Francisco Soriano was born on October 4, 1869, in Molo, now a district of Iloilo City.

He received his bachelor's degree in arts at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1889[1] and studied law at the University of Santo Tomas, where he received his degree in civil law in 1898.

In 1894, he received a degree in secondary education from the same university and while a student, opened high schools in Manila and Molo.

[1] During the American occupation, Soriano was appointed as prosecutor (fiscal) for Surigao and Misamis provinces in Mindanao in 1901.

In 1907, Soriano was elected as a member of the Progresista Party[1] to the newly established Philippine Assembly representing the at-large district of Surigao, serving until 1909.