Chino Roces

For the road named after him, see Chino Roces Avenue.
Not to be confused with China Roces.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Pardo and the surname or paternal family name is Roces.

Chino Roces
Born
Joaquin Pardo Roces

(1913-06-29)June 29, 1913
San Miguel, Manila, Philippine Islands
DiedSeptember 30, 1988(1988-09-30) (aged 75)
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Known forFounder of Associated Broadcasting Corporation
Former owner of The Manila Times
SpousePacita Carvajal
Children3

Joaquin "Chino" Pardo Roces (June 29, 1913 – September 30, 1988) was a Filipino businessman and newspaper publisher. He was best known for being the founder of the Associated Broadcasting Corporation (now known as TV5) and a former owner of The Manila Times, as well as his staunch opposition of the administration of Ferdinand Marcos.

Early life

Roces was born on June 29, 1913, to Alejandro "Moy" Roces and Antonia "Nena" Pardo from San Miguel, Manila. [1] He had seven siblings: Ramón Roces, Filomena "Nenita" Roces de Verzosa, Isabel "Bebeng" Roces, Mercedes Roces, Rafael "Tuti" Roces, Antonia "Chucha" Roces de Prieto and Marcos "Taling" Roces.

He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University.[1]

Media career

He started his publishing career at his father's newspaper chain TVT (Tribune - La Vanguardia - Taliba) before World War II.[1] Don Chino later headed the Roces family media empire composed of newspapers The Manila Times, Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Taliba, Women's Magazine Variety, and the Associated Broadcasting Corporation, which first consisted of radio stations DZMT-AM, DZTM-AM, and DZWS-AM and the television station DZTM-TV. He also organized media groups, the Philippine News Agency (PNA), and Philippine Press Institute.

Roces was arrested and jailed when Martial Law was imposed in 1972, together with Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., José W. "Ka Pepe" Diokno, who is the father of human rights, and Lorenzo M. "Ka Tanny" Tañada Sr. and other journalists.[1][2] As soon as he was released, he took to the streets to openly protest the Marcos government.[2] After the assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1983, he further intensified his protest and during a vigil on Mendiola Bridge, Roces was drenched by water cannons.[2]

On October 15, 1985, Roces founded the Cory Aquino for President Movement (CAPM) at the National Press Club.[3] He gathered over one million signatures from all over the nation to draft Corazon Aquino to run against Marcos.[1][4][5][2]

After the EDSA revolution in 1986, he returned to publishing, first joining forces with Geny Lopez at the Manila Chronicle, and then later once more the publisher of the family owned The Manila Times.[6]

On July 22, 1988, President Aquino conferred on him the Philippine Legion of Honor Award (degree of chief Commander), the highest honor the country can bestow on a civilian.[7][8][2]

Personal life

He was married to Dona Pacita Carvajal and had four children namely: Joaquin "Joaqui" Roces Jr., Arturo Roces, Edgardo "Eddie" C. Roces, and Rocio Rosalinda Antonia Roces.

Death

He died of cancer on September 30, 1988, at the age of 75 in Manila, Philippines.[9]

In that same year, Pasong Tamo Street, one of the main roads in Makati, was renamed Chino Roces Avenue in his honor.[10]

Legacy

  • "Tulay ng Kalayaan" Historical marker ("Freedom Bridge" or "Chino Roces Bridge")
    "Tulay ng Kalayaan" Historical marker ("Freedom Bridge" or "Chino Roces Bridge")
  • "Chino Roces Bridge"
    "Chino Roces Bridge"
  • Facade of Mendiola Street
    Facade of Mendiola Street
  • Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the first batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Joaquin "Chino" Roces.
    Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the first batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Joaquin "Chino" Roces.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "About Chino Roces". Roces: A Tradition in Philippine Print Media. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Joaquín Chino Roces". Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Events Surrounding the 1986 Snap Elections". Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission. February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "From Housewife to President: The Story of Cory Aquino". Martial Law Museum. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Duka, Cecilio (2008). Struggle for Freedom. Manila: Rex Bookstore. p. 323. ISBN 978-971-23-5045-0. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "History of Journalism in the Philippines: Contemporary Times". Roces: A Tradition in Philippine Print Media. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "Briefer on the Philippine Legion of Honor". Official Gazette. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "OPINION". Manila Standard. July 28, 1988. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  9. ^ "Joaquin Roces Is Dead; Aquino Backer Was 75". The New York Times. October 1, 1988. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Roa, Ana (March 30, 2019). "Evolution of Chino Roces". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 19, 2021.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chino Roces.