The story is loosely based on his own biography.įlorante at Laura is written as an awit the word in Filipino means 'song', but also refers to a standard poetic format with the following characteristics: He dedicated it to his former sweetheart María Asuncion Rivera, whom he nicknamed 'M.A.R.' and is referenced to a 'Selya' in the dedication ' Kay Selya' ('For Celia'). Balagtas wrote the epic during his imprisonment in Manila at about 1835 to 1836. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature. Title page of a 1913 book featuring Florante at Lauraįlorante at Laura (full title: Pinagdaanang Buhay ni Florante at ni Laura sa Kahariang Albanya English: The History of Florante and Laura in the Kingdom of Albania) is an 1838 awit written by Tagalog poet Francisco Balagtas.
