Francisco Balagtas

Florante at Laura Francisco Balagtas

Florante at Laura (full title: Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Florante at Laura sa Kahariang Albanya: Kinuha sa madlang "cuadro historico" o pinturang nagsasabi sa mga nangyayari nang unang panahon sa Imperyo ng Gresya, at tinula ng isang matuwain sa bersong Tagalog; English "The History of Florante and Laura in the Kingdom of Albania: Adapted from some 'historical pictures' or paintings that tell of what happened in early times in the Greek Empire, and were set to rhyme by one delighting in Tagalog verse") by Francisco Balagtas is considered as one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature. Balagtas wrote the epic during his imprisonment. He dedicated it to his sweetheart Maria Asuncion Rivera, whom he nicknamed "M. A. R." and is referenced to as "Selya" in the dedication "Kay Selya" ("For Celia")