A literary classic and a historical and cultural masterpiece—that is how most people know Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar’s “Florante at Laura” as. Often portrayed as a story that talks about how love conquers all, the awit—a type of Filipino poem consisting of twelve syllables and four stanzas—revolves around lovers separated by unfair situations.

However, “Florante at Laura” is more than a love story—it is a masterpiece that talks about injustice, bad governance and revolution.