Sevilla was born on March 4, 1879, in
Tondo,
Manila to Ambrosio Sevilla, a sergeant of the Spanish Army, and Silvina Tolentino y Rafael, a relative of revolutionary and playwright Aurelio Tolentino. She grew up with Tolentino her aunt who often invited nationalists and intellectuals who advocated against what they call "colonial education" into their home. She studied to be a teacher, then graduated “maestra superior” at
Assumption College. She later became the first female Dean of the
University of Santo Tomas, and established the Instituto de Mujeres (now Rosa Sevilla Memorial School) on July 15, 1900. She died on May 11, 1954, at 75 years old. ==Personal life==