Mia Mcleen N.
Peña English 7
LS 102 Assignment
Alejandro Reyes Roces
Background
Roces was born on July 13, 1924 in Manila, Philippines;
the son of Rafael Gonzlez Roces and Inocencia
Batista (Reyes) Roces.
Education
Roces attended elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Manila University. He
received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University. He was given a
Master of Arts degree from Far Eastern University. Also Alejandro was given a honorary
doctorates from Tokyo University, Baguio's St. Louis University, Polytechnic University
of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University.
Career
Roces began his career as a dean at the Institute of Arts & Science of Far Eastern
University in 1955 and held it for seven years. Also he was a captain in the Marking’s
Guerilla during World War II and a columnist in Philippine dailies, including "Manila
Chronicle" and "Manila Times".
He served as a secretary at the Department of Education from 1961 to 1965. In 2001,
Roces was appointed a chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification
Board, where he served until 2002. In addition, he published books, including "Of Cocks
and Kites", 1959, "Fiesta", 1980 and "Something to Crow About", 2005.
Achievements
Roces was known for his changing the date of Philippine Independence Day from
July 4 to June 12. He also recovered the stolen original manuscripts of Noli Me
Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Mi último Adiós. In addition, Alejandro changed
the language used in Philippine passports, coins, bills and diplomas to Wikang
Pambansa.
His story "My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken" was listed as Martha Foley’s Best
American Stories among the most distinctive for years 1948 and 1951.
Alejandro`s book "Something to Crow About" won the Aliw Award for Best
Musical and Best Director for a Musical Production.
Works
Books: Philippines : A Journey Through the Archipelago - 1997
Something to Crow About - 1997
Views
Quotations: "You cannot be a great writer; first, you have to be a good person."
Membership
Roces was a chairman of the Board of Trustees at Colegio San Agustin and the Board
of Regents at Pamantasan ng Lungsond ng Maynila. Also he was a chairman of College
Assurance Plan Foundation and president of Bagong Katipunan Foundation. Alejandro
served as a vice president of Art Association of the Philippines and Manila Symphony
Society. Also he was a president of Philippine-Italian Association.
Interests
Other Interests
Reading, writing, walking, weightlifting
Connections
On June 25, 1950 Alejandro Roces married Irene Yorston Viola. They have a daughter.
father: Rafael Gonzlez Roces
mother: Inocencia Batista (Reyes) Roces
spouse: Irene Yorston Viola
child: Elizabeth Roces