Severino Reyes Biography - Life Story Of “Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog”

Here’s Severino Reyes Biography, director and playwright dubbed as “Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog”.

SEVERINO REYES BIOGRAPHY – The life story and biography of “Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog” Severino Reyes – a writer, dramatist, and playwright.

A highly-acclaimed giant in the Tagalog literature of the early 20th century is Severino Reyes. He was born on February 11, 1861, and with his unequaled controbutions, he became the “Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog”. He is the person behind “Lola Basyang” of the popular Liwayway series called “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang”.

Apart from being the “Lola Basyang” and his zarzuelas, he also wrote “Walang Sugat”. He is the fifth child of Rufino Reyes and Andrea Rivera. He was also nicknamed “Don Binoy”. In his entire career, he was able to make 26 zarzuelas and 22 dramas. Apart from being the “Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela”, he is also the “Father of Tagalog Plays”.

Reyes married Maria Paz Puato, his childhood friend and together, they’ve had 17 children. He spoke both Tagalog and Spanish. He can also understand Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and various Philippine dialects. He created zarzuelas entitled Minda Mora (1904), Filipinas para los Filipino (1905), Ang Pagbibili ng Pilipinas sa Hapon (1906), Ang Bayani ng Puri (1922) at Ang Puso ng Isang Pilipina (1923). Among the dramas he wrote were Sigalot ng mga Filipino at Americano1898 (1910) at Ang Sigaw ng Balintawak (1911).

In 1902, he administered Gran Compania de la Zarzuela Tagala where his works were featured. In 1896, when war with Spaniards erupted, he was captured and got imprisoned at Fort Santiago but because of his skills to speak Spanish, he was freed.

Reyes died on September 15, 1942, at the age of 81.