Leonor Rivera was considered to be Rizal’s greatest love. She was described to have soft, wavy hair, and engaging dimples. She also had a captivating singing voice and the talent to play the piano. Rivera was 13 when she met the 19th-year-old Rizal. The two had been engaged for about 10 years but did not get to marry each other. And due to the fact that they were cousins, they had to use secret codes and code names to keep their other cousins from knowing about their relationship. Taimis was the code name to which Rivera referred to herself in her letters for Rizal. Jose even immortalized Leonor as Maria Clara in his two novels.

The Riveras were considered to be wealthy just like the Rizals. Owing to this fact, there was nothing that Rizal could offer to prove his love to Leonor’s family since they had everything back then. The only thing that would seem to be promising was that if Rizal could endure their long period of engagement without even knowing if he could get Leonor’s parents’ consent. 

When Rizal went to Europe, he continued writing letters to Leonor. But as Mrs. Rivera, Leonor’s mother, was bribing the mailman, Rizal’s letters were sent to her instead of Leonor. Rivera during this time was engaged to Charles Kipping. And when things got out of hand, one letter of Rizal found its way for Leonor to see. She confronted her mother but still went on with the engagement with Kipping (though she was still deeply in love with Rizal) if Mrs. Rivera would agree to her conditions.

Learning about Rivera’s marriage with another man, Rizal was left hurt and heartbroken. And before Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, he paid Leonor a visit to confront her about this. Rivera Kipping died when she was giving birth to her second child. Rizal was devastated after knowing about this news from her mother and sisters.