La Ilustración Filipina published its first issue on November 8, 1891, made of eight pages and a four-page cover, in two columns in cuarto.

From 1891 to 1895 it was partly edited by Miguel Zaragoza, painter, writer and teacher, who is considered to be one of the first Filipinos to publish a book of poems written in Spanish,[2] and during the Philippine Revolution became one of the editors of the Malolos Constitution.

[3] During the years that he acted as the editor of the newspaper, Zaragoza also contributed many writings and drawings, and openly gave preference to the works of native Filipino writers and artists, such as Juan Luna, Fabian de la Rosa, Rafael Enriquez and Torribio Herrera.

Juan Luna, Filipino painter, sculptor and political activist during the Philippine Revolution, was featured on the July 28, 1892, cover of the La Ilustración in spite of having maintained a strong rivalry with Zaragoza.

He contributed many illustrations and writings in successive editions, among them one of the most famous cover pages of the Ilustración showing a young Filipina seated next to a basket of books and some little girls reading, with Mayon Volcano in the background.