early life and literary pursuits Severino Reyes y Rivera, known by his pen name Lola Basyang and affectionately called Don Binoy, was a Filipino writer, playwright, and an unsung hero in the realm of visual arts. Born in 1861 in Manila, Philippines, and passing away in 1942, his life traversed multiple disciplines, leaving an indelible mark on the country's literary and artistic landscape. His fascination with storytelling began early,…