Etymology
The spelling variations of this surname include Franco, Francos, Franca, Francés, Frances, among others. The name was first used in Castile in northern Spain.
Our Line
Unconfirmed stories place our line’s origin in Alabat, Quezon, Philippines. Narcisa Francisco is the earliest known matriarch of our branch of the Francisco Clan. She had at least three daughters: Candelaria, Guillerma and Leoncia (the grandmother of Philip Dudley Cezar). By marriage, the clan is related to other families of note: Cezar, Fabie, and Hernandez.
Etymology
The family name is a variant of the name, Hernando. The suffix “-ez” was added to a root name to indicate “the son of”. Spelling variations of this surname include Herraiz, Herráez, Herraez, Herranz, Hernaiz, Hernáez, Hernaez, among others. The name can be traced to Castile, Spain, where the name originated in Visigothic times.
Our Line
Herman Hernandez, who was born in the 1860s, is the earliest known patriarch of our branch of the Hernandez Clan. His wife was Maria Macaria Anderson, supposedly of American-Mexican descent. They raised their family in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines.
By marriage, the clan is related to other families of note: Francisco, Gonzales, Magno, Ortiz, Pacheco, Trinidad and Zaldivar. Individuals, kin to the Hernandez Clan, are known to be athletic, hardworking and business-savvy. Their patriarchs have played a big role in the post-war rebuilding effort; and their descendants have figured prominently in academe, arts, business, government and sports.
Jose I. Hernandez, the founder of Victory Liner | Juan Anderson Hernandez, a Senate Sergeant-at-Arms | Nicolas Anderson Hernandez, a tinidor de libro for Ayala y Compañia, the precursor of the Ayala Corporation | Eduardo Alvir Pacheco, a Philippine sports legend
Gallery
Juan Anderson Hernandez was born 0n 8 March 1885 in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines to Herman Hernandez and Maria Macaria Anderson. According to oral histories, his mother was a woman of American-Mexican descent.
Juan allegedly worked as an actor for silent film and appeared in “Ang Magpapawid” with Mary Walter, under a stage name.
Juan had an illustrious career during the American regime, serving as officer of the Philippine National Guard and of the Reserve Corps of the US Army. In February 1932, he was among the founders the National Volunteers of the Philippines, a semi-military organization composed of civic-minded citizens, and held the rank of Brigadier General. In July 1938, Juan Anderson Hernandez was among 198 officers of the Philippine Army who were transferred to the newly-formed Philippine Constabulary, the national police organization. Captain Hernandez’ responsibility was “commanding headquarters troops”.
During World War II, in 1942, he was promoted to Major and served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Constabulary Academy, an institution under the control of the Japanese Military Administration. He left this post in 1943 for another assignment as the Senior Inspector of the Philippine Constabulary in Samar.
Juan served as the Sergeant-at-Arms at the Philippine Senate, headed by Manuel Quezon (1935-1940) and Manuel Roxas (1940- 1943). He also served as Aide de Camp to President Elpidio Quirino (1948).
After serving in government, he became the chief steward for the Sta. Ana Racetrack. A street in Sta. Ana, Manila, Philippines was named after him.
Juan’s mestizo looks supposedly made him irresistible to many women — it is said that he sired children with as many as fifteen paramours. Family lore says that he married at a very young age to a woman from Pasay. Their union did not result in children, and they were no longer together by the time his children with other women were born. Juan fell in love with Candelaria Francisco of Alabat, Quezon, Philippines with whom he had Fredesvinda Francisco Hernandez. With Conchita Ortiz (a soprano), he sired Jesus Hernandez Ortiz — Jesus became the editor-in-chief of La Voz de Manila, a now-defunct Spanish language newspaper. He had two other children from two different women: Milagros Zaldivar Hernandez and Dorothy Fleming Hernandez. His last partner was Dolores Gonzales with whom he had German. They lived in 404 Barasoin St., Makati, in the 1950s.
On 29 July 1957, Juan left ex-President Quirino’s home on Novaliches to go to V. Luna General Hospital in Quezon City. He came in for a check-up and accidentally slipped and hit his head, as he was getting off the examination bed. He was quickly confined and was attended to by Dr. Felix Sibal. After 19 days, Juan passed away on 11 August 1957 at 3:45 pm. He was 72 years old. While his obituary reads that he died from a heart attack, his death certificate states that the condition directly leading to death is “undetermined”. Juan’s wake was at the Funeraria Popular along 2139 Rizal Avenue, Manila. He was finally laid to rest on 15 August 1957 at the La Loma Cemetery, also called North Cemetery, in the city of Manila.
Other Articles
The Search for Juan: The Philippine Senate
The Search for Juan: The Constabulary School, Part 2
The Search for Juan: Details on the Death Certificate
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