Cea was born in the city of
Izalco, department of
Sonsonate,
El Salvador, on April 10, 1939. He studied
journalism and
literature at the
Universidad de El Salvador (UES), though he did not conclude his course of studies. He has served as the director of the editorial board of the UES, director or co-director of the journals "La Universidad" and "La Pájara Pinta," and has held several other positions related to the UES. Cea's literature has earned him several national and international literary prizes, among them: