Florante at Laura failed attempt.

One year later, Florante received a letter from

his father, announcing the death of his mother.
Florante at Laura ("Florante and Laura") by Francisco Though filled with grief, Florante waited two months before
Baltazar (also known as Balagtas) is one of the masterpieces he could return home. Menandro, unwilling to be separated
of Philippine literature. "Florante at Laura" is an abbreviation from him, accompanied him on his journey. Upon his arrival
of the actual title which is: "Pinagdaanang Buhay Nina to Albania, an emissary of the kingdom of Croton requested
Florante at Laura sa Kahariang Albanya: Kinuha sa Madlang his assistance in the incoming war against the Persians.
Cuadro historico o pinturang nagsasabi sa mga nangyari Florante had not the will to refuse, for the King of Crotone
nang unang panahon sa imperyo ng Gresya, at tinula ng isang was his grandfather.
matuwain sa bersong Tagalog." ("The Life of Florante and During his stay in Albania, Florante was invited to the king's
Laura in the Kingdom of Albania: culled from historical palace. There, he is stunned by the sight of Laura, the daughter
accounts and paintings which describe what occurred in of King Linceo, King of Albania.
ancient times in the empire of Greece, and penned by someone Coming to the aid of Crotone, Florante fought with the Persian
who enjoys Tagalog verse"). The story was written during general, Osmalik for 5 hours, finally slaying him in the end.
Balagatas' imprisonment. His book is dedicated to Maria He stayed in Crotone for 5 months before returning to
Asuncion Rivera, his sweetheart whom he nicknamed "M. A. Albania, to see Laura. He was surprised by the to the people of
R.". Maria Asuncion Rivera was later married to Balagtas' the Albania sight of a Persian flag waving atop the kingdom.
rival, Mariano Capule. It was Capule who made false charges He recaptured the palace and saved his father, the king, and
against Balagtas. Adolfo. He also saved Laura from being beheaded from the
Literary Form hands of an Emir. He was declared “Defender of Albania” for
It is called an "Alitaptapin" & a Korido, which means in his bravery, deepening Adolfo’s envy and hatred.
English "song". Florante at Laura has 377 stanzas; in truth, Florante protected the kingdom, once more, from the Turkish
the Alitaptapin is a poetic form which, in "Florante at Laura", forces, under general Miramolin, an acclaimed conqueror.
had, among others, the following characteristics: This took place in Aetolia, where he later received a letter
1. 4 lines/stanza; from his father. The letter summoned him back to Albania.
2. 12 syllables/line; Leaving his troops in the care of his friend, Menandro, Upon
3. a rhyme scheme of AAAA (in the Tagalog manner of returning, he was ambushed by 30,000 soldiers and under
rhyming described by Jose Rizal in Tagalische Verskunst); Adolfo’s orders and was imprisoned for 28 days. There, he
4. a slight pause on the sixth syllable; learned of the tragic fate of his father and the king. Under
5. each stanza is usually a complete grammatically-correct Adolfo’s hands, they were beheaded. Florante was then exiled
sentence; into the forest and tied to a tree.
6. each stanza is full of figures of speech (according to Aladdin's Tale
Fernando Monleon, Balagtas used 28 types in 395 instances After months of wandering in the forest, the Persian, Aladdin
throughout the poem); shares that he is also in a similar circumstance.
7. the author is usually anonymous (this is because Francisco Sultan Ali-Adab accused his own son, Aladdin, of leaving his
Baltazar specified that no part of his work should be reworded, troops and allowing his conquered enemy to be recaptured. He
and everything should be left in its original state, lest it be like arranged for his son to be beheaded. Flerida, very much in
other old stories that the meanings have changed over time) love with Aladdin begged the Sultan not to kill, but merely
Synopsis exile his son. In return, Flerida agreed to marry the Sultan,
The story is about the struggle and love of Duke Florante and who was very taken with her.
Princess Laura of Albania during the warring period between Reunion and Peace
the Albanians and Muslims. Aladdin’s speech is interrupted when they hear voices. A
Plot woman narrates her escape from a kingdom and a marriage.
In the Albanian forest She speaks of her search for her beloved, a search which
The story begins deep within a dark, (gloomy forest). Florante, lasted 6 years. She shares that while deep in the forest, she
a duke of the Kingdom of Albania is tied to a tree, lamenting heard cries for help. Finding a lady harassed by a man, trying
the loss of his father, Duke Briseo. He is driven mad by the to rape her, she uses her bow and arrow to kill him. The
thought that his beloved, Princess Laura, has fallen into the woman introduces herself as Flerida.
arms of his enemy, Count Adolfo, son of Count Sileno. The lady saved by Flerida, revealed to be Laura, begins to tell
Nearby, two starving lions kept watch and tries to a attack her story. While her love was away at war, Count Adolfo
Florante in hunger. He is saved, just in time, by Aladdin, a gained the popularity of the people, having lied to them and
Muslim prince who happens to be at the forest at the same turned them against the king. Count Adolfo then rose to the
time. Weak and bewildered, Florante fainted. throne, forcing Laura to be his queen.An army under
The merciful soldier nurses Florante to health. Upon recovery, Menandro, Florante's childhood friend, was able to overthrow
Florante is initially taken aback by Aladdin as he consider as Adolfo from power. Adolfo, seeing all was lost, fled into the
an enemy due to his Islamic faith. After a few explanations are woods, taking Laura as hostage.
made, however, Florante is grateful & begins to tell his story. After hearing all this, Florante and Aladdin reunite with their
Florante's tale loved ones. Florante and Laura returned to Albania, and
The son of a princess and a royal adviser, Florante grew up in became king and queen. Aladin and Flerida returned to Persia,
happiness, showered with love. He liked to play games when where Aladdin became the new sultan as his father committed
he was six,and was almost killed by a vulture that tried to suicide. The two kingdoms lived in harmony and peace.
snatch the gem on his chest. He was saved by his cousin
Menalido, an archer from Epirus.
At the early age of 11, his parents, Duke Briseo and Princess
Floresca, sent him to Athens, Greece to study under Antenor, a
renowned teacher. There, he met Adolfo, a fellow
countryman, the brightest student in their school. After 6 years
of study, Florante surpassed Adolf's capabilities, talents and
intelligence, gaining popularity and recognition. Adolfo took
this very personally.
While acting during a school play, Adolf attempted to kill
Florante. Fortunately, Florante’s friend, Menandro, was quick
enough to intervene. Adolfo headed home to Albania after his
 to Berbanya. The old man who helped Don Juan catch the bird
helped him again to cure all his wounds and made him
Ibong Adarna stronger.

The Ibong Adarna (Adarna Bird) is a mythical creature of In the castle of Berbanya, the bird refused to sing, until Don
Philippine legend. The Adarna has a very beautiful singing Juan's return to the kingdom. In Don Juan's presence, the bird
voice. The Adarna knows 7 songs. Every time that the Adarna sang and transformed itself into seven different colors, while
finishes a song, it defecates, and its feathers change to a more singing its mystic song and revealing the treachery done by
beautiful shade, becoming more colorful and shiny. It is Don Pedro and Don Diego. The king was healed.
believed that its songs have the power to lull anyone to sleep,
and its droppings could turn anyone into stone. Its song is also Don Fernando wanted to punish his two other sons by
believed to cure any affliction. The Adarna bird is a very imposing a death sentence upon them, for hurting Don Juan.
fancy bird with very long tail, displaying numerous metallic The king later changed in his mind, since Don Juan loved his
colors. It is considered the phoenix of the Philippines. brothers and asked for them to not be killed. The king was
cured and Berbanya was again at peace.
The Ibong Adarna is the subject of a Filipino epic or korido of
the same name. The epic narrates the story of three brothers The king then instructed his sons to guard the magical bird.
sent by their father, a king, to catch the bird, in order to cure Three hours for each one of them. But then, Don Pedro again
the king's ailment through hearing the bird's enchanted song. thought of another evil plan for Don Juan. The time he was
The only prince who was able to successfully capture the bird about to guard the Ibong Adarna, he told Don Diego his plans.
was the youngest, Don Juan. But on his way back to the palace They woke up Don Juan and pleaded him to guard the bird for
- together with his rescued brothers - Don Juan encountered the two of them. Don Juan as a good brother, agreed.
many other adventures and mysteries. He also met many Accidentally, Don Juan fell asleep. Of course, who would not
princesses, and married one of them. feel sleepy when you're awaken in the middle of the night?
While he was asleep, his two elder brothers unlocked the cage
Narration and let the Ibong Adarna go. The next morning, Don Juan was
surprised to see the cage empty. He knew it was his brothers
In a peaceful kingdom named Berbanya, a king known as Don who did that, but because of his love for his brothers, he found
Fernando lived, together with his queen, Doña Valeriana. The a way for them not to be given death punishment by their
king and queen had three sons. The eldest was Don Pedro, the father. Don Juan secretly ran away from their kingdom. He did
second was Don Diego, and the youngest was Don Juan. this for them to think he stole the bird. When Don Fernando
asked his two older sons regarding the whereabouts of Don
Juan, they shrugged and answered in negation. Don Fernando
One night, while Don Fernando was sleeping, he had a terrible felt something wrong about this. He then commanded Don
nightmare and got ill. The nightmare was about Don Juan Pedro and Don Diego to find their brother. The traitors
being thrown into a deep well by two unknown men. The followed for they want the entire kingdom of Berbanya to
following morning, all the doctors in Berbanya were think that they're loyal. After a long period of seeking, they
summoned to alleviate the king from his ailment. But no one finally saw Don Juan on the mountain of Armenya. They had
among the physicians of Berbanya could determine the gatherings on Sundays. One day, they saw a well. Don Juan
ailment, until a "ermitanyo"(hermit) diagnosed and proclaimed had a dream about a land located under the well. They went
that the cure would be the song of the Ibong Adarna. The down one at a time and Don Pedro and Don Diego came out
Ibong Adarna could only be found in the tree of Piedras after a few minutes in the deep well. Only Don Juan was brave
Platas on Bundok Tabor (Mount Tabor). enough to go all the way down. When he reached the bottom,
there was actually not really a bottom and he descended to a
Don Fernando sent his two older sons to search for the bird, beautiful golden palace. There, he met princesses. Each of
one after the other. The two brothers were unsuccessful. They them was guarded by a serpiyente (serpent) and a giant. They
were turned into stone after falling asleep while listening to decided to live together so they went up back to Armenya.
the Adarna bird's song. One of the princesses, Donya Leonora, forgot her diamond
ring and asked if one of them would get it. Don Juan went to
Don Fernando hesitated on sending his youngest son, Don get it but Don Pedro had a treacherous plan again. They threw
Juan, because of the fear that his nightmare might come true. the merciful young prince into a deep well. Princess Leonora
Don Juan insisted on going and left to look for the magical asked her wolf to look after Don Juan but she was forced to
bird. Along Don Juan's way, he met a leper(or also known as leave. When Don Juan was healed by the wolf because of
an old man and taong ketongin) begging for food. Don Juan, a magic water, he hugged the wolf and left afterwards thanking
kind prince, gave the beggar his piece of bread. Because of him.
Juan's generosity, the leper helped Don Juan in finding the
Ibong Adarna.The leper says that there was a little house near On his way back he rested and his sleep was disturbed when
a mountain - where a hermit lives - that will give instructions the Ibong Adarna saw him and sang him a song saying he
to catch the bird. Don Juan comes and see the hermit and the should forget Leonora and find the De los Cristal Kingdom
hermit asked him to eat. And when the hermit showed him the instead. There he would find 3 princesses much prettier; and
food, Don Juan was shocked because the bread that he gave to the youngest and most beautiful of them is Maria Blanca. Don
the old man was with the hermit. Don Juan thought that the Juan was able to reach the De Los Cristal Kingdom because of
hermit and the old man was one. The hermit gave Don Juan a the help of an eagle who flew him directly to the bathing area
duhat(in some cases 'dayap'), a knife, gold "sintas"(laces) and of Maria Blanca. Don Juan stole her clothes while she bathe
holy water. but returned it after some time. They fell in love and decided
to get married by King Salermo, the father of Maria Blanca,
Don Juan succeeded in locating the mystical bird, and was gave Don Juan several tests. One by one, Don Juan overcame
also able to save his older brothers, reviving them back to life. the tests with the help of Maria. In the end, they got married,
But despite of this, Don Pedro envied Don Juan because he King Salermo was dead and Don Juan became the ruler of the
was the only person to catch the Ibong Adarna. Don Pedro De Los Cristal kingdom.
told Don Diego about a plan to eliminate Don Juan. Don
Diego agreed with Don Pedro's plan. They injured Juan and
left him unconscious, taking with them the Ibong Adarna back