Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga was a 19th-century Spanish woman from an affluent Bilbao family who dedicated her life to social welfare. After marrying José de Vilallonga and raising seven children, she turned her attention to the needs of the working class during a period of rapid industrialization. She established various institutions, including workshops and homes for young girls and children, to provide training and support. In 1894, she founded the Sisters of the Holy Guardian Angels to formalize her mission of educating and caring for the poor.