Life and Works
of Alejandro
Roces
How do
Alejandro
Roces’s
viewpoints
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.
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.
●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
● He also attained a Doctor of Literature (Honoris
Causa) degree from Tokyo 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 Pecu
liar Chicken
Alejandro Roces
Guide Questions
[Link] is the message that the writer would like to
convey in this story? Support your answer with details
from the story.
[Link] characteristic of Filipinos is revealed by the
behavior of Kiko and his brother when it comes to
dispelling their doubts? Expound.
[Link] you find the story realistic? Expound.
[Link] do you think this story is appealing to readers?
Support your answer with details from the text.
[Link] 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 Drinke
rs
Alejandro Roces
Short Response Questions
[Link] is ironic about the response of the farmer, “No,
thank you, Joe. We Filipinos are mild drinkers”?
[Link] the behavior of the farmer reveal something
about how Filipinos usually deal with foreigners?
[Link] do you think is the theme of this story?
[Link] 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?
[Link] 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?