Life and Works
of Alejandro
Roces
How do Alejandro Roces’s viewpoints impact
readers?
Answer the following questions.
● What do you know about cockfighting?
● How is cockfighting associated with our history?
● What impact does cockfighting have on the image of
the Filipino people?
Look for a partner. Discuss your answers with each
other. Take note of the similarities and differences
of your responses. Share what you have discussed
with your partner to the class.
Vocabulary Words
1 peculiar (adjective) – special, unusual, or something that is not ordinary
Members of their religion have peculiar practices distinct to them.
2 lynch (verb) – to illegally kill one as a form of punishment
Unidentified people lynched the accused drug pushers.
3 lunge (verb) – a sudden movement forward
He lunged toward the ball.
4 squawk (verb) – to complain loudly
The students squawked about the increase in their tuition fees.
5 tether (noun) – a rope used to tie an animal to a post
The chicken was tethered in the shade.
Life and Works of Alejandro Roces
● He was a short story writer and essayist.
● He was known for his comic short stories such as “My
Brother’s Peculiar Chicken” and “We Filipinos Are Mild
Drinkers.”
● He became a National Artist for Literature in the
Philippines in 2003.
● He served as the Secretary of Education during the
term of the former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal.
● Alejandro R. Roces was born in Manila on July 13, 1924.
● He was the son of Rafael Roces and Inocencia Reyes.
● Anding, as his family and friends called him, was
educated at the Ateneo de Manila in high school.
● He won Best Short Story for “We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers”
during his freshman year in the University of Arizona. He
received his undergraduate degree in Fine Arts in this
university.
● He finished his master’s degree at Far Eastern University.
● He received a Doctor of Arts and Letters degree from PUP.
● He received a doctorate in Humane Letters (Honoris Causa)
from Ateneo de Manila University and a doctorate in
Humanities (Honoris Causa) from St. Louis University,
● He also attained a Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa)
degree from Toyo University in Japan.
● He received numerous awards, some of these are Rizal
Pro-Patria Award from the Knights of Rizal, Gawad CCP
Para sa Sining award in 1990, Zobel Award for
Literature in 1995, etc.
● Roces incorporated in his writing humor and fleshed
out characters.
● The stories of Roces revolve around the cockpit, which
he regarded as the center of Filipino culture. It also
serves as a bridge to people of other cultures, who also
knew cockfighting as a sport.
● In his stories, Roces wanted to save the hearts and
minds of Filipinos against three types of oppression:
colonial mentality, censorship, and literary prejudice.
My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken
Alejandro Roces
Guide Questions
1. What is the message that the writer would like to convey in
this story? Support your answer with details from the story.
2. What characteristic of Filipinos is revealed by the behavior of
Kiko and his brother when it comes to dispelling their doubts?
Expound.
3. Do you find the story realistic? Expound.
4. Why do you think this story is appealing to readers? Support
your answer with details from the text.
5. What behavior of Filipinos is evident in Kiko and his brother?
Expound.
Read and analyze the selection below. After,
answer the following questions comprehensively.
Responses should be backed up by textual
evidence, and opinions should be explained clearly.
We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers
Alejandro Roces
Short Response Questions
1. What is ironic about the response of the farmer, “No,
thank you, Joe. We Filipinos are mild drinkers”?
2. Does the behavior of the farmer reveal something about
how Filipinos usually deal with foreigners?
3. What do you think is the theme of this story?
4. Do you find the title appropriate for the text? If you would
have the chance to change its title, what would the
story’s title be?
5. Do you think Alejandro Roces portrayed Filipinos in a
positive light in this story? Why or why not?
Values Integration
Alejandro Roces’s works highlight Filipino
culture and identity. As a Filipino, what
characteristic(s) of ours are you most proud of?
Why?
1. Form a group with two of your classmates. Look for at
least three others works of Filipino writers, regardless of
their genre.
2. Look at the similar features of Alejandro Roces with that
of other Filipino writers. Use a diagram to present your
findings.
3. Simplify your diagram to present the ideas clearly.
4. Present your diagram in the class. Respond to the
5. After the activity, answer the following questions:
● What were the difficulties you encountered in terms of
finding similarities in the works of Alejandro Roces and
those of other Filipino writers?
● Was it easy to find similarities? Why or why not?
Assignment
Reread the stories “My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken” and
“We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers.” Then, write a short
essay about them, guided by the following questions:
● How did Alejandro Roces show his love for the Philippines
through his works?
● What are the elements of these two works that show local
color?
● Alejandro Roces is considered as the Philippines’ best comic
short story writer. Based on the two stories you have read,
how do you think he can make his stories comical?