199:. Her father was Marcelino Pichay Florentino, Vigan's wealthiest man at the time, while her mother was Isabel Florentina, who first educated her as a child. She began to write her first verses in Ilocano at a very young age. Despite her potential, she was not allowed to receive a university education because of her gender and the patriarchal norms of the era. Because of this, her mother Isabel, who was also disallowed to have a university education when she was young, made it her personal mission to tutor Leona and teach her everything she knew to expand her daughter's natural talent. A series of private teachers were also persuaded and brought by her mother to teach Leona, and later, included an educated Ilocano Catholic priest, Evaristo Abaya, the curate of Vigan. Evaristo, impressed by a 10-year old Leona's high level of talent in poetry despite having no formal education, agreed to teach her advanced Spanish writing and speech and encouraged her to develop her voice in poetry even though it was against the era's norms.
203:
some in the 1800's for a variety of reasons. With their marriage, the ownership of some land properties of her father's clan were secured and remained within the family. As a young teenager, she bore and raised five children. Despite the constraints imposed on her by the era's norms against women liberation, she did not stop writing. Her creative talent expanded exponentially through the years, while her perspectives on equality progressed, leading to her feminist writings which would later on would be her most impactful works. Some of her works narrated her lived experience of loving a woman during the patriarchal colonial era, becoming one of the most important historical lesbian writing in
Philippine literature. After her husband Elias found out about her protofeminist writings, their marriage quickly soured. Due to the
219:, who was 6 years old when his mother was removed from his life, later on reconnected ties with her after the death of Elias, which allowed him to finally visit his mother after some 14 years when he was around 20 years old. Both mother and son grew a very close relationship, where Leona greatly influenced Isabelo's social perspectives, later on leading to Isabelo's successful literary career and democratic-progressive ideals and support for Philippine revolution and women's rights as an adult. Isabelo also became a progressive activist and would be elected as senator after the revolution. Leona continued her literary works until she died on October 4, 1884 due to tuberculosis at the age of 35. She was buried in
355:, where she would vocally deliver her poems during occasions such as celebrations, anniversaries, and other events. It was also common knowledge among her peers that she would always promise to write a poem to her friends or relatives, leading to everyone to await the moment when she would express her verses either publicly for everyone to hear or secretly for close friends and progressive allies. Before her poems were published internationally by her son Isabelo, people from Vigan society and the region were known to speak her poems even after her death, influencing the society of her homeland by way of oral and literary tradition. Her life and creative works have made a huge impact in both
208:
believed that the reason was Leona's feminist ideals and influence on her children, which Elias was fully against. Elias vocally did not support Leona's creative inclination towards the literary feminist arts. At the age of around 20, Leona lived alone in exile and was separated from her five children, who were disallowed to see their mother. She moved to a small neighborhood outside the city. While continuing her writings and spoken word engagements, she became adept in horseback riding and smoking cigars. Her ideals and the path she took was never accepted by her wealthy father, who remained as head of the clan. Prominent politician and playwright
344:(International Encyclopedia of Women's Works) in 1889. Although more known for her poems, Leona also wrote manifestos on Filipina strength and critiques on colonial rule through satirical writings in a gentle progression. For much of the 20th century, Leona's sexuality and romantic relationships with some of her female peers were intentionally neglected by scholars of literature, to an extent that they have been omitted in chronicles, likely an attempt to whitewash her sexual orientation. This whitewashing was halted after her life as a lesbian woman was finally vividly performed in the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the 1990's.
305:
132:
31:
281:, initiated performances honoring Leona's works and contributions to the arts and the democratic ideals of the country. Monologues, with many translated from the original Ilocano or Spanish, alluded to her life, including her love for a woman during the patriarchal Spanish colonial era, where lesbian or queer love was persecuted. A sculpture was also made, and now stands at the plaza fronting her family's ancestral house in the
328:. Of her many writings, unfortunately, only 22 poems have been preserved, where many were likely destroyed by those against her progressive writings during the patriarchal Spanish colonial era, while some were destroyed as a result of war against the Spanish colonizers. The remaining 22 literary contributions were posthumously presented at the Exposicion General de Filipinas in
250:), officially seceding from the Roman Catholic Church which was controlled by ultra-conservative priests who wanted to maintain the patriarchy at the time. Many revolutionaries and intellectuals became members of the IFI and were influenced by the new institution's progressive teachings, leading to liberal reforms in Philippine society in the 1900's, including women's right to
223:. After her death, her son Isabelo made it his mission to exponentially introduce her mother's literary prowess to the world by way of international promulgation, publications, and exchanges with his peers, leading to the expansion of people who became familiar with Leona's progressive feminist poetic creations, which were published and preserved in
351:, recognizing Leona as the “Mother of Feminist Literature” in the Philippines, honored her as "the “bridge” from oral tradition to written poetry" because of her skillful way of delivering her verses, while noting her works as “excellently lyrical”. She was known to be peak caliber not just in the creative writing arts, but also in
202:
Her home education, however, was cut short after her father, Marcelino, forced her at the age of 14 to marry the politician Elias Llanes de los Reyes, who was the alcalde mayor of Vigan at the time and way beyond her age. Leona and Elias were cousins, and marriage between relatives was practiced by
207:
nature of her writings and her progressive ideals for women and minorities, in around 1869 to 1870, Florentino was shunned by her pro-patriarchy husband, as well as her children who were convinced by their father. Elias personally stated that he shunned Leona due to her tuberculosis, but most
258:, one of the feminist causes of his mother Leona. Despite retiring from politics in 1931 due to sickness, he continued his campaign as a civilian until women's right to vote was finally legalized in 1937. Isabelo died in 1938 and was buried in
292:. Her house has been preserved and converted into the offices of the Provincial Tourism Center, the Vigan Heritage Commission, and the gastronomical center of Casa Leona. Leona's clan continues to live in Vigan while some reside in
558:
Mojares, Resil (2006). Brains of the nation : Pedro
Paterno, T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Isabelo de los Reyes, and the production of modern knowledge. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
609:
Jolo, J. B. & Manansala, A. M. B. (2020). Courting the Gaze, Romancing the
Margins: Queer Re-Orientation in Emiliana Kampilan’s Komix. Review of Women's Studies. University of the Philippines.
179:
of her era. She is considered as the "mother of
Philippine women's literature", serving as the "bridge from oral to literary tradition"; and as a pioneer in Philippine lesbian literature.
254:, which was one of the many things that Leona was disallowed to have in her youth. After becoming senator in 1922, Isabelo controversially campaigned for women's right to
752:
30:
485:
747:
707:
717:
712:
167:(19 April 1849 – 4 October 1884) was a Filipina foundational poet, dramatist, satirist, and playwright who wrote and poetically spoke in
421:
Blanton, S. (2016). A Threshold of
Flowers: Public and Private Eroticism in the Poems of Leona Florentino. University of North Carolina.
378:, which is poetic narrative of one's private erotic reflections disallowed among women but allowed for men during the colonial era, and
382:, which depicts Leona's doomed love for a woman she cannot be with due to the patriarchal constraints of her era. Other poems include
742:
702:
85:
61:
172:
103:
278:
316:
Her lyrical poetry in
Spanish, and especially that in Ilocano, gained attention in various international forums in
722:
732:
243:
236:
450:, an article from Firefly - Filipino Short Stories (Tulikärpänen - filippiiniläisiä novelleja), 2001 / 2007.
477:
340:
in 1889 and at the St. Louis
International Exposition in Missouri in 1904. They were also included in the
697:
277:
Beginning in the 1990's, more than a century after Leona's death, the
Philippine government through the
737:
659:
459:
692:
727:
370:, which tells of a spinster in her 28th birthday who was tragically only pursued by older men,
266:, Leona's grandchild and Isabelo's son, Isabelo Valentin de los Reyes, Jr. y LĂłpez, became the
209:
360:
687:
682:
507:"Film # 007487537 Image Film # 007487537; ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZK-RH4P — FamilySearch.org"
216:
156:
366:
Some of the preserved works of Leona
Florentino which mirror some aspects of her life are
8:
634:
Carbo, Nick (2002). "Poetry—Philippines". In
Christensen, Karen; Levinson, David (eds.).
619:
Carbo, Nick (2002). "Poetry—Philippines". In Christensen, Karen; Levinson, David (eds.).
595:
Carbo, Nick (2002). "Poetry—Philippines". In Christensen, Karen; Levinson, David (eds.).
580:
Carbo, Nick (2002). "Poetry—Philippines". In Christensen, Karen; Levinson, David (eds.).
506:
325:
285:
549:
Mabanglo, R. E. (2020). Leona Florentino: Mother of Filipina poetry. Philippine Graphic.
356:
308:
Historical marker of Leona Florentino, installed by the Philippine government in 1958.
304:
239:
168:
107:
648:
220:
447:
267:
118:
676:
232:
204:
570:
Umali, J. (2019). Who are the Descendants of our Heroes Today? Esquire Mag.
511:
293:
263:
35:
Statue of Leona Florentino on Calle Crisologo, Vigan City viewed at night.
352:
137:
215:
Her husband Elias died more than a decade later in 1883. Her eldest son
192:
81:
57:
332:
in 1887 three years after her death. They are again presented at the
251:
663:
463:
255:
329:
309:
282:
259:
224:
187:
Born to the Florentino clan, a wealthy and prominent family in
337:
321:
317:
289:
228:
188:
77:
53:
271:
235:. In 1902, Isabelo, along with his friend and fellow anti-
274:, in the progressive Philippine Independent Church.
147:
Elias de los Reyes (1863–1883, his death; estranged)
195:, Florentino was baptized under the Christian name
342:Encyclopedia Internationale des Oeuvres des Femmes
469:
674:
95:Novelist, Political writer, Poet, and Journalist
649:https://www.poemist.com/leona-florentino/poems
478:"New comic book challenges Maria Clara image"
374:, which celebrates the birthday of a maiden,
638:. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 537–539.
623:. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 537–539.
599:. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 537–539.
584:. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 537–539.
753:Spanish-language writers of the Philippines
417:
415:
413:
411:
409:
407:
545:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
533:
531:
529:
312:installed another marker below her statue.
29:
566:
564:
475:
443:
441:
439:
437:
435:
433:
431:
429:
427:
448:The History of Filipino Women's Writings
404:
303:
526:
675:
561:
499:
424:
633:
618:
594:
579:
372:CoronaciĂłn de una soltera en sus dĂas
384:Kakaibang Pagkalibing ng Paghahangad
86:Captaincy General of the Philippines
62:Captaincy General of the Philippines
748:19th-century Filipino women writers
708:People from the Spanish East Indies
13:
718:Filipino people of Spanish descent
713:Filipino people of Chinese descent
279:Cultural Center of the Philippines
14:
764:
660:Writing Lesbian, Lesbian writing
460:Writing Lesbian, Lesbian writing
130:
653:
642:
627:
612:
603:
588:
488:from the original on 2017-02-27
482:The Alternative Online Magazine
476:Baraoidan, Kimmy (2017-02-27).
573:
552:
453:
1:
743:19th-century Filipino writers
397:
244:Philippine Independent Church
7:
703:19th-century Filipino poets
636:Encyclopedia of Modern Asia
621:Encyclopedia of Modern Asia
597:Encyclopedia of Modern Asia
582:Encyclopedia of Modern Asia
10:
769:
347:In 2020, the prestigious
171:, her mother tongue, and
151:
143:
125:
113:
99:
91:
67:
40:
28:
21:
334:International Exposicion
299:
212:was her brother-in-law.
197:Leona Josefa Florentina
182:
165:Leona Josefa Florentino
723:Spanish-language poets
313:
662:(Cruz, Jhoanna Lynn,
462:(Cruz, Jhoanna Lynn,
376:DeclaraciĂłn simbĂłlica
368:FelicitaciĂłn satĂrica
361:Philippine literature
307:
733:Filipino women poets
288:of Calle Crisologo,
270:, the equivalent of
217:Isabelo de los Reyes
157:Isabelo de los Reyes
388:Naunsyaming pag-asa
326:St. Louis, Missouri
286:world heritage site
210:Marcelino CrisĂłlogo
698:Filipino feminists
357:Ilocano literature
353:spoken word poetry
349:Philippine Graphic
314:
242:, established the
738:People from Vigan
262:. In 1946, after
162:
161:
760:
667:
657:
651:
646:
640:
639:
631:
625:
624:
616:
610:
607:
601:
600:
592:
586:
585:
577:
571:
568:
559:
556:
550:
547:
524:
523:
521:
519:
503:
497:
496:
494:
493:
473:
467:
457:
451:
445:
422:
419:
392:Pagbating babiro
380:Nalpay A Namnama
240:Gregorio Aglipay
136:
134:
133:
74:
50:
48:
33:
23:Leona Florentino
19:
18:
768:
767:
763:
762:
761:
759:
758:
757:
693:Proto-feminists
673:
672:
671:
670:
658:
654:
647:
643:
632:
628:
617:
613:
608:
604:
593:
589:
578:
574:
569:
562:
557:
553:
548:
527:
517:
515:
505:
504:
500:
491:
489:
474:
470:
458:
454:
446:
425:
420:
405:
400:
302:
221:Vigan Cathedral
185:
131:
129:
106:
76:
72:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
16:Filipina writer
12:
11:
5:
766:
756:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
728:Ilocano people
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
669:
668:
652:
641:
626:
611:
602:
587:
572:
560:
551:
525:
498:
468:
452:
423:
402:
401:
399:
396:
301:
298:
296:for commerce.
184:
181:
160:
159:
153:
149:
148:
145:
141:
140:
127:
123:
122:
115:
111:
110:
101:
97:
96:
93:
89:
88:
75:(aged 35)
71:4 October 1884
69:
65:
64:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
765:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
680:
678:
665:
664:Bulatlat News
661:
656:
650:
645:
637:
630:
622:
615:
606:
598:
591:
583:
576:
567:
565:
555:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
534:
532:
530:
514:
513:
508:
502:
487:
483:
479:
472:
465:
464:Bulatlat News
461:
456:
449:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
432:
430:
428:
418:
416:
414:
412:
410:
408:
403:
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
364:
362:
358:
354:
350:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
311:
306:
297:
295:
291:
287:
284:
280:
275:
273:
269:
268:Obispo Máximo
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
238:
234:
233:United States
230:
226:
222:
218:
213:
211:
206:
205:protofeminist
200:
198:
194:
190:
180:
178:
177:lingua franca
174:
170:
166:
158:
155:5, including
154:
150:
146:
142:
139:
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
109:
105:
102:
98:
94:
90:
87:
83:
79:
70:
66:
63:
59:
55:
51:19 April 1849
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
655:
644:
635:
629:
620:
614:
605:
596:
590:
581:
575:
554:
518:27 September
516:. Retrieved
512:FamilySearch
510:
501:
490:. Retrieved
481:
471:
455:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
365:
348:
346:
341:
333:
315:
294:Metro Manila
276:
264:World War II
247:
246:(IFI in the
214:
201:
196:
186:
176:
164:
163:
73:(1884-10-04)
688:1884 deaths
683:1849 births
138:Philippines
126:Citizenship
114:Nationality
677:Categories
492:2022-07-19
398:References
231:, and the
193:Ilocos Sur
117:Filipino (
92:Occupation
82:Ilocos Sur
58:Ilocos Sur
47:1849-04-19
252:education
666:), 2005.
486:Archived
466:), 2005.
256:suffrage
152:Children
100:Language
173:Spanish
169:Ilocano
119:Ilocano
108:Ilocano
104:Spanish
390:, and
330:Madrid
310:UNESCO
283:UNESCO
260:Manila
248:locale
225:France
175:, the
144:Spouse
135:
338:Paris
322:Paris
318:Spain
300:Works
290:Vigan
237:friar
229:Spain
189:Vigan
78:Vigan
54:Vigan
520:2016
359:and
324:and
272:Pope
183:Life
68:Died
41:Born
336:in
679::
563:^
528:^
509:.
484:.
480:.
426:^
406:^
394:.
386:,
363:.
320:,
227:,
191:,
84:,
80:,
60:,
56:,
522:.
495:.
121:)
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
