Herman and Maria Deleon Guerrero’s children are now responsible for protecting – and growing – the rich legacy of Herman’s Modern Bakery.
The family company grew into a leading bakery service provider it is today in Micronesia, with the Guerrero children embracing various roles. Because of the children’s love, care and concern, the legacy of Herman’s Bakery continues to remain in the consciousness of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The legacy and leadership of the business empire has been passed down to the second and third generation, and proudly remains a family-owned and run business.
Francisca
Francisca is the first child of Herman and Maria and was born on September 3, 1943. She suffered much as a result of World War II. She died at the early age of 1 on August 27, 1944.
Jesus
Jesus, the second oldest, was born on December 28, 1944. Known as “Chung” was always with his father.
He is married to Rosalia Taitano Salas, who is fondly called “Chiang”.
He was the first helper of his parents’ business. From looking for wood for the brick oven, he learned the secret trade of baking bread: the right temperature. He was with his father’s on a GI truck to deliver bread to the US Navy hospital, the commissary and elsewhere.
“As I was growing up, I was always with my father; I was attached to him… my bonding was always with him. Wherever my father was, I’m always there. If not standing next to him, I would be sitting on the truck with him,” Jesus remembers.
Chung, began helping his parents’ The Retail Store, which was opened in 1948. This was located in Chalan Kanoa. It was Saipan’s first privately owned commercial establishment.
“Sardines, corned beef, sugar, salt, black pepper, meat products, clothes, and shoes were among the many items we were selling.” The eldest son, Jesus Pan, recalls that everything was imported from the mainland (the United States). It was all western products.”
According to the oldest son, The Retail Store remained in operation until the middle of the 1960s.
After The Retail Store’s closure, he was sent to the University of Miami to further studies. In 1971, he returned to Saipan to help out again his parents’ operation of the bakery.
Francisca Antonia
Francisca Antonia was born third of the twelve children on January 15, 1946. Better known as “Elang” by the family and friends, she attended elementary school and high school at Mount Carmel School on Saipan. She was called to her eternal rest on February 16, 1968 at the age of 22.
Josepha Agnes
Josepha Agnes is the fourth eldest in the family. Born in 1947, now resides in the the U.S. mainland. She left Saipan in 1966 to pursue her education and married Wayne Archibald of San Mateo, California. She served as vice president of Herman’s Modern Bakery, Inc.
Herman
Herman is the fifth of the twelve children. Born on September 10, 1948, he was named after his father and is better known as “Jun”. He attended Mount Carmel School for his elementary and part of his high school education. He graduated from Father Duenas Memorial School in Guam. He pursued his higher education and earned his B.A. in Sociology from Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, and did graduate work at the University of South Florida.
Over the years, June worked for the Northern Marianas community Action Agency, Trust Territory Department of Education and the Northern Marianas Department of Education. He also worked for the Office of the Resident Representative to the United States, Washington, D.C. for 10 years. Then, following his tenure in the nation’s capital, he returned home and became it the assistant general manager of the bakery until his election into office as member of the House of Representatives during the Eight Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature, from 1992 to 1994.
In served twice as president during the second and third CNMI Constitutional Conventions of 1985 and 1995. From 1994 to 1997, he served as the chairman of the Advisory Commission on Compensations of the governor, lieutenant governor, legislators, justices and judges, mayors, and the resident representative to the United States Congress.
In 2000 as the CNMI Museum of History and Culture Board Chairperson, Jun became the only awardee chosen in the entire Pacific as recipient of the prestigious United States 2000 National Humanities Award. President Bill Clinton chose Jun as the only winner among the Pacific entities. On December 15, 2000 the president and first lady Hillary Clinton officially announced Herman Guerrero as one of the recipients of the national award.
From 2000 to 2019, he served as longest elected Board of Education member representing Saipan. He is credited for numerous improvements through policies and initiatives he put forward at the CNMI BOE that led to the improvements and development of the CNMI Public School System.
Jun is the current president of Herman’s Modern Bakery, Inc., a position he assumed since 2017.
JuanPan
JuanPan was born on December 10, 1949. He graduated from Rhodes Preparatory Academy in New York and went to finish his higher education from Nebraska College of Business in Omaha. He returned to Saipan in 1972 to begin his tenure as general manager of his parents’ bakery business.
He is married to Roberta Janssen (Bert) from Crofton, Nebraska.
Vincent Joseph Seman is the eldest, followed by Tracy, Jolene, John and Michael.
The beginning of Juan’s tenure was fraught with. Challenges, the main being the lack of electricity. Saipan’s power plant burned down in the summer of 1972.
Despite the challenges, Herman’s Bakery continued to pressed on with the staff that had dedicated their work to the bakery since its early years of operation.
JuanPan is credited for turning the bakery’s modest earning into a million-dollar thriving business. All this was within the five years that JuanPan joined his parents in running the operation of the bakery, infusing new and innovative ways to grow the business. As a result, the company created the Herman’s Wholesale Store, and created a retail store, located next to the bakery.
The new location, at the current Airport Road, was completed in 1978 under JuanPan’s leadership.
JuanPan relinguished his position as general manager of the bakery he served since 1972 when he created several Saipan-based businesse. In turn, his older brother, Jesus, assumed the position of manager of Herman’s Bakery from, 1984-1995. During this period, JuanPan became president and general manager of Insurance & Business Management Corporation, and Juan T. Guerrero & Associatd, Inc.
He was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, serving from 1984 to 1986. He was later elected to the CNMI Senate from 1986 to 1990, serving two terms.
After his elected tenure, he was appointed to a four-year term on the NMI Retirement fund Board of Trustees in 2006. A year after, he was voted to be the body’s chairman.
In 2009 he ran for governor.
Florencio
Florencio, the fourth son, worked in the bakery alongside his parents while his older siblings were attending college in the U.S. mainland. While in high school, from 1966 to 1970, he had his first work experience under his parents’ guidance.
He married to Luise Camacho Santos. Better known as “Bobby” or “Bob”, he and Luise are blessed with nine children: Robert, Caryn, Florence, Noel, Lani, Rodney, Sheena, Derek, and Daryl.
Bobby has also a grown up daughter, Cristina.
He attended college at the University of Guam, Santa Barbara Community and University of Nebraska at Omaha. He went for a further study, attending Sophia University, Japan.
He was the president of Hafa Adai Express.
Upon return in 1973 from the U.S. mainland, he joined his father at Pacific Development Incs, the tourism arms of the family businesses.
Margarita
Born was born in 1954. She is married to Manuel Cabrera Sablan. Their children are Philip Herman III, Claudia, Jeniffer, Monique, Frances Marie, and Manuel Lee.
Better known as “Nita” and “Ange”, she started working for the family business in 1979.
She credited her brother JuanPan for showing her the ropes of working in the family business. She became the bakery’s head cashier and sales manager.
Devoted to her family, Ange preferred to spend most of her time to her six children.
Ange was an elected member of the 6th and 7th CNMI House of Representatives. During her elected position, she served as the President of the Association of Pacific Island Legislature from 1990 to 1991.
Rudolfo
Rudolf is the third youngest child. From 1981 and onwards, Rudy, as he is popularly known, has held various positions at the bakery beginning as part of the delivery team. He was also part of the wholesale division.
In 1988 he assumed the position as production manager.
He married Paulina Aldan Johnson and are proud parents to Pia, Manuela (Lela), Rudy, Sergio, and Herman.
Ana
Anna or popularly known as “Annie” is the fourth youngest. She is married to Rick Hayes from Newnan, Georgia. They have two daughters, Amanda Cristel, and Kristina Melissa.
Annie worked the longest among the Guerrero siblings. She was the bakery’s general manager for 31 years starting in 1991.
During her tenure, she is credited for several innovative ideas: developing five divisions on top of the bakery and created the cratering division.
Herman’s Modern Bakery now consists of the bakery, Tan Marakita’s Café, PSS Food Service, Wholesale, Catering and Garapan Outlet—and this is thanks to the innovative and creative ideas of Annie.
She noted that her time spent in the organization has been rewarding and fulfilling as there has never been a dull moment at Herman’s Modern Bakery.
Annie steered the company through some of the most turbulent times that faced not just Herman’s Modern Bakery ,but the entire CNMI, such as Typhoon Soudelor, Super Typhoon Yutu, and the COVID19 pandemic.
She retired on October 2022 but worked closely with the interim general manager, her nephew, Michael R. Guerrero, until the full transition last March, 2023.
Joseph
Joseph, or widely known as “Lee”, is the youngest son. After finishing high school in Nebraska, he returned to Saipan in 1980 to work with his parents’ bakery.
He began working as a helper, delivery assistant, warehouse assistant, and later on purchasing manager.
He served as a four-term elected member of the CNMI House of Representatives.
In February 2023, he returned to the bakery assuming the new role as assistant general manager.
Leonora
Leonora or lovingly known as “Noreen” was born in 1961. Like most of her older siblings, she has had her early work exposure working with her parents’ bakery. She worked a a cashier when she was a high school students.
After spending most of her adult life in the U.S. mainland, she returned to Saipan in the early 1990s to be next to her mother, Tan Marakita.
She then worked as the bakery’s bookkeeper and accounts receivables.
Currently, she oversees the overall kitchen operation of Herman’s Modern Bakery and Catering Services.
Continuing Legacy
Michael R. Guerrero belongs to the third generation of the Guerrero family that is honored to continue to protect his grandparents legacy.
Son of the JuanPan and Roberta, Michael was named new general manager of Herman’s Modern Bakery Inc. on March 31, 2023.
“I am truly excited to continue working in the family business and serving my grandfather’s namesake foundation as a second-generation family member,” he said.
He i excels in culinary arts with a background in baking and pastry arts, chef training, and management. He has a proven track record for network building, collaboration, developing a culture of empowerment, and developing teams that have clear priorities and expectations.
As general manager, he oversees Herman’s Modern Bakery, Tan Marakita’s Café, PSS Food Service, Wholesale, Catering, and Garapan Outlet.
