Ildefonso Santos


Ildefonso Santos was a Filipino educator and poet.
He was the father of Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr., the architect who was awarded as national artist for his outstanding achievement in architecture and allied arts on June 9, 2006.

Early life and writings

Santos was born on 23 January 1897, in Baritan, Malabon, Manila. He showed his talent in poetry through a love letter for a secret lover. His cousin, Leonardo Diangson, read the letter, and it was later published in the newspaper Ang Mithî. After publishing, the letter was read by Iñigo Ed Regalado. Santos began writing poetry in earnest and using Ilaw Silangan as his pen name. He finished his studies as a first professor in Pilipino at the National Teachers College. Before World War II, he was also a supervisor for the national language.

His works