---

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 1124, March 30, 1973 ]

DECLARING MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1973 AS A SPECIAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FRANCISCO (BALAGTAS) BALTAZAR.

WHEREAS, Monday, April 2, 1973, marks the birth anniversary of Francisco (Balagtas) Baltazar, Prince of Filipino poets;

WHEREAS, the heroism of Francisco Balagtas, expressed in the sublime art of poetry, should be a living inspiration for all Filipino citizens that love of country may be shown in indefinite ways;

WHEREAS, the golden ideas and precepts enunciated by Francisco Balagtas in his writings have served as guide and beacon for Filipino heroes who lived after him, and thereby helped in moulding the thinking of many of our great men;

WHEREAS, poetry being a dignified manifestation of the Filipino genius in the culture and the arts, it had also been perfected by Francisco Balagtas as a venue for dissecting the temperament and character of his people; such that his masterpiece, “Florante at Laura,” has come down to us as a priceless legacy for Philippine literature and a lasting monument to the richness and greatness of the Filipino language;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the government to give due recognition to our great men who distinguish themselves in the promotion of national culture and the arts; and,

WHEREAS, the times demand that public attention be focused, and that national recognition be accorded Francisco Balagtas as one of the great men of this country;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALEJANDRO MELCHOR, Executive Secretary, by order of His Excellency, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby declare Monday, April 2, 1973, as a special public holiday in the Province of Bulacan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.1aшphi1

Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary

By the Executive Secretary:

(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Assistant Executive Secretary

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

---