, Florante cried when he saw his father.  After he calmed down, Duke Briseus told Florante about the death of Princess Floresca.

      The emissary of Croton came to Albania with a letter asking for help in saving Croton from the Persian invaders headed byGeneral Osmalic.  Florante pauses to praise Aladin, saying that the general is only second to Aladin in combat skill.  With this, Aladin smiles and says that rumors are not necessarily true. Returning to his story, Florante said that he and his father went to King Linceus to discuss how they could help Croton.  King Linceus appointed Florante to lead the army that will help save Croton.

     During their visit to King Linceus, Florante saw Laura, the daughter of the king.  He was mermerized by Laura's beauty.  He became speechless and stuttered a lot in the presence of Laura.  After talking about Laura, Florante's mind drifts toward horrible thoughts about Laura's unfaithfulness.

      Before setting off to war, King Linceus threw a feast for Florante.  The celebration lasted for three days and within this period, he did not get to see Laura.  The day before he set of to war, Florante saw Laura and he professed his love.  Laura did not give him a straight answer, instead she cried and Florante took this as a sign of Laura's reciprocation of his feelings.

General Osmalic and Florante finally meet and they battled for five hours until Florante was able to defeat the general.

     Florante was able to save Croton from the hands of the enemy with the help of Menandro and his troupes.  The people rejoiced their victory especially when they learned that Florante is the king's grandson.  But Florante and the king did not rejoice with them for they remembered Princess Floresca and mourned for her death.  Five months had passed when Florante decided to return to Albania to be with Laura again.  On his journey back, Florante became weary when he saw the Muslim flag swaying in Albania.

     Florante hid on the outskirts at the foot of the mountain to observe what is happening.  He saw a woman tied and blindfolded who is about to be beheaded.  He remembered Laura and hastily went to rescue the woman.  He fought the Muslims and rescued the woman who happened to be Laura herself.  Laura told Florante about that Albania had been conquered.  They went back and redeemed the country from the invaders.  Florante freed the captives including King Linceus, Duke Briseus, and Count Adolfo.  The king honored Florante for his bravery and Florante won Laura's affection.  With the victory of Florante, Adolfo's hatred and envy deepened and he planned to take revenge against Florante.

    A few months have passed since Albania was last invaded when the Persian army, headed by Miramolin disturbed its peace.  But the Turkish invaders did not succeed because Florante had defeated him.  After this, Florante successfully won many battles which earned him the respect of thirteen kings.  One day, while Florante was in the middle of a war, he received a letter ordering him to return immediately to Albania.  He left the war under the command of Menandro and set off to return to Albania.  Upon arriving, he was surprised to be welcomed by 30,000 soldiers who abducted him.  Here he learned that Adolfo had ordered for his father, Duke Briseus, and King Linceus to be beheaded.  He also learned that Laura was engaged to Count Adolfo.  Florante was imprisoned for 18 days then was transferred to the forest where he was tied to an Acacia tree.  He had been in the forest for two days when the Muslim soldier found and rescued him.

     After Florante narrated his story, the Muslim soldier introduces himself as Aladdin, son of Sultan Ali-Adab of Persia.  Aladdin tells Florante that he will tell his own story in due time because he needs some time to collect himself.

    After wandering around the forest for five months, Aladin begins to narrate his story.  He says that his father is the root of all his suffering.  His father became his rival for his love, Flerida.  In order to succeed, Sultan Ali-Adab plotted a scheme to behead Aladin by framing him as the cause of the downfall of the Persian invaders that resulted to Florante's victory in Albania.  On the night before Aladin's execution, Sultan Ali-Adab forgave Aladin on the condition that he would flee Persia and never return.  Aladin agreed but could not accept the idea of Flerida in the arms of another man.  Since then, Aladin has been a wanderer of the forest for six years.  He suddenly stops his story when they heard voices in the forest.

     The two men heard voices.  One of the women narrated the story she heard about the danger that her lover was in.  She begged the Sultan not to push through with his beheading in exchange for her agreement to marry him.  The Sultan agreed and her lover was set free, leaving without saying goodbye.  One night, while everyone was busy with the wedding preparations, the woman who happens to be Flerida, disguised herself as a soldier and escaped.  She wandered the forest hoping to find her love. Here in the forest is where the two women met when Flerida saved Laura who was about to be assaulted by a man.  They stop talking when they hear footsteps approaching and were surprised to see Florante and Aladdin.

     Laura narrates her story.  It began when Florante left to battle the Persian invaders.  Adolfo ordered that the king and his loyal servants be beheaded.  Adolfo took over the throne and forced Laura to marry him.  It took five months for him to court Laura but she did not waver in her decision not to marry him. After Florante was sent to die in the forest, Menandro and his men returned to Albania and overthrew Adolfo from the throne.  Adolfo would not accept defeat; instead he took Laura and his men to the forest.  Here Adolfo saw no escape and decided to rape Laura right there.  Upon hearing a woman's cry for help, Flerida came to the rescue and killed Adolfo with an arrow.

      Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Menandro and his troupe.  Upon seeing Florante, he rejoices to see his friend.                                                                                The two couples return to Albania where they are warmly welcomed.  Flerida and Aladdin agree to be baptized as Christians.  Both couples are wed and Florante and Laura rule over Albania with justice, peace, and harmony.  When Sultan Ali-Adab dies, Aladdin and Flerida return to Persia and they rule over the people happily.