[2] He was born in Santa Cruz, Manila and studied at the Ateneo de Manila where he finished his Bachelor of Arts, before studying law at the University of Santo Tomas.

During the early years of American occupation, he worked as a journalist for the revolutionary newspapers Independence, The Brotherhood, The Union, Renaissance and Democracy.

His pseudonym on his work at the La Independencia, under Antonio Luna, was Catulo.

[3] He later joined the Nacionalista Party which wanted the independence of the Philippines from the United States.

[1] In the book of poems, Pentélicas, he described landscapes evoking a vivid image.