Fernando Ma. Guerero
Senator Guerero was born on May 30, 1873 in Ermita, Manila to Lorenzo Ma. Guerero and Clemencia Ramirez of Manila.
After having undergone a home education, he attended Ateneo Municipal where he pursued his secondary and collegiate course. After nine years, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He transferred to the University of Santo Tomas, where he studied law and was conferred a Bachelor of Laws degree six years later.
He did not, however, go on to practice law. He joined the editorial staff of La Independencia, a revolutionary periodical founded by Gen. Antonio Luna.
In 1900, he found himself employed by Pablo Ocampo to write for La Patria, which was later suppressed by the American authorities. Later he was connected with El Renacimiento, where he was made city editor and, subsequently, chief editor.
Guerrero was also proficient in Painting and Music. He specifically liked the Philippine Kundiman where he played the flute and guitar very well.
Senator Guerrero joined politics when he was named to represent Leyte province at the Malolos Congress. He was elected diputado for the South district of Manila to the First Philippine Assembly in 1907, where he authored the first labor bills in the Philippines, those of workmen’s compensation and on the right to unionism. He also became councilor of Manila, Secretary of the Senate.