This photo of the “Pan” family of Saipan taken in the early 1960s. The businesses of the “Pan” family helped in the reconstruction and recovery phase of Saipan following the devastation of Second World War.
Maria Juliana Tenorio Deleon Guerrero, fondly called Tan Marikita, was a pillar to Herman Delos Reyes Tenorio. Born on June 19, 1919, in Saipan. Tan Marikita was Tun Herman’s first and only love.
Their love story – Herman Jose, then 26, and Maria Juliana, 23 at that time – started in 1942, at the start of the Pacific war.1
Upon his return to Saipan from his assignment in Pagan Herman decided to marry his childhood sweetheart, Maria Juliana.
The young Maria Juliana Tenorio Guerrero in this photo during the Japanese administration.
It was a life well-lived for the Guerrero matriarch, Tan Marikita Pan. She was lovingly known to be generous and helpful, complementing Tun Herman Pan’s good-natured personality.
“She liked to stay in the house, and make sure that we are all together when it is time to have our meal or when we’re done helping our father at the bakery,” Jesus remembers.
Following the enactment of House Local Bill 9-34 into Saipan Local Law 9-7 on January 19, 1995, the road from the intersection in front of Torres Refrigeration to the south intersection leading to the Saipan International Airport was named as “Tun Herman Pan Road” in honor of the businessman Herman Jose Reyes Deleon Guerrero. The couple Herman Jose and Maria Juliana led the dedication ceremony shortly after enactment of the local statute. This was held at the current location of Herman’s Modern Bakery.
Their mother’s words of wisdom still echo in the minds of their children. Tan Marikita always felt that others had less, and she was willing to have less herself if it meant she could relieve someone’s suffering.
“I recall seeing a young Carolinian mother who was selling fish on a plate one day, going from house to house.” My mother would purchase everything,” said, Jesus. “And my mother would buy fish again even if she just bought some when someone else came knocking on our door, asking, ‘Tan Marikita, do you want to buy fish?’ That’s sums up my mother’s generosity. We were taught to be like that.”
Their parents have been known to be helpful and supportive. That being the case, the eldest son recalls one incident when a group of residents were chatting about his parents: “The Lord is providing them with a happy life. An abundant life.”
Couple Herman Jose “Tun Herman Pan” and Maria Julian “Tan Marikita Pan” with their in- laws: Manuel and Cecilia Sablan (Deda), and Jose and Soleda Tenorio (Joeten).
Even with twelve children to raise, Tun Herman Pan and Tan Marikita Pan still enjoyed being of service to others. The Guerrero children remember that they didn’t have much money—but their parents were always endlessly generous. According to Jesus, residents borrowed money from them because they were so generous. They had a “Book of Debts” that their parents used to maintain and keep track of. “I recall that my mother kept track of everyone who owed our family money. It was only intended to be used to assist our parents in monitoring our spending, and the debts were ultimately forgiven.”
