July 12th 1904
Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (Pablo Neruda) is born in Parral, a southern Chilean town. He is the only son of Rosa Basoalto and José del Carmen Reyes.

September 14th 1904
His mother, Rosa Basoalto, dies affected by tuberculosis.

September 26 th 1904
He is baptized in Parral’s San José parish.

1906
José Del Carmen Reyes, his father, moves to Temuco with his son and marries Trinidad Candia Marverde, whom Neruda will call “mamadre”. Trinidad Candia is also mother of Rodolfo, Neruda’s older brother, born in 1895, son of José del Carmen Reyes.

1907
August 2th: Laura Reyes, Neruda’s sister, daughter of José del Carmen Reyes and Aurelia Tolrá is born. The girl will later be adopted by Trinidad Candia Marverde.

1910

Neruda enters the Temuco high school for men, where he graduates.

1917
July 18th: an article signed by the Neftalí Reyes and titled “Enthusiasm and perseverance” appears in La Mañana, Temuco’s newspaper. This is his first publication.

1918
The poem “My eyes”, signed by Neftalí Reyes appears in the Corre-Vuela magazine. The same magazine will later publish another three Neruda’s poems.
Since this year to 1922 Neruda writes several articles printed by different publications: La Mañana and Diario Austral of Temuco; Revista Cultural of Valdivia; Ratos Ilustrados of Chillán and in literary magazines published by Temuco students.


1919
Neruda publishes 13 poems in Corre-Vuela magazine.
Neruda collaborates in Selva Austral of Temuco.
He takes part in the poetry contest “Juegos florales del Maule” and receives the “third reward” diploma for the poem “Comunión ideal” or “Nocturno ideal”.
He begins writing poems later compiled in posthumous anthologies such as “Los cuadernos de Temuco” (1996) and “El río invisible” (1980).


1920

He meets Gabriela Mistral, who arrives in Temuco as the high school’s principal. In 1954 Neruda will remember this meeting: “...she made me read the first greatest names of the Russian literature, who have been a big influence on me”.
October: he starts signing his works with the nickname Pablo Neruda.
He becomes president of the literary club Ateneo Literario at Temuco high school and pro secretary of Cautin’s student association.
November 28th: he graduates from Temuco high school for men after getting a bachelor degree.