ALEJANDRO ROCES

WHO IS ALEJANDRO ROCES?

• Alejandro Roces was a Filipino
author, essayist and dramatist. He
was better known for his humorous
short stories in English.
• Born on July 13, 1924 in Manila,
Philippines; the son of Rafael
Gonzlez Roces and Inocencia
Batista (Reyes) Roces.
• Died on May 23, 2011 at the age of
86
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 an 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.
• Through the years, Roces has won numerous awards, including the
Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award, the Diwa ng Lahi Award,
the Tanging Parangal of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, and the Rizal
Pro Patria Award. He was finally bestowed the honor as National
Artist of Literature on 25 June 2003.
WORKS
• A Journey Through the
Archipelago (A large
format study of the
Philippine Archipelago,
illus...)1997
• Something to Crow About
(Short Storie) – 1997