Lola Rodriguez de Tio

Lola Rodríguez de Tío (September 14, 1848-November 10, 1924), born in San German, Puerto Rico was the first Puerto Rican born poetist to establish herself a reputation as a great poet throughout all of Latin-America. A believer in Women's Rights, she also believed in the abolition of slavery and the in the Independence of Puerto Rico.

Lola's father, Sebastian Rodriguez de Astudillo, was the founder of the Puerto Rican Lawyers College. Her mother, Carmen Ponce de Leon, was a descendent of Juan Ponce de Leon. Lola received her education at home where she was home-tutored. That was when she developed a life-long love for literature and especially for the works of Fray Luis de Leon which were to serve as her fountain of inspiration.

Lola moved to Mayaguez, with her family, where she met Bonocio Tio Segarra, whom she married in 1863. Segarra was a well educated man who was active against the Spanish regime. She also published her first book of poetry,"Mis Cantos" which sold the then amazing amount of 2,500 copies.

In 1867 and then again in 1889, Lola and Bonocio were banished from Puerto Rico by the Spanish Governor Palacios. On their first banishment they went to Venezuela. On the second banishment they first went to New York and then to Cuba.

In 1868, inspired by Ramon Emeterio Betances's quest for Puerto Ricos independence and by the attempted revolution called the Grito de Lares, she wrote the patriotic lyrics to the existing tune of "La Boriqueña.

In Cuba, Lola was elected a member to the Cuban Academy of Arts and Letters. She was well known in Cuba for her patriotic poetry about Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Some of Lola's best known works are "Cuba y Puerto Rico are..." (Cuba and Puerto Rico are..) and "Mi Libro de Cuba" (My Book about Cuba).

In 1919, Lola Rodriguez de Tio returned to Puerto Rico where she was honored with a great banquet at the Ateneo Puertoriqueño and where she recited her "Cantos a Puerto Rico".

Lola Rodríquez de Tío died in November 10, 1924 and is buried in Havana, Cuba.

The design and colors of the Puerto Rican Flag, which was adopted in 1954, came from Lolas idea of having the same flag as Cuba with the colors reversed.

Puerto Rico has honored Lola's memeory by naming schools and avenues after her.

Also see

• List of famous Puerto Ricans