Marcos Roces: He walked with heroes

Marcos Roces can thank his lucky stars for he is always at the right place, at the right time. Born to an illustrious clan related to most of las buenas familias de Manila, he attended the elite schools and finest universities both here and abroad whose outstanding alumni are esteemed leaders of nations and noteworthy movers and shakers of global businesses and industries. An active participant of historical events of great importance during World War II that altered the destinies of countries and its people, young Marcos often walked with heroes. And all that before a little over the first quarter of his life.

Athletically young at 85, one can only imagine who he has met through the years and marvel at what he has achieved.

But all that, is for another story, on another day, in another column for today we shall only attempt to partially dwell on his travels – on where he has been – and believe me, he has been almost everywhere.

PHILIPPINE STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?

MARCOS ROCES: I was 15 and just finished second year high school at La Salle. My father had died two months before and my uncle Alejandro decided to take me to England to study together with my first cousin Antonia – she later married Benito Prieto and is the mother of Alex Prieto – and family friend Margarita Cuyugan – in time she became the wife of Coruso Oppen and is the mother of Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco – we sailed on the ship Conte Rosso for Europe. I still remember the exact day – June 7, 1933. Our first port of call was Singapore where we stayed at the Raffles Hotel for a day. We continued on to Colombo, Port Said, the Suez Canal and finally disembarked in Venice. At that time such sea voyages took approximately three weeks – poco mas o menos. We went on to Paris, spent almost a month with our parientes in Barcelona and finally reached our destination – St. John’s College in Portsmouth, a school run by the Christian Brothers.

What won’t you leave home without?

At my age – I’m 85 – I can’t leave home without my medicines. I have a pill for hypertension, a tablet for this, a capsule for that ... I used to play single tennis for over 52 years. But my doctor – Dr. Abarquez – has suggested I take up doubles, (to which I replied that’s only for the ladies) give up my one-cigar-after-lunch-and-another-one-after-dinner ritual and forget cappuccino, espresso and latte and limit myself to decaffenated coffee. Today, I swim five times a week, walk for an hour on weekends and try to keep my weight down.

Other than your spouse or member of the family, who would you like to be seated next to on a flight?

For short haul I would like somebody like Tony Blair for example, someone who I can get some meat out of . . . rather that sit with a pretty lady. On long flights, however, it would be great to have my wife beside me but since I can’t, I would say Winona Ryder as I need to see a pretty face.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

Charlton Heston – highly intelligent, knows a lot and travels continuously. He visited Manila in 1960 and stayed at the Manila Hotel to attend seven premieres of the epic film Ben Hur. Yes, every night for a week he had a premiere for a cause for different organizations such as the Community Chest and the Red Cross. He confessed he had never been to any country before where he had as many premieres as evenings. He asked for three things – a chance to visit the tunnel, the barracks, the big guns of Corregidor, a walk through the campus of the University of Santo Tomas where the Americans were interred during World War II and a series of tennis games – the sport I love most – of which I knew there would be no problem for I had a tennis court at home. We did all three and much much more. Through the years, I have been corresponding with him and lately though ill with the dreadful Alzheimer’s he wrote a beautiful letter stating once again how he loves the Philippines. A truly remarkable man.

Name your favorite city abroad.

Barcelona. I always enjoyed my stays in the city. I have good friends and the people there, once you get to know them, are friendly and just wonderful. I am a very, very particular fan of the Barcelona Football Club. No Real Madrid for me for they are going out of their way to buy too many players as they have the money. I also love the seaside pueblo of San Jean de Luz. It’s next to the popular resort town Bearritz, and definitely it has a much better beach – just fantastic.

What is the first thing you do upon checking in at a hotel?

First of all, I like to know where I am so I check the view. I test how comfortable the bed is and soon find out what kind of bathroom I have. And the facilities such as the restaurants and the swimming pool. I frequent the Peninsula in Hong Kong because of their pool. They have a lovely one where I spend most of my mornings. Sometimes cuando el agua esta fria at times I don’t want to get in, I ask myself the question, "Am I a man or a mouse? Do I want to look like Jerry the Mouse? No! So I plunge in.

What would you consider a must-do-activity in every foreign city that you visit?

The first few days I play the tourist. In Paris por ejemplo I get my bearings and study what it has to offer – the sights the Eiffel Tower, the Place De La Concorde, the Opera House. Then I check the attractions – the Follies Bergere, the Music Hall. And never forgetting the sporting events that may be on – the tennis matches at Roland Garros, the World Cup.

Let’s talk favorites now. Favorite restaurant?

Club 21 in New York. We were guests of Jean Mac Arthur, a most gracious lady, the widow of the General. The moment you walked in, you walked into a different world altogether where food is absolutely excellent and service utterly flawless.

Favorite museum?

Two museums – the Prado in Madrid and the Louvre in Paris.

Favorite park?

Central Park in New York. It is very pleasant by day and an ideal area to spend sometime. My mother settled in the city for a while and I visited her regularly so I do to know it well. I was then working in Washington D.C. at the office of Joaquin Elizalde – everyone knew him as Mike – who was named as our resident commissioner by President Manuel Quezon in 1936. You may not remember him but years later he married a beauty of our time, La Susan Magalona.

Favorite musical?

That’s a hard one. I like Carousel. I love the King and I. I adore My Fair Lady. I even enjoyed Annie Get Your Gun. And how can I every forget South Pacific. You know the songs – Some Enchanted Evening, Younger than Springtime, Bali Hai . . .

Favorite store?

Saks Fifth Avenue. It was the only one I always used to go to. I never went to any other store. Maybe perhaps, one time to Abercrombie and Fitch in New York. But my favorite is really Saks Fifth.

What do you miss most when you’re away from home?

For a while it’s pleasant to be away from work, the thing is after a month or so, you miss your house, let’s say the places you visit often for example, the restaurants you patronize, the friends. You see I could have gotten American citizenship after serving three years in the Army but I could never see myself living in the States permanently. I must admit I love to visit the States but after a few months, I rush home.

What is the best travel advice you were ever given?

In my case, I would never travel economy. If I had to, I would rather stay home. Why? Because I want to be comfortable.

Describe your most memorable trip.

The invasion of Southern France in St. Tropez. I was doing military intelligence and part of the Seventh Army. The date was August 15, 1944. That to me was the most exciting, the most emotional time of my life. You didn’t know what was going to happen. A close second would be the liberation of Rome. In appreciation and gratitude, Pope Pius XII, the former Eugenio Cardinal Pacceli, requested to meet 50 Catholic liberators every day. It was more than just an audience. It was a personal encounter. He stopped before every soldier, shook his hand. When my turn came, he asked where I was from and I replied from the Philippines. "Usted habla el castellano?" No matter what other experiences you may have had in your life, such moments will never leave you.

What is the strangest thing you have done on a trip?

When I got to Paris for the very first time – remember I was only 15 – I informed the concierge that I wanted to see the Follies Bergere – first row or none at all – to find out what it was all about. The production was excellent, the presentation exceptionally well and done artistically. There was nothing rude, crude nor vulgar.

What is the worst souvenir you have ever brought back from a trip?

Some ties that I thought I liked. Then I suddenly saw them again and asked myself why the hell did I buy these. Estas con prisa. Escojes unos y despues te da cuenta que no vale nada. Since then I have learned my lesson. One tie per trip to make sure I pick the right one.

Who would like to bump into – dead or alive – during your travels?

I tell you one thing, one person who was a real good friend with a generous big big heart was Gilbert Roland. Everytime my wife Teresa and I were in Beverly Hills and would visit the MGM Studio, he would send us flowers and chocolates in our room, get in touch every day, asked us how we were. And if we weren’t doing anything, we would get together. He was a free spirit and did whatever he wanted to do. Once we went to Tijuana with him and how they loved him in Mexico. He was the Latin King. We would go to the Corrida de Toros and all the bullfighters dedicated every bull to him. A wonderful man. I would like to bump into him even one more time, for the good times.

Name an event anywhere in the world you would have liked to participate in.

I would have liked to have seen one of the Brazilian teams playing with Pele in it!

Name a city you have never visited but would like to someday.

Moscow for I envision it to be rather different from all the cities I am familiar with.

Name a country you wish to explore.

Cuba. I have only been to Havana. My Cuban classmate while at school in England took me around the city. I could not have have a better tour guide. He was the best. What I recall most is that their customs are similar to ours. The Cuban music, that Latin music was so sexciting – something about it that I can’t seem to explain. The Cuban girls todas eras guapisimas and the food requisimo.

If you could be transported anywhere in the world right now, where would you like to be?

At this moment, my choice would be San Jean de Luz – lovely beach, good memories.

Looking back at your travels abroad, what would you say is your biggest regret?

My biggest regret is not having seen more of the Scandinavian countries. I was able to visit Copenhagen in Denmark and I know Stockholm in Sweden pretty well. But I have never been to Norway and Finland which I would have wanted to. Oh yes, there’s Austria and Hungary – two other nations I have not set foot as well.

Name your favorite spot in the Philippines?

The Hotel Inter-Continental Manila’s swimming pool. After the laps, I relax in the surrounding gardens. An ideal place just to do that.

If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines, where would it be?

Maybe someplace like the Bahamas – restful, peaceful, idyllic – close to the sea where I can swim whenever I want to.