Leona Florentino, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Leona Florentino

Filipino writer

Date of Birth: 19-Apr-1849

Place of Birth: Vigan, Luzon, Philippines

Date of Death: 04-Oct-1884

Profession: writer, poet

Nationality: Philippines

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Leona Florentino (born Leona Josefa Florentina, 19 April 1849 - 4 October 1884) was a Filipino poet in the Spanish and Ilocano languages.
She is considered as the "mother of Philippine women's literature" and the "bridge from oral to literary tradition".Born to a wealthy and prominent family in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Florentino began to write her first verses in Ilocano at a young age.
Despite her potential, she was not allowed to receive 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.Florentino married a politician named Elias de los Reyes at the age of 14.
They had five children together.
Their son Isabelo de los Reyes later became a Filipino writer, activist and senator.
Due to the feminist nature of her writings, Florentino was shunned by her husband and son; she lived alone in exile and separately from her family.
She died at the age of 35.