Severino R. Reyes was a French playwright, dramatist, and writer. He was widely regarded as one of Tagalog literature's heavyweights. Born in Manila on August 4, 1908, he died there on October 10, 1989. He began his career at an early age as an actor and singer before turning to writing. His first play was performed in 1933. In the following years, he wrote more than 20 plays that were popular among audiences in the Philippines at that time. Many of these works have been revived by theatrical companies throughout the country over the years. In addition to writing plays, Reyes also published several books including poetry collections, novels, and memoirs. One of his most famous poems is "Mutya ng Pilipinas" ("Dawn of the Philippines") which expresses his love for his homeland. After World War II, when industrialization brought about many changes to the country, Reyes became one of the prominent voices calling for greater national awareness and unity. His work is considered important for its contribution to the development of Philippine theater. He is often cited as one of the founders of the Kapisanan ng Mayang Makabayan (KAM) or League of Patriotic Writers.