Emilio Mar Antonio was
born on 11 December 1903 in Bambang, Bulacan.
He died on 13 May 1967 in Quiapo, Manila. He was
a poet and a fictionist. In 1941, he married Andrea
Teodoro and they had six children, one of whom
is poet Teo Antonio. He was the administrator
and mediator of the balagtasan on radio sponsored
by Compania Elizalde and wrote for their newspaper,
Taliba. He was a member of the editorial board
of Liwayway from 1946- 1949 and editor of Bulaklak
from 1950-1965.
He wrote three novels in verse: Lakandupil, Nakaluping
Dahon and Perlas sa Putikan. He wrote Magat, Ama
ng Lahing Kayumanggi, a novel, in prose with Macario
Pineda as co-atuhor. They were all published in
Liwayway. His Birang na May Luha was published
in 1949.
He became popular as a balagtasan poet, who engaged
Florentino Collantes, Nemesio Caravana, and others
in public debates in verse on contemporary issues.
His lyric poems Ang Nayon ko and Gagamba at Alitaptap
have been anthologized in Walong Dekada ng Makabagong
Tulang Pilipino, 1981.
In 1937, Mar Antonio won a gold medal in the
annual choice by the Kapisanang Ilaw ng Bayan
in Bulacan for his poem, “Ang Nayon Ko.”
He was proclaimed poet laureate by the Kapisanang
Diwang Ginto for his poem, “Ilaw.”,
and by Liwayway in 1938. He also won in the first
balagtasan to be aired on radio besting opponents
Fernando Monleon and Francisco Paño. The
topic was Sino ang Higit na Dapat Mahalin: Ina,
Asawa o Anak?
In 1951, he was proclaimed “Prince of Balagtasan”
by the Kapisanan ng mga Makata at Mambibigkas,
along with Collantes as the “King of Balagtasan”
after a heated poetic joust on the topic: Dapat
bang Pairalin ang Import Control sa Pilipinas?
After Collantes’ death in 1954, Antonio
and Caravana fought over the coveted title in
a poetic joust on the topic, Alin ang lalong Mahalaga:
Buhay Kahapon o Buhay Ngayon? He defended Antonio
and he was crowned as “King of Balagtasan”
by the Taliba ng Inang Wika or TANIW headed by
Lope K. Santos.
Written by E.L.
Gatchalian, from CCP Encyclopedia (volume 9)
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