Cuenco family



Introduction

The Cuenco family is a multigenerational political and religious family from Cebu, Philippines, whose members have been active in public service, journalism, publishing, and the Catholic Church since the late nineteenth century. Its earliest documented patriarch, Mariano Albao Cuenco, was a Cebuano poet, teacher, and publisher who founded the Imprenta Rosario printing press, while his wife Remedios López Diosomito Cuenco managed the enterprise following his death and became one of the first female publishers in Cebu. Succeeding generations included Mariano Jesús Cuenco, who served as President of the Senate of the Philippines, and José María Cuenco, who became the first Archbishop of Jaro and founded the Catholic newspaper El Boletín Católico. Subsequent members have held elective and appointive posts in both national and local government, making the Cuencos one of Cebu’s longest-continuing political families.

Later Generations

In later generations, members of the Cuenco family continued to be active in public service, publishing, and business. One descendant, Emmanuel Luis Gonzalez, is the son of Teresita Cuenco—identified in civil-registry records as a daughter of former Senate President Mariano Jesús Cuenco—and Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez later founded and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, a property noted for its lagoon-style architecture and hospitality standards. Earlier members of the family include Mariano Jesús Cuenco, who served as Senate President of the Philippines from 1949 to 1951, and his brother José María Cuenco, the first Archbishop of Jaro and founder of the Catholic newspaper El Boletín Católico. Other descendants have included Governor Manuel A. Cuenco, Representative Antonio V. Cuenco, and several local officials in Cebu Province.

History

Mariano Albao Cuenco & Remedios Lopez Diosmito
The beginnings of this powerful political family can be traced back to Mariano Albao Cuenco, a poet and teacher from Capiz, who married Remedios Diosomito. Remedios originally came from Naic, Cavite, but attended school in Cebu. The couple settled first in Carmen. They later lived in Leyte, but returned to reside in the famous Parian district of Old Cebu. They had 16 children, of which only five survived to adulthood. Jose Maria Cuenco, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Dolores Cuenco, Remedios Cuenco Borromeo, and Miguel Cuenco. Most of their children died in infancy; a son Jaime died when he was older.
At the turn of the 20th century, shortly after the Philippine–American War, Mariano Albao worked as a Court of Clerk to the American Judge Carlock. He also wrote and founded the Imprenta Rosario where he and his family published several newspapers. He later ran for governor, but lost. His children went on to be powerful figures in politics and religion.
After Mariano Albao died, his wife Remedios took over the management of the Imprenta Rosario and is technically the First Woman Publisher of Cebu.
The Children of Mariano Albao
Mariano Albao and Remedios Diosmito bore sixteen children, to which five survived, and to which three of them transcended to become well-known leaders of their provinces.
Senator Mariano Jesús Diosomito Cuenco was born in Carmen, Cebu on January 16, 1888, to Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios Lopez Diosomito. He studied at the Colegio de San Carlos of Cebu where he graduated in 1904 with a degree in Bachelor of Arts. He finished law in 1911 at the Escuela de Derecho and passed the bar examinations in 1913. With his first wife, Filomena Alesna Cuenco, they bore the bloodline of the political generation, as well as the most recognized generation.
Representative Miguel Cuenco of 5th district, Cebu; National Assembly ; In office as a Representative 1931–1941, 1944–1946, 1949–1965.
Archbishop Cuenco was born in Carmen, Cebu, Philippines on May 19, 1885, the eldest child of Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios Diosomito. He became the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro, Philippines. Jose Maria was in Washington D.C. as a Pensionado in 1906, when he contracted typhoid fever and almost died. During his long convalescence, he began to read the lives of saints and decided to become a priest instead of a lawyer. Ordained a priest in Cebu on June 11, 1914, he went on to become Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo. As a publisher, he founded El Boletin Catolico and Veritas, an English-Spanish weekly.
Bloodline of Mariano Jesus
With Mariano Jesus' first wife, Filomena Alesna Cuenco, they had seven children; Manuel Cuenco, Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra, Carmen Cuenco, Lourdes Cuenco, Consuelo Cuenco Reyes, Teresita Cuenco Gonzales, and Maria Cuenco.
One out of seven of them became a political leader, and nurtured and influenced a political family; Gov. Manuel Cuenco.
Governor Manuel Cuenco was Cebu's Governor, In office as a Governor during the 1950s. To which he raised up six children with Milagros Cuenco; Antonio Cuenco, Ramon Cuenco, Filomena Cuenco Panis, Jose Cuenco, Jesus Cuenco, and Manuel Cuenco Jr.
Antonio Cuenco became the congressman of 2nd district of Cebu on 1987 until 1998. His wife, Nancy Cuenco, took the title of a congresswoman when she resumed his seat after his term was over. Congressman Antonio Cuenco ran once again for his congressional seat in 2001. Nancy and Antonio had four children; James Cuenco, Ronald Cuenco, Antonio Cuenco Jr. and Cynthia Cuenco Dizon. And to which only two of them developed the political heredity.
Councilor Ronald Cuenco was in office as a Councilor on 1992–2001; then becoming the Consultant/ Office of the Mayor of Cebu City/ Market Affairs 2001–2003.
James Cuenco, on the other hand, became the Chief Legislative Staff Officer, under office of his father, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, House of Representatives. His wife, Marjorie Mejorada Cuenco, became the Supervising legislative staff officer III under office in Research and Reference Bureau, House of Representatives.
Antonio Cuenco's brother, Jesus Cuenco, also became a well-known figure. He served as the President of Cebu's famous Casino Español.
Also, Antonio Cuenco's cousin, Emmanuel Gonzales, became the co-founder and President of Cebu's most famous resort, the Plantation Bay resort.

Cuenco members

In politics

  • Mariano Albao Cuenco † - Born 1861; died 1909. Poet, journalist, grammarian. Born in Kalibo, Capiz on Dec. 8, 1861. Attended Normal de Manila and taught in public schools in Sogod and Catmon. In 1889, moved to Baybay, Leyte to do business. He returned to Cebu, settling with his family in Colon Street, Parian. He became a journalist, writing for various papers. He started the Imprenta Rosario press. His pseudonym was "Asuang." Ran for Cebu governor but lost. Died on July 9, 1909.
  • Mariano Jesús Cuenco † - Born 1888; died 1964. Member of the Philippine Assembly 1912–16; 4-term Cebu Representative, 5th district; 2-term Cebu Governor; Senate President and Cabinet Member; Philippine Legislature ; In office as a Senator 1912–1928, 1941–1964. Born in Carmen on January 16, 1888. Like his father, mother, and siblings, he was also a writer and publisher. He founded the bilingual newspaper, El Precursor, which ran from 1907-eve of World War II. In 1947, he founded The Republic.
  • Miguel Cuenco † - Born December 15, 1904; died June 20, 1990. Representative, 5th district, Cebu; National Assembly ; In office as a Representative 1931–1941, 1944–1946, 1949–1965.
  • Manuel A. Cuenco † - Cebu Governor, In office as a Governor during the 1950s.
  • Antonio Cuenco † - Born March 26, 1936; died June 27, 2020. Representative, 2nd district, Cebu; House of Representatives; In office as a Congressman 1987–1998, 2000–2010; Secretary General of the AIPA Delegation, 2010.
  • Nancy Cuenco - Representative, 2nd district, Cebu City; House of Representatives; In office as a Congresswoman 1998–2001.
  • James Anthony Cuenco - Chief legislative staff officer; Office of father, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, House of Representatives; Cebu City Councilor.
  • Marjorie M. Cuenco - Supervising legislative staff officer III; Research and Reference Bureau, House of Representatives; Up to present. Lawyer.
  • Ronald R. Cuenco - Councilor; Cebu City 1992–2001, 2010–2019; Consultant/ Office of the Mayor of Cebu City/ Market Affairs 2001–2003.

In religion

  • Jose Maria Cuenco - Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro, Philippines. Born in Carmen, Cebu Province on May 19, 1885, died October 8, 1972. Jose Maria was in Washington D.C. as a Pensionado in 1906, when he contracted typhoid fever and almost died. During his long convalescence, he began to read the lives of saints and decided to become a priest instead of a lawyer. Ordained a priest in Cebu on June 11, 1914, he went on to become Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo. As a publisher, he founded El Boletin Catolico and Veritas, an English-Spanish weekly.