He was born in Guimaras, Iloilo, on September 20, 1883, to Don Vicente Guingona and Doña Francisca Jamora.

In 1907, Guingona graduated from the Escuela de Derecho with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.

Guingona was elected Assemblyman from the 2nd district of Negros Oriental in 1909 and was re-elected to the same post in 1912.

Guingona then resigned from the Legislature when he was appointed as Governor of Agusan, serving from 1914 to 1917, as the first Filipino to hold the post.

He was married to Josefa Tayko and had 8 children, including Efraim, Inday, Eduardo, Manuel, Luis, Teofisto Jr., and twins Benjamin and Jose.