Florentino Suico: The teacher-writer of Mandaue

The Suico Clan of Mandaue is not only composed of public servants, there were those who used the power of pen in serving the people. One of them was Florentino Suico who was born on March 14, 1902. A product of the Mandaue Elementary School and the Cebu High School (now known as the Abellana National School, it is the only school in the Visayas and Mindanao that has produced Supreme Court Chief Justices, Senators, Congressmen, Senators, and Governors).

He finished Pre-Law at the University of the East and the University of Sto. Tomas then taught at the public schools in the towns Consolacion, Alcantara, and Badian, as well as in Mambaling and Mabolo (as per information from the book of Dr. Resil Mojares, Cebuano Literature).

Florentino became one of the trusted men of the legendary political kingpin of Cebu, Congressman Ramon Durano. Together they founded the "Bag-ong Suga", a revival of the Don Vicente Sotto's first Cebuano newspaper. The "Bag-ong Suga" was officially registered as a publication on January 16, 1964. It was printed in Danao City, Cebu, the stronghold of Ramon "Mano Amon" Durano through his Foundation Publishing House. The written painted text of the publication is visible, the last evidence of its existence in the past.

Prior to his association with Congressman Durano, Suico served as the editor of the "Bag-ong Kusog" in 1928, the publication of Don Vicente Rama, the Father of the Cebu City Charter. Suico was also founder editor of "Balita" and "Tabunon". "Balita" was a Cebuano weekly, its publisher was Congressman Durano. The "Tabunon" was a periodical founded by Natalio Bacalso of which the publisher was Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco. It was printed in Manila as at that time Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco already had a residence and business supporters in Manila.

Suico officially became the Secretary to Congressman Ramon Durano from 1950 to 1958 and through Durano's intercession became Technical Assistant to the Secretary of Congress, Inocencio B. Pareja, from 1959 to 1963.

The Suico Clan, among others, had the honor of leading the people of Mandaue: Santiago Suico as capitanes, and Fabian Suico and Benigno Suico as municipal presidents. A long-time serving councilor of Mandaue was Diosdado Suico. Of the public servants of Mandaue City, majority of them are relatives of the Suicos either by consanguinity or by affinity.