Julian Cruz Balmaceda
Encyclopedia
Julian Cruz Balmaceda (January 28, 1885–September 18, 1946) was a Filipino poet
, essayist, playwright
, novelist, journalist
and linguist. He made several works written in Tagalog
, English
and Spanish language
s.
, Bataan
on January 28, 1885. He attended Colegio de San Juan de Letran
for college. Two years later, he finished law on Escuela de Derecho (School of Law) under the same college. When he was fourteen, his first written play entitled Sugat ng Puso (Broken Heart). His major play, Ang Piso ni Anita (Anita's One Peso Coin
) won first place in a play writing contest sponsored by the Bureau of Posts. The play is all about thriftiness and was composed of three stages.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, essayist, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, novelist, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and linguist. He made several works written in Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
s.
Early life
Balmaceda was born on OrionOrion, Bataan
Orion is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 49,164 people in 8,735 households.-Barangays:Orion is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.-Festival:...
, Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
on January 28, 1885. He attended Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...
for college. Two years later, he finished law on Escuela de Derecho (School of Law) under the same college. When he was fourteen, his first written play entitled Sugat ng Puso (Broken Heart). His major play, Ang Piso ni Anita (Anita's One Peso Coin
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
) won first place in a play writing contest sponsored by the Bureau of Posts. The play is all about thriftiness and was composed of three stages.
Major works
- Sa Bunganga ng Pating (On the Shark's Mouth) - condemns usurers and usurpers.
- Budhi ng Manggagawa (Worker's Will), Dugo ng Aking Ama (My Father's Blood), Kaaway na Lihim (Secret Enemy) - discussed his ideals on socialism.
- Ang Tala sa Kabundukan (The Star on the Mountains) - a musical play composed of three stages.
- Kayamanang Lumilipad (Treasury Flies) - an opera of three stages.
- Ale-aleng Namamayong (Lady under the Umbrella) - a poem about sacrifice of love.
- Ang Hampas ng Lupa (Nature's Guilt) - one stage.
- Ligayang Nawawala (Dissipating Happiness) - short story.
- Heneral Gregorio del Pilar - historical play of three stages that narrates the death of Filipino war general Gregorio del PilarGregorio del PilarGregorio del Pilar y Sempio was one of the youngest generals in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He is most known for his role and death at the Battle of Tirad Pass...
on the Battle of Tirad PassBattle of Tirad PassThe Battle of Tirad Pass, sometimes referred to as the "Philippine Thermopylae", was a battle in the Philippine-American War fought on December 2, 1899, in northern Luzon in the Philippines, in which a 60-man Filipino rearguard commanded by Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar succumbed to 500...
. - Sangkuwaltang Abaka (One Penny-worth AbacaAbacáAbacá, Musa textilis is a species of banana native to the Philippines, grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. The plant is of great economic importance, being harvested for its fibre, once generally called Manila hemp, extracted from the trunk or pseudostem. On...
) - one of his major breakthrough; it was played many times during Japanese occupationJapanese occupation of the PhilippinesThe Japanese occupation of the Philippines was the period in the history of the Philippines between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied the previously American-controlled Philippines during World War II....
. Sangkuwaltang Abaka was re-played after the war using the title Sino Ba Kayo? (Who are They?) that likewise, became a major play. - Sining at Agham ng mga Dulang Iisahing Yugto (Science and Arts of One-Staged Plays) - book compilation of his different plays. It explained the existence of arts and sciences when making one-staged plays. The book includes Sino Ba Kayo?; Dahil sa Anak (Because of His/Her Child); Ang Palabas ni Suwan (Suwan's Show); Higanti ng Patay (Dead Man's Revenge); Ang Libingan ng Bayani (The Hero's Tomb); Gregorio H. del Pilar.