Alejandro Reyes Roces
"You cannot be a great writer; first, you have to be a good person."
Alejandro Roces, is a short story writer and essayist, and considered as
the country’s best writer of comic short storie
Background
Born on 13, 1924 in Manila, Philippines and died on May 23,
2011. His father is Rafael Gonzlez Roces while his mother is Inocencia
Batista (Reyes) Roces. He married Irene Yorston Viola and later had a daughter Elizabeth 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 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 (MTRCB),
where he served until 2002. In addition, he published several 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.
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.
Works
In his innumerable newspaper columns, he has always focused on the neglected aspects of the
Filipino cultural heritage. His works have been published in various international magazines and has
received national and international awards.
Ever the champion of Filipino culture, Roces brought to public attention the aesthetics of the
country’s fiestas. He was instrumental in popularizing several local fiestas, notably, Moriones and Ati-
atihan
Famous Works
My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken
Summary:
The story was about the weird chicken which Kiko and his borther found. They coudn't
tell whether it is a hen or a rooster. They keep on arguing to each other because Kiko insist that
the chicken is a rooster for they saw it on the field fighting another chicken. But his brother is not
convinced for the chicken has no comb or wattles, both disagree to one another.
They began to ask their mother and father, even the people on their village like Tasio and
Mr. Cruz. But all of them couldn't tell whether it's a hen or a rooster. And they also thought that
it was a "binabae".
So instead, they decide to bring it into the cockpit and make it fight to a rooster. But
during the fight there is a turn of events, things gone different for what they have expected. A
lovesick expression came into the rooster's eye, instead of fighting, the rooster began to do some
love dance but the peculiar chicken suddenly stubs its spur into the rooster and the fight is over.
The brothers couldn't believe what they had seen.
Kiko thinks he convinced his brother that the chicken is a rooster, but he chicken acts
something strange. It began to quiver, and egg came out and drop into his brother’s hand.
