MALACAÑANG

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 964

DECLARING THE SECOND DAY OF APRIL AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS FRANCISCO ‘BALAGTAS’ BALTAZAR DAY

WHEREAS,

the 209th birthdate of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar who is recognized as the “Prince of Tagalog Poets” falls on April 2, 1997;

WHEREAS,

through his masterpiece “Florante at Laura” and other magnificent literary works, he was among the early patriots who instilled the spirit of nationalism to Filipinos;

WHEREAS,

it would be a fitting tribute to Francisco Baltazar to commemorate him on his birthdate and conduct nationwide programs and activities in his honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS,

President of the Philippines by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the second day of April and every year thereafter as “Francisco ‘Balagtas’ Baltazar Day.”

The Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the Commission on the Filipino Language are hereby directed to conduct appropriate activities and programs nationwide in commemoration of the yearly event.

I call on all citizens and residents as well as private and public institutions to actively participate and lend their full support to the celebration of the occasion.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,

have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11

^th

day of February in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven.

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:

(Sgd.)

RUBEN D. TORRES