Jose Corazon De Jesus (1896-1932) also known

as Huseng Batute is one of the greatest Philippine

poets and is acknowledged as the King of
Balagtasan. Unknown to many, the immortal song
"Bayan Ko" was penned by this magnificent bard.

He was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila to Dr. Vicente de Jesus and Susana
Pangilinan. Pepito, as he was called, studied at the Liceo de Manila
where he got the Bachiller en Artes degree. From the Academia de
leyes, he obtained the Bachiller en Leyes degree, but he did not take
the bar examination because he was already preoccupied with writing.
His literary inclination was manifested early in life. His first
poem,Pangungulila, was written when he was 17 years old. In 1920,
he worked for Taliba and began his famous column, Buhay Maynila.
He caught the imagination of the readers through his appealing and
incisive satire.
Most of his popularity rested on lyrical jousts he had with Florentino
Collantes. This literary genre was practically unknown until popularized
by Jose. The first of these encounters was Paru-parot Bubuyog held
at the Instituto de Mujeres.
He excelled in the beauty of language, in charm and luxuriance of
expression, and in dramatic delivery. Later on, he was proclaimed King
of Balagtasan.
Like a whirling silent storm, or a silent spring that wells up, he made
immense contributions to Tagalog literature. His Buhay
Maynila column alone published about 4,000 poems; Ang Lagot na
Bagting, written in more serious trend, numbered about 800 poems.
He also wrote some 300 short poems and prose.
In the 15 literary contests he joined, he won either first prize or second
prize. In lyrical jousts, he received three silver trophies and four gold
medals.
His poems like Ang Puso Ko, Ang Pamana, Ang Panday, Ang
Manok Kong Bulik, Ang Pagbabalik, andSa Halamanan ng
Dios were featured in poetry reading sessions in colleges and literary
circles. They were also pieces for declamatiom contests.
Pepito died of ulcer on May 26, 1932. He was only 36. His heart was
preserved by the government until it was buried with his mother. His
body was buried under a tree in fulfillment of his wish expressed in two
of his last poemsIsang Punong
Kahoy and Ang Akasya.

KALUPI NG PUSO
Talaan ng aking mga dinaramdam,
Kasangguning lihim ng nais tandaan,
bawat dahon niya ay kinalalagyan
ng isang gunitang pagkamahal-mahal
Kaluping maliit sa tapat ng puso
ang bawat talatay puno ng pagsuyo,
ang takip ay bughaw, dito nakatago

ang lihim ng aking ligayat siphayo.

Nang buwan ng Mayo kami nagkilala

at tila Mayo rin nang magkalayo na;
sa kaluping ito nababasa-basa
ang lahat ng aking mga alaala.

Nakatala rito ang buwan at araw

ng aking ligaya at kapighatian
isang dapithapoy nagugunam-gunam
sa mga mata ko ang luhay umapaw
Anupat kung akoy tila nalulungkot
binabasa-basa ang nagdaang lugod;
ang alaala koy dito nagagamot,
sa munting kaluping puno ng himutok.

Matandang kalupi ng aking sinapit

dala mo nang lahat ang tuwa kot hapis;
kung binubuksan kay parang lumalapit
ang lahat ng aking nabigong pag-ibig.

Sa dilaw mong dahong ngayon ay kupas na

ang lumang pagsuyoy naaalaala,
O, kaluping bughaw, kung kitay mabasa
masayang malungkot na hinahagkan ka

May ilang bulaklak at dahong natuyo

na sa iyoy lihim na nangakatago,
tuwi kong mamasdan, luhay tumutulo
tuwi kong hahagkan, pusoy nagdurugo.

The life and Work

of Filipino Artist
Jose Corazon de Jesus

Submitted by: Mark Christian E. Hino-o

Submitted to: Mrs. Delubio