Severino Reyes

Severino Reyes (12 February 1861 – 1942) was a Filipino writer, playwright, and director of plays. He used the pen name Lola Basyang. He was nicknamed "Don Binoy". Reyes is known as the "Father of Tagalog Plays" and as the "Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela".

Biography
Reyes is one of the children of Andrea Rivera and Rufino Reyes. He was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila. He studied at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He started writing plays when he stopped studying at the University of Santo Tomas after the death of his father. He translated Spanish-language plays into the Tagalog language, until he was able to create his own original works. Reyes is one of the followers of plays performed at the Teatro Zorrilla, where he witnessed both the period of popularity and then the abandonment of the said theater house.

Works

 * Walang Sugat ("Not Wounded") - one of the most popular Philippine zarzuelas
 * Other Tagalog zarzuelas written by Reyes were Minda Mora, Mga Bihag ni Cupido ("Cupid's Prisoner"), Ang Bagong Fausto ("The New Faustus"), Ang Tunay na Hukom ("The True Judge"), Ang Tatlong Bituin ("The Three Stars"), Margaritang Mananahi ("Margarita the Seamstress"), Ang Halik ng Isang Patay ("Kiss of One [Already] Dead") and Luha ng Kagalakan ("Tears of Joy")
 * Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang ("The Stories of Grandmother Basyang") - a collection of fables with moral lessons

Descendants
Among Reyes' descendants are:
 * Pedrito Reyes (Son)
 * Efren Reyes, Sr. (Grandson)
 * Severino Reyes II (Grandson)
 * Efren Reyes, Jr. (Great-grandson)
 * k (Great-grandson)