Alejandro Roces

Alejandro Roces
Chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
In office March 23, 2001 – 2002
Preceded by	Nicanor Tiongson
Succeeded by	Marilen Ysmael-Dinglasan
Secretary of Education
In office December 30, 1962 – September 7, 1965
Preceded by	Jose Tuason
Succeeded by	Carlos P. Romulo
Personal details
Born	Alejandro Reyes Roces (1924-07-13)July 13, 1924 Manila, Philippine Islands
Died	May 23, 2011(2011-05-23) (aged 86) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Irene Yorston Viola
Parent(s)	Rafael Roces and Inocencia Reyes
Occupation	Journalist author essayist dramatist teacher educator fighter raconteur patriot public servant
Known for	Changing the date of Philippine Independence Day from July 4 to June 12 Recovering the stolen original manuscripts of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Mi último Adiós Changed the language used in Philippine passports, coins, bills and diplomas to Wikang Pambansa
Awards	Order of National Artists of the Philippines

Alejandro Reyes Roces (13 July 1924 – 23 May 2011) was a Filipino author, essayist, dramatist and a National Artist of the Philippines for literature. He served as Secretary of Education from 1962 to 1965, during the term of Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal.

Noted for his short stories,^[1] the Manila-born Roces was married to Irene Yorston Viola (granddaughter of Maximo Viola), with whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth Roces-Pedrosa.

He attended elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Manila University, before moving to the University of Arizona and then Arizona State University for his tertiary education. He graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and, not long after, attained his M.A. from the Far Eastern University back in the Philippines.^[2] He has since received honorary doctorates from Toyo University,^[3] Baguio's St. Louis University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the Ateneo de Manila University. Roces was a captain in the Marking's Guerilla during World War II and a columnist in Philippine dailies such as the Manila Chronicle and the Manila Times. He was previously President of the Manila Bulletin and of the CAP College Foundation.

In 2020, Roces was appointed as Chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Roces also became a member of the Board of Trustees of GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) and maintained a column in the Philippine Star called Roses and Thorns.