RIP Alejandro Roces Sr.

Tribune: "Alejandro Roces Sr. Passes Away ... Burial today ... Father of modern Philippine journalism is heart disease victim." There's a picture of him and a short biography, but nothing about his son and daughter-in-law. All Manila knows about it of course, especially after the spectacle of the police stopping traffic and conducting searches at key points.

A lot of big shots attended the funeral — all but one flanked by bodyguards. Looking unwell, Manuel A. Roxas limped in alone, leaning on a cane (to fool the Japanese, some say). He embraced the wife of General Basilio and perhaps whispered something in her ear. Chief of Police Torres was also there, crying and trembling a bit — trembling because he's been warned: "After Roces, you," or words to that effect. It's said that Roces Jr. was warned: "After Strebel, you." As a captain in the Constabulary, Roces Jr. had been investigating the shooting of Laurel, Strebel, and others.

The Church was packed. There were three coffins and three sixteen-cylinder Cadillac hearses. I wonder how the press will cover it.