It is the claim of Bigaa, Bulacan that Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar was born there and they consider that the national poet is from Bigaa. On that premise, it could be considered that Napoleon, born in Sicily, Italian, was an Italian. But nobody thought of it. Claro M. Recto was born in Tiaong, Quezon. But to all, Recto will always be the fiery senator from Batangas.
Ingkong Kiko, as he was fondly called by the natives of Orion, came to Bataan in 1840 and served as an auxiliary to the residential judge. In Orion, he became involved in the fight for freedom and joined a secret society of rebels where he served as a Major Lieutenant. He met and married a lady mestiza named Juana Rodriguez Tiambeng. Their wedding was solemnized by Fr. Cayetano Arellano, an uncle of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cayetano L. Arellano.
Orion was his choice for his dreams and happiness. It was here where he wrote most of his outstanding literary works. A poem he wrote in honor of St. Michael, the Archangel, the patron saint of the town, was translated into a devotional hymn in the parish. A son of the couple, Victor, was a Katipunan leader and successfully led a revolution against the Spaniards in 1898. The first grandson of the couple, Primitivo Baltazar, became the first clergy from Orion and became known in the whole province because of oratorical gifts. A brother of Padre Tibong, Luis, was the first elected Mayor of the town while another brother, Jose, served as the 13th mayor of the municipality.
In a conversation with the poet’s surviving daughter on May 1921, Dr. Paul R. Versoza, on the 1954 edition of the Ovaron, wrote this when the daughter was asked of his father’s residence. “Ang batang ito, itinatanong mo sa akin kung taga-saan si Tatang? Ay, taga-saan pa kundi taga-Udyong. Iyon din ang sabi niya sa amin. Si Tatang ay taga-Udyong, sapagkat dito siya namuhay at namayapa at dito siya nagka-angkan. Dito niya sinulat ang lahat niyang mahalagang akda. At ayon din sa kanya, magmula sa gulang na siyam na taon nang siya’y umalis sa Bigaa, hindi na niya muling nakita ang Bayang Bigaa. Kung kaya, si Tatang ay taga-Udyong nga.”
With those words from Balagtas’ daughter, all questions of his true residence are settled. He continued writing until his death in Orion in 1862. Francisco Balagtas Baltazar will always be from Orion (Udyong), Bataan.
By: Anna Liza P. Bongco | Master Teacher I | Orion Elementary School | Orion, Bataan
