Juan Clímaco was born to a wealthy family in Toledo, Cebu, Philippines on December 24, 1859. He was married to Maria Regina Ramas. Before the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, he served as "gobernadorcillo" of Toledo and was popularly called "Tan Hantoy" ("Tan" as short for "kapitan" or captain). He wrote the monograph of the municipality of Toledo for the Philippine Exposition that opened in Madrid on April 1, 1887, which was described as subversive and counterproductive to the intentions of the exposition. At that time, all municipalities were asked to answer 81 questions intended to introduce the Philippines as a Spanish colony to Spain and to the entire Europe.