Biography OF: Carlos P. Romulo (Carlos Peña Romulo)

Carlos P. Romulo (Carlos Peña Romulo) b. Camiling, Tarlac 14 Jan 1899 d. 15 Dec 1985. National Artist in Literature. He is the son of former governor Gregorio Romulo and Maria Peña. He was married twice: first, to Virginia Llamas, and then, to Beth Day. He studied at the Manila High School, and obtained his bachelor of arts from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1918, and his master of arts from Columbia University in 1921. He taught English briefly at UP and held several positions in newspapers like the Philippine Herald and Manila Tribune. Among the other positions he has held are: associate editor, the Citizen, 1919; editor in chief, T-V-T Publications, Manila, 1931; member, Board of Regents, UP, 1931- 1941; publisher, D-M-H-M Newspapers, Manila, 1937- 1941; secretary of Public Information and Public Relations, Pres. Manuel L. Quezon's War cabinet, Washington DC, 1943- 1944; resident commissioner of the Philippines to the United States, 1944- 1946; chief of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations 1945- 1954; Secretary of Foreign affairs, Pres. Elpidio Quirino's cabinet, 1050- 1952; Ambassador to the United States, 1952- 1953, 1955- 1962; secretary of Education and concurrent UP president, 1962 – 1968; minister of Foreign Affairs; and member, Batasang Pambansa (representing National Capital Region).

He was a founding member of the Philippine Academy of Sciences and Humanities member of Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Kappa Phi, National Press Club (Washington DC) and the National Research Council of the Philippines, among others.

One of the earliest poems was “Who are the Great? About teachers who gave inspiration to Filipinos. He authored the plays. Daughters for Sale, 1924; Rizal, A Chronicle Play, 1926; and Juli, 1927; as well as the textbooks, Better English, 1924, and College Composition, 1925. His other published works are: I Saw the fall of the Philippines, 1942; Mother America, 1943; My Brother Americans, 1945; I See the Philippines Rise, 1946; The United (a novel), 1951; Crusade in Asia, 1955; The Meaning of Bandung; The Magsaysay Story, 1956, with Marvin M. Gray; Friend to Friend, 1958, with Pearl s. Buck; I walked With Heroes (autobiography), 1961; Mission to Asia; The Dialogue Begins, 1964; Contemporary Nationalism and World Order, Identity and Change: Towards a National Definition, 1965; Evasions and Response, 1966; The University and external Aid; Clarifying the Asian Mystique; and In the Mainstream of Diplomacy.
Romulo received honorary degrees from such institutions as Notre Dame University, Indiana 1935; University of Athens, 1948; Harvard University, 1950; Chungang University, Korea, 1961; Thammasat University, Thailand, 1964; and University of California, 1965, among others. He has received numerous awards, among them the Pulitzer prize for journalism, for work in the United Nations for peace, 1947 and 1948; Golden Heart Presidential Award, 1954; Hellenic University Award of Philadelphia Award, for his book, Crusade in Asia, 1955; Republic Cultural Heritage Award, 1965; Rizal Pro Patria Award, 1971; and World Peace Award from the World federalists association of New York, 1976. He was declared National Artist in 1984. – M. J. Barrios