Honorato S. Hermosisima Sr.
Sibonga's first lawyer was born on December 29, 1904. Honorato was the son of Zacarias Gonzaga Hermosisima and Delfina Soco. Zacarias was originally from Cansojong, Talisay but transferred to Sibonga after having had differences with the towns Spanish political and religious authorities.
Zacarias was the son of Esteban Hermosisima and Basilia Gonzaga. The siblings of Zacarias were Vicenta who married a Lopez, Gregorio, Pantaleon (who became the town's first doctor of medicine), Bernarda, who married a Fernandez, Rosario who married Atty. Angel Teves Jr., the famous city hall employees legal counsel, Rosario, Flaviano and Annie.
Honorato Sr. became a lawyer on December 19, 1931. His brother Epifanio also became a lawyer on May 9, 1946. Another brother (son of his father's (Zacarias) second wife, Simeona Kintanar) Justino was admitted to the Bar on January 26, 1961.
Honorato Sr., a brilliant lawyer, was president of the Cebu Lawyers League. He also became a board member of Cebu City Council and acting vice governor of Cebu during the term of Dr. Manuel Cuenco, governor of Cebu.
In 1967, Honorato Sr. was one of the Nacionalista Party's candidate for Cebu City Councilor. His party mates were Atty. Isabelo Binamira, Dr. Suga Sotto-Yuvienco, Atty. Luis Diores (Vice Mayor), Atty. Ramiro Madarang, Atty. Marcelo Bontuyan, Atty. Sotero Navarro, Atty. Isaac B. dela Victoria, Atty. Pedro Clavano and Dr. Francisco Maningo. Honorato Sr. party (NP of President Marcos) was up against the Liberal Fusion or the Fusion of the Osmeña's and Cuenco's. The NP's candidate for mayor was then former SWA or the Social Welfare Administration Administrator Atty. E.F. Remotigue. During the campaign in 1967, Honorato's party had a 12-point program, among of which are Abolition of the 1 percent sales tax, establishment of mini-city halls in all the councilor district, solving the water supply problem, launching of a youth development program to curb juvenile delinquency, release of the barrio's share of taxes and providing security of tenure and standardization of salary of deserving public servants.
The brother of Honorato Sr., Atty. Epifanio became Mayor of Sibonga in 1951 (he succeeded Rosalio Bacaltos) and his outstanding achievement was the implementation of President Elpidio Quirino's program of increased food production. In 1956, Epifanio refused to run for reelection and he was succeeded by Vidal Patalingug. While his brother, Justino (who married Sergia Yap), became provincial fiscal of Cebu.
Honorato Sr. married Josefina Gonzales Derecho whose parents were Alejandro Derecho (Danao's third municipal president) and Magdalena Gonzales. Honorato Sr. and Josefina had the following children: Belinda, Yvonne who married Romulo Batucan, Victoria who became a lawyer on May 5, 1999, Elizabeth, who became a lawyer on June 21, 1973 and married Atty. Leo Jose Palma, Antonio who married Alcione Guangco, Zacarias II (a political leader in Barangay Guadalupe) and Honorato Jr. (became a lawyer on June 10, 1975) who married Cecil Chan. Honorato Jr. children also became lawyers: Catherine (2007) and Honorato Carlo.
Honorato Sr. died on February 20, 1987. There are many members of the Hermosisima Clan who became lawyers: Regino G. Hermosisima Sr. (who married Dometila Campos) became a lawyer on August 22, 1946, Regino Jr. (who became Sandiganbayan Justice and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Bar Examiner, Member of the Judicial and Bar Council) became a lawyer on April 16, 1953, Custodio O. Hermosisima admitted to the Bar on May 13, 1948, Higinio on January 31, 1955, Esteban C. Hermosisima on May 9, 1959 and Marceliano Navarro Hermosisima on May 5, 1981.
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