National Artist Alejandro Roces passes away

(UPDATED 10:20 PM) National Artist for Literature Alejandro "Anding" Roces passed away on Monday morning, his long-time colleague and family friend Cecile Guidote Alvarez told GMA News Online. He was 86. Roces' daughter Elizabeth Roces-Pedrosa confirmed the death to Alvarez. The cause of death could not be verified as of posting time. His remains will be cremated on Monday afternoon and will be brought afterwards to his residence in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, Alvarez said. Alvarez added that the family will hold a meeting later Monday to talk about plans for a tribute for Roces and for the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. His brother Alfredo Roces told GMA News Online that the family is arranging for a state funeral to be held later this week. Roces served as Education Secretary under former President Diosdado Macapagal. He led the campaign to change the Philippines' Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. As Education Secretary, he was able to recover the lost manuscripts of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Mi Ultimo Adios. Roces met secretly with the person who stole the manuscripts and demanded P1 million for them. He was able to convince the thief that the government did not have money to pay for the manuscripts. Roces served as Dean of the Far Eastern University Institute of Arts and Letters, President of the Manila Bulletin, and chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). In 2003, he was named National Artist of the Philippines for Literature. One of his best-known books is 'Fiesta,' which brought to public attention the aesthetics of Philippine festivals, Alvarez said. She described Roces as "exceptional" and "unequaled by anybody." Roces served as the first chairman of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) when Alvarez founded the group in 1967. Roces is survived by his brothers Jose, Francisco, Marcos and Alfredo, his daughter Elizabeth, and three grandchildren. — Candice Montenegro/RSJ/HS, GMA News