Leonor Rivera

Leonor Rivera-Kipping (née Rivera y Bauzon; 11 April 1867 – 28 August 1893) 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. She was immortalized by Rizal as the character María Clara in the Spanish-language novel Noli Me Tangere. Austin Coates, Rizal's European biographer, described Rivera in Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr as a "pretty woman" whose physical features included having a "high forehead", "soft and wavy hair", a face that sported "almond eyes", "small and pensive mouth", and "engaging dimples". Furthermore, Rivera was a talented, mature, and intelligent lady who played the piano

Marriage to Kipping Rivera met Kipping at the house of Doña Carmen Villamil, who was a former classmate of hers at La Concordia College. Kipping was associated with the engineer Crisóstomo Villamil, who supervised the Manila-Dagupan railway line project at the time. Rivera and Kipping were married on June 17, 1890, in Dagupan. Their first child was Carlos Rivera Kipping Sr.

Death Rivera died on 28 August 1893, shortly after giving birth to her second child with Kipping. Shortly before she died, her last wish was to have the silver box containing the ashes of Rizal's burned letters be buried with her.

Media portrayals Portrayed by Mickey Ferriols in the film, Jose Rizal (1998). Portrayed by Kylie Padilla in the TV series, Ilustrado (2014).