The masterpiece of Severino Reyes that underscores the injustice of Spanish rule and centers on the cruel fate of the young lovers Tenyong and Julia is the Tagalog-language zarzuela Walang Sugat (literally "No Wound" or "Unwounded"). Written in 1898, Walang Sugat is set during the Philippine Revolution against Spain and portrays the oppression Filipinos suffered under Spanish colonial rule, including the torture of Filipino patriots. The story follows Tenyong, who leaves Julia to join the Katipunan, and Julia, who is pressured by her mother to marry another man when she believes Tenyong has died. The play combines themes of love, patriotism, and injustice with humor and song, culminating in Tenyong's dramatic return at Julia's wedding, defying the cruel fate imposed on the lovers

. Severino Reyes, known as the "Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela," wrote Walang Sugat as a statement against imperialism, making it a powerful expression of Filipino nationalism during Spanish rule

. The zarzuela was considered subversive by American colonial authorities and led to Reyes' imprisonment. It remains one of the most significant and popular works in Philippine literature for its blend of romance, political commentary, and cultural expression