Tomas Juanico

Gobernadorcillo of Banate
Not much is published about Don Tomas Juanico, but he is well recalled in the memory of his descendants in Banate, Iloilo, Philippines. In the year 2007, the first ever reunion of his descendants was held in Banate National High School grounds. More than a thousand descendants coming from various provinces of Western Visayas attended the whole day event, the majority of whom do not know each other.

The only extant document that attests to his existence is the record of Banate's Local Election Results in 1855 (retrieved from the National Archives in Manila), showing the list of elected town Officials (chosen by their respective Principales, from among their own class) for the towns of Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Banate and Anilao. This document indicates that Don Tomas Juanico was elected as Gobernadorcillo by the Principales of Banate on that year. His election to the highest political position that year was historically significant. Although Governor General Antonio Blanco declared Banate as an independent parish on 5 April 1850, at the same time as that of Anilao, the town was formally established as a parish in the previous year (1854). At the time when Don Tomas Juanico became Gobernadorcillo, the town was placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. In that year, the elected Gobernadorcillo of Banate was Capitan Don Tomas Juanico, and the following were the other town officials: D. Alfonso Arroyo- Primer Teniente, Pablo Becenra- Segundo Teniente y Juez mayor de Ganados, Sabino Apacible- Juez mayor de Sementeras, Claudio Juanico- Juez de Policia, Fabiano Baquisal- Primer Alguacil, Tobias Bacabac- Segundo Alguacil, Luis Banbeno-Tercer Alguacil. He was the first Gobernadocillo to have organized Banate's town fiesta in honor of St. John the Baptist. Being the first in the town's history, the event necessitated excellent planning.



During the reunion of his descendants in 2007, the official information confirmed about his marriage states that he was mrried to Doña Lucia Balderas, sister of Don Martin Balderas - another Principal and Gobernadorcillo of Banate. The eldest of the children of Don Tomas Juanico and Doña Lucia Balderas was Doña Andrea Juanico y Balderas, who was married to Vicente Brillantes y Blancaflor of Barotac Nuevo. From this line the following issues were born.

* Aquilino, married to Francisca Pelagio (daughter of Pedro Pelagio). * Julian * Petronilo * Arcadio

Notes and references
* Marriage Registry of the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Banate, Iloilo, Philippines (1910 -1935), p. 45 - for date about the marriage of Francisco Brillantes y Pelagio and about his parents, as well as about the parents of his wife Josefina Madrid y Balderas. * Philippines Veterans Affairs Office, Ministry of National Defence, Republic of the Philippines, Certification of Service of Pvt. Francisco Brillantes 639394 Inf (Inact), Reference No.: PVAO - 4, dated 20 December 1982. * Adjutant General's Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Certification of Service of Francisco Pelagio Brillantes, Reference No.: AGNR2, dated 25 January 1983.

* Death Certificate of Francisco Brillantes y Pelagio issued by the Municipality of Banate, Iloilo, Philippines, N. 51 (E-81).