08/02/2024
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February 8, 1891 - July 23, 1966
J. S. Alano, proved, through his exploits, the Disraeli-authored truism, βSuccess is the child of audacity.β
Born of parents of modest means in Malolos, Bulacan on February 8, 1891, the young Juan S. Alano learned to be daring. Irrepressible, even before finishing his grade-school studies, he left his hometown for the Big City.
A strong hope of getting lifeβs better deal in Manila must have sprung in his young breast! That hope was partly made into a reality because, although he did odd jobs in the City, and after working in an American-owned ocean-going fishing vessel (where he first learned his rudimentary English), he was able to finish a licentiate in commerce at the Ateneo de Manila and to graduate from the University of Santo Tomas with an A.B. degree.
Now more confident owing to his work experience, his ability to speak English better than most of his peers (back then Spanish was still the norm among Filipino professionals) and his studies and at the same time impelled by the desire to travel, he trained his resolute sight on the promise of the Southern Philippines.
Alano sailed for Iloilo, where he got employed as a clerk in an American law office. Exposed to the legal profession, he developed an interest in, and therefore dedicated himself to a self-study of Law. His efforts did pay him dividends, for he passed the Bar examinations (in English) given in 1914.
It was during his Iloilo adventure that he met a public school teacher from Bago, Negros Occidental, the former Ramona Torres, of the Torres-Araneta Clan, with whom he had two daughters (Dolores Laconico and Lenora Rivera) and two sons (Julio Alano and Fabian Alano).
His eldest child Dolores (Lola Doli) married Maj. Ramon Laconico (Lolo Ramon), his second child Lenora (Lola Leni) married Dr. Jaime O. Rivera (Lolo Jaime). The third child, Julio (Lolo Julio) married Generosa Walton (Lola Geny), and the fourth child, Fabian (Lolo Dan) married Felixberta Jacinto (Lola Fely). He eventually adopted his long-time business protege, Bartolome Dumadaug (Lolo Bart) who married Trinidad (Lola Trining), completing his brood of five.
The audacity of the couple to sail to Mindanao changed the course of their life together. Moving to Zamboanga upon the invitation of his fellow Bulakenyo and friend, Mayor Nicasio S. Valderrosa, he served in the municipal government as a legal officer, bought a piece of land where he built a simple house with a small garden (where the Zamboanga Puericulture Hospital is now located). He swapped this lot with an American businessman, Mr. Hiller, in exchange for a plot of land along the present R. T. Lim Blvd (beside Brent Hospital) and a farm on Malamawi Island, Basilan (which was still a part of Zamboanga City then).
Together with his Negrense wife, they established first the Philippine National Sugar Plantation on Malamawi Island. The first few attempts at sugarcane cultivation did not turn a profit though, so the couple renamed the company into the Basilan Estates, Inc., and started planting coconuts instead. This was the start of his exploits in agriculture, and thru his astute business acumen, soon expanded his interests into transportation, industry, banking, health and education.
He eventually acquired three large coconut plantations in Basilan City (Basilan Estates, Inc. - established in 1921, and at 103 years, is the oldest existing private company on the island, J. S. Alano & Co. Inc., & Basilan Golden Harvest Corp.), as well as the Pagadian Light and Power Company (Basilan Pioneer Electric and Ice Plant), the Basilan Hospital (Juan S. Alano Memorial Hospital Inc.), Basilan Hospital School of Midwifery (Juan S. Alano Memorial School, Inc.), Basilan Lines Inc., Basilan Industries Inc. and the Basilan Rural Bank.
His coconut plantations and cattle ranches in Tairan, Lantawan and Malamawi, Isabela rivaled multinational rubber companies BF Goodrich-Sime Darby, Menzi, etc., in size, and was the only one that was 100% Filipino-owned then.
Professionally successful, Alano decided to run for the House of Representatives. Again, representing Mindanao and Sulu, he was not to be denied. Indeed, he was a member of the House of Representatives for many years (1st and 2nd Philippine Commonwealth National Assembly, 1936-1946; 1st Philippine Congress, 1946-1949).
He was a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party under President Manuel Quezon, for whom he served as a legal aide and secretary during Quezon's stint as a member of the Philippine delegation at Washington DC, USA. Following the war, and after Quezon's death, he allied with President Manuel Roxas and was among the founding members of the Liberal Party.
As Assemblyman for Mindanao, Alano authored the Charter of Zamboanga City (signed into law on October 12, 1936 at MalacaΓ±ang Palace by President Manuel L. Quezon). As Congressman for the then undivided Province of Zamboanga, he authored the Charter of the City of Basilan, separating the island from Zamboanga City. He likewise authored the law which gave the University of the Philippines a Land Grant in Sta Clara, Lamitan.
He was hit by a debilitating stroke in 1961, and on July 23, 1966, Juan S. Alano, 75 years old, met his creator in his home in Basilan City (now J. S. Alano Compound in DoΓ±a Ramona T. Alano Barangay, City of Isabela de Basilan).
(Excerpts: Copyright Β© 2019. All rights reserved. New Plaridel Masonic Temple, 1440 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines)
