Leona Florentino

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Leona Florentino (April 19, 1849-October 4, 1884) was a celebrated Filipino poet in the Spanish and Ilocano languages.

Born to a wealthy and prominent family in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the young Florentino's intelligence and lyricism was obvious at an early age when she began to write her first verses in Ilocano. Despite her potential talent, she was barred from receiving a university education because of her gender. Florentino was instead tutored by her mother and then a series of private teachers. An educated Ilocano priest taught her advanced Spanish and encouraged her to develop her voice in poetry.

Her lyrical poetry in Spanish, and especially in Ilocano, gained attention with their exhibition in various international forums. Her literary contributions were recognized when she was included in the Encyclopedia Internationale des Oeuvres des Femmes (International Encyclopedia of Women’s Works) in 1889.

Florentino married a politician named Elias de los Reyes at a young age and bore him five children, including Isabelo de los Reyes who would later become a controversial Filipino writer and activist. She died at the age of 35.