Editors’ Note: Soledad “Choleng” Dato Hidalgo had no recourse to higher learning. However, helping her husband, Jesus “Isong” Hidalgo in his medical practice through her pharmacy, farming and raising livestock, and engaging in business allowed her mobility to join religious, social, cultural, historical and business groups in Naga City during its early years. These provided insights that pervaded her observations in her regular weekly columns published in the local dailies. She left a treasure trove of writings that remain relevant and interesting to contemporary readers. She wrote weekly articles under bylines: My Two Cents’ Worth, From My Vantage Point, Perspectives, and With Hue and Cry for Naga Times, Bicol Tribune, Bicol Mail. The prolific writer was also the author of feature articles in magazines like The Bicol Digest, BICOLANA Magazine, other dailies, and commemorative souvenir programs. This is the beginning of a series of articles written by Choleng.
It is said when a man dies his deeds live after him. This is doubly so in the case of Dr. Jaime Hernandez (b. July 11, 1892 – d. July 11, 1986) because his whole life was dedicated not only to the service of his country but also to the welfare of his fellow Bicolanos.
Much has been said and written about this self-made man who rose from the ranks of government employees to hold many important positions in our government in the field of finance.
We know that during the American regime he was the first Filipino to be appointed Insular Auditor. In Quezon’s time he was Auditor General and Secretary of Finance.
According to Cheding Hernandez who wrote a treatise about her uncle, he held other positions in other administrations including President Magsaysay’s.
I have suggested that she publish this treatise as there are still things she may have found out about this great man that are not yet known.
I used to be awed by the aura of power of Dr Jaime Hernandez that I was always reluctant to approach him.
What I did not know was that he was a very modest, unassuming, and humble person despite his position.
My brother, now deceased, former Dean Rodolfo Dato, was very close to him and idolized him. He understood the greatness of this man of vision who having gone thru the hardships of his student days himself had decided that the young people especially the poor should have a chance for a college education so he can improve himself and have a better way in life.
That is why he built this now famous University from out of the marshes in this area. Together with Mr. Alba and Mr. Dato, they went through the difficulties of selecting the site, the filling and building this structure that is now the UNC. Now you know why there is a Dato Hall and Alba Hall. He was that kind of man was who gave recognition to whom it was due.
Listening to Susing Hernandez describe his father as a family man, a loving and faithful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather to his numerous descendants, many were teary-eyed.
A man may have held power, succeeded in his mission but the final significance of his life is after all his family who is going to carry on the institution for whom he spent the best years of his life.
He leaves it to his daughters Dolly, Erling, and their better halves, Susing and June and their inspirations Helen, and Naty, just as their offsprings will follow after them.
As long as this university stands so shall the memory of this great man be remembered for generations to come. It is a monument to his greatness, for in the final analysis what would be Bicolandia without Dr. Jaime Hernandez?
Would she have so many professionals, attorneys, doctors, educators, bankers, politicians, media men, government, and private employees? While it is true that there are now Bicol colleges producing many professionals, he pioneered in the field of college education. Naga City is one of if not the most literate city next only to Metro Manila.
I was deeply affected when the UNC hymn was sung at the Basilica and as he was being lowered into his grave. It reminded me also of my brother Dean Rodolfo Dato who wrote its lyrics and whose respect and loyalty to this last of the Titans of Bicolandia was deep seated and warm.
Header image and photos of Dr. Jaime Hernandez and family from the University of Nueva Caceres. CLICK TO WATCH UNC VIDEO ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORKS OF DR. JAIME FERNANDEZ.
About the author
SOLEDAD (Choleng) DATO HIDALGO was born to Eugenio Esplana Dato and Barbara Imperial Guevara, in Baao, Camarines Sur. Baao was the hometown of the Datos, as well as her Guevara and Imperial relatives in the Rinconada area. She grew up in Naga, Camarines Sur where her family had bought their residence, as Naga was chosen for the schooling of the four children. Rodolfo, first Dean of the UNC College of Law; Francisca, known for her skills in music (voice) and the arts (drama, painting, sculpture) at the Colegio; Luis was the professor poet, linguist, debater and scholar; and Soledad, recognized as a columnist, activist-advocate.
Choleng was an Interna at the Colegio de Santa Isabel where she completed her primary and secondary education. She graduated as valedictorian) in 1934. Her visits to Baao, her birthplace and the family farmland in Minalabac during her school breaks provided the rich narrative of the memoirs she left behind that remain unpublished.
She married Jesus (Isong) Hidalgo, the third son of a brood of ten – nine sons and one daughter, born to Esteban and Atanacia Hidalgo. Rosalia, the sole daughter. became the wife of the senior Ramon Felipe (Governor) and the mother of Mayor, Congressman, and Comelec Commisioner, Ramon Felipe Jr. Also engaged in farming at nearby Milaor, Isong’s family lived in the same Balintawak neighborhood as Choleng’s family. At first, Isong worked as the tractor operator for the family farm but was convinced by his mother to study Medicine. Whereupon he graduated from the UP College of Medicine in 1931. Isong and Choleng became engaged and married in 1936. They had ten live children and two miscarriages.
Having no recourse to higher learning, Choleng became a full-time housewife. However, she found time to supplement Isong’s earnings as a doctor by selling regularly prescribed medicines at her home-based pharmacy and to spare the patients the added trip to the drugstore downtown. She also built homes for rent from old knocked-down houses. This was the start of her engagement in business.
Choleng raised hogs and poultry, sold furniture, kept a cooperative store, was active even with a commercial bowling lane enterprise while managing the farm in Irayang Solong. She even went into the hotel business. All these allowed her mobility to join religious, social, cultural, historical and business groups in Naga City during its early years. These provided insights that pervaded her observations in her regular weekly columns published in the local dailies.
She stayed in constant touch with affairs at the colegio as her two daughters were enrolled there. She supported school activities, and even became “Presidenta” of the “Ex-Alumnas” at one time, struggling to learn their designated dance at one of the homecomings “veladas”. She was a stalwart and loyal Isabelina, always ready to serve her Alma Mater, even to defend the school’s honor and prestige in both her public life and her writing.
At the age of seventy (70), she was diagnosed and underwent surgery for breast cancer; her older sister Paqing had died of the same at the age of 55. She survived her cancer, but she died of heart failure five years later before she turned seventy-five.
Choleng left a treasure trove of writings that remain relevant and interesting to contemporary readers. She wrote weekly articles under bylines: My Two Cents’ Worth, From My Vantage Point, Perspectives, and With Hue and Cry for Naga Times, Bicol Tribune, Bicol Mail. The prolific writer was also the author of feature articles in magazines like The Bicol Digest, BICOLANA Magazine, other dailies, and commemorative souvenir programs.
Her daughter, Cleotilde Hidalgo How, described her mother who was nominated for the USIAA Outstanding Isabelina Award, “This is a late token of appreciation for an accomplished woman of substance and grit. This was based on recollections from remembrances of mother and the weekly articles she wrote over a span of twenty years, her collection of published writings and her memoirs. She rushed in where most writers feared to tread, and no editor would stifle her. That was Choleng.”