Carlos P. Romulo
Carlos Peña Romulo Sr. QSC GCS CLH NA GCrM GCrGH KGCR (January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985) was a Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a reporter at the age of 16, a newspaper editor by 20, and a publisher at 32. He was a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, a general in the US Army and the Philippine Army, university president, and president of the United Nations General Assembly.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Peña and the surname or paternal family name is Romulo.
Carlos P. Romulo
Manuel Collantes (Acting)
Mauro Mendez
Felino Neri
Ferdinand Marcos
Onofre Corpuz (Acting)
Sergio Osmeña
Emilio Abello
Joaquín Miguel Elizalde
Joaquín Miguel Elizalde
Sergio Osmeña
Joaquín Miguel Elizalde
Position abolished
Position established
Position abolished
Vicente Sinco
December 15, 1985 (aged 87)
Manila, Philippines
Libingan ng mga Bayani
Metro Manila, Philippines
KBL (1978–1985)
Nacionalista (before 1946; 1957–1978)
Democratic (1953–1957)
Liberal (1946–1953)
Virginia Llamas
Beth Day
Alberto Romulo (nephew)
Roman Romulo (grandnephew)
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (grandniece)
4
Diplomat, author, statesman, soldier
Journalist
Armed Forces of the Philippines (Reserve)
commissioned to United States Army
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He has been named as one of the Philippines's national artists in literature, and was the recipient of many other honors and honorary degrees.
Romulo believed in anti-colonialism and internationalism, as well as held Pro-American, anti-communist, anti-fascist, and economically and politically liberal beliefs.[1]
Return to the Philippines[edit]
Philippine presidential aspiration[edit]
Romulo returned to the Philippines and was a candidate for the nomination as the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party, but lost at the party convention to the incumbent president, Elpidio Quirino. Quirino had agreed to a secret ballot at the convention, but after the convention opened, he demanded an open roll-call voting, leaving the delegates no choice but to support Quirino, the candidate of the party machine. Feeling betrayed, Romulo left the Liberal Party and became national campaign manager of Ramon Magsaysay, the candidate of the opposing Nacionalista Party, who won the election in 1953.
Death[edit]
Romulo died, aged 87, in Manila on December 15, 1985, and was buried in the Heroes' Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) at Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila. He was honored as "one of the truly great statesmen of the 20th century".[15] In 1980, he was extolled by UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim as "Mr. United Nations" for his valuable services to the UN and his dedication to freedom and world peace.
Published books[edit]
Romulo, in all, wrote and published 22 books, including The United (novel), I Walked with Heroes (autobiography), I Saw the Fall of the Philippines, Mother America, and I See the Philippines Rise (war-time memoirs). In 1982, he was proclaimed a National Artist for Literature of the Philippines, in recognition of his contributions to Philippine Literature.
National Honors
Military Medals (Philippines)
Military Medals (Foreign)
Foreign Honors
Romulo is perhaps among the most decorated Filipinos in history. He has been awarded 72 honorary degrees from different international institutions and universities and 144 awards and decorations from foreign countries: