FERNANDO BAGONBANTA
Fernando Bagonbanta was one of the early
native versifiers of the 17th century.
He was born in Abucay, Bataan and his parentage is unknown. In his time he was known as a ladino, the name given
to natives who had mastered the
Spanish language. The ladinos were trained or educated in parish or
catechetical schools and were used as interpreters and informants. Ladino was
also used to designate those literary works which were actually Spanish
romances and poems.
Bagonbanta's popularity as a writer of
metrical romances in Tagalog and
Spanish can be traced to as far back as 1606. His works were characterized by restraint and by the
religious tone that dominated his compositions. The religious could not be
avoided as the friars were dominant during that period. Their influence was
strongly felt in every segment of
organized society.
One of Bagonbanta's works was Salamat nang
Walang Hanggan or Gracias Se Den Sempitemas.
The Tagalog original is as follows:
Salamat na walang hangga
gracias se den sempitemas
na nagpasilang nang tala
al que hizo salir la estrella
macagpanao ng dilim
que destierros la tineblas
sa lahat ng bayan natin.
de todo nuestro tierra.
In English, it is translated
thus:
Eternal thanks are offered
to the one who made the stars
who drive away the darkness
from all our land.
In another poem, Bagonbanta wrote a
dedication to Fr. P. Blanca San Jose.
Icao ang iquinahahalad
tu hacen clara y manifesta
nang bait na walang
capara
de singular destreza
Nang Padre may catha nito
de su Padre autor de su empresa
At ang
kasipagan niya
y su ran deligencia
Sa
paghahanap nang limbagan.
en el
buscar de la imprenta.
Translated in English, it reads:
You are
exposed clear and manifest
of
comparable wisdom
of the
Father,, Author of your
enterprise
and your diligence
in looking
for print.
Fernando Bagonbanta gave invaluable
assitance to P. Blanca de San Jose in the editing of the Artes y Regla en la
Lengua Tagala and in the writing of the Memorial de Za Vida Cristiana Catolica
in 1606. Eventually he became a trusted and close friend of the friars.
No available information about the later
years of Fernando Bagonbanta are available.