De la Cruz was born in Tondo, Manila on December 21, 1746. Coming from a poor family, he could not afford to study.[1] However, by his own efforts, he was able to learn Katon at Cartilla (Spanish primers), the Doctrina Christiana (the first catechism produced in the Philippines), Philosophy, Canon law and Theology.[citation needed] One day when he was taking a bath on a river near their house, two Spanish Jesuits passed by and asked him for the right way. Because of De la Cruz' fondness for reading, he was able to understand their language and was able to communicate with them. The Spanish priests were amazed by his intelligence and his politeness that they were not able to go to their destination, but instead they just talked with him more to get to know him better. De la Cruz was eight years old then.[1] When he was a teenager, he started to have a better grasp of the Tagalog language, think bigger ideas, and possessed writing skills that awaken the heart and soul of the people partly (or mostly) due to his constant reading of the Bible.[1] Besides Spanish and Tagalog, he also learned Latin and Greek. He could also manage to write plays in just a span of time. During one town feast in the province of Batangas, he was invited to stage one of his plays. The priest heading the event told him to stage a play based on a historical event instead. He was forced to write a story and teach the actors in one night, but the play was still a success. He could also simultaneously dictate poems into five different verses, all at the same time.[2] He was known for his ability to write poems well that many are asking him to teach them how to rhyme words. He earned the moniker "Huseng Sisiw" (literally, "José the Chick") because when people would ask him to write love poems, he requested live chicks (sisiw in Tagalog) to be given to him as a form of payment. In addition, his dietary preferences involved eating younger livestock, those that have not yet reached adulthood, including vegetables and roasted pig.[2] He was also the mentor of Francisco Balagtas, a poet who would later be known as the "Father of Tagalog Literature" in poetry.[citation needed] None of De la Cruz's works were ever published in his lifetime.[3]

1. (21 December 1746 – 12 March 1829)

2.  Was a Tagalog poet and playwright in the 18th and 19th
century.
 He was said to be the mentor of Francisco Balagtas, the
author of Florante at Laura.
 De la Cruz was popularly known by his nickname, Huseng
Sisiw

3.  De la Cruz was born in Tondo, Manila on 21 December 1746
to Simon de la Cruz and Maria Naval.
 His father was a cabeza de barangay at the time of his birth.
 A neighbor taught him to read his first letters.
 By the age of eight, he was already fluent in the Spanish
language.

4.  Jose dela Cruz, better known as Huseng Sisiw, was a
romantic person at heart. Two short poems became definitely
identified with him: Singsing ng Pag-ibig (The Ring of Love)
and Awa sa Pag-ibig (Pity in Love).
 De la Cruz is a skilled poet and writer. He could deliver lyric
verses and even write dramas on the spur of the moment.

5.  Songs and Ballads:
 “Clarita”
 “Adela at Florante”
 “Floro at Clavela”
 “Rodrigo de Villas” and,
 “Historia Famosa del Bernardo Carpio”
 “La Guerra Civil de Granada” (The Civil War of Granada)

6.  “Reina Encantada ó Casamiento de Fuerza” (Enchanted
Queen or Marriage of Force)
 “Los Dos Virreyes ó la Copa de Oro”
 “Principe Baldovino”
 “Conde Rodrigo de Villas”
 “El Amor y la Envidia” (Love and Envy)
 “ Don Gonzalo de Cordoba” and,
 “Jason at Medea”

7.  It is known that de la Cruz was married, but the name of his
wife and the date of the wedding were not known. A death
record revealed that he was interred at Bitas Cemetery on 13
March 1829, which is generally assumed to be the day after
he died.

8. THE END