‘Tatang’ of the masses

HE would have chosen to be a caretaker of their family cattle farm in Bukidnon and enjoyed obscurity rather than to suffer the consequences of being a media man in midst of colonialism and authoritarianism. Joaquin “Chino” P. Roces never imagined that he would inherit the management of the family-owned Tribune and later on resurrect The Manila Times. But he had to because of political affairs, family tradition and compassion.

Chino was after all the least favored of the nine children, born on June 29, 1913, to Don Alejandro Roces and Antonia Pardo. He remained to be the treasurer of the Tribune until after Don Alejandro’s and Alejandro (Andong) Jr.’s death, the latter by anti-Japanese guerrilla assassins, on July 8, 1943. He became the assistant manager of the Tribune when the second-born successor Rafael “Tuti” also died.