Leonor Rivera

Who was Leonor Rivera?

Leonor Rivera Kipping was the childhood sweetheart, and “lover by correspondence” of Philippine national hero José Rizal. Rivera was the “greatest influence” in preventing Rizal from falling in love with other women while Rizal was traveling outside the Philippines. Rivera's romantic relationship with Rizal lasted for eight years. She was immortalized by Rizal as the character María Clara in the Spanish-language novel Noli Me Tangere. Her original hometown is in Camiling, Tarlac.