GUZMAN

The word “Dominican” derives from the Latin “Dominicus,” meaning Sunday. The Dominican Republic is traditionally called Santo Domingo de Guzmán, named after its capital city, which honors Saint Dominic de Guzmán, the founding father of the Dominican Order. The name Guzmán itself is believed to have ancient Gothic origins.

Notably, a former President of the Dominican Republic was named Antonio Guzmán. Another notable Guzmán is Ramón Antonio Guzmán, the father of Franklin. During Franklin’s teenage years, Ramón guided him with a simple, yet consistent phrase: “Yo nunca hice eso” (“I never did that”) whenever Franklin was about to step out of line.

Welcome to Guzmán Madera. After years of enjoying cigars, Franklin decided to create his own unique blend. This journey led him to explore his roots, revealing a long-standing passion for tobacco that had always been within him. Not only was his grandmother involved in the tobacco industry, but he also discovered that his grandfather was a tobacco cultivator.

From just 11 months of age, Franklin has always been an outlier. While his parents were undergoing the usual visa process interview for his mother to enter the United States, the American consulate noticed Franklin in his grandmother’s arms. Curious, the consulate officer asked, “Who is that child?” When his parents responded, “That’s our son,” Franklin was unexpectedly granted a permanent visa to the United States. Remarkably, Franklin was not included in the original visa application when his father, Ramón Antonio Guzmán, petitioned for his mother, Iluminada Del Carmen Madera de Guzmán.

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