My family for me has the most interesting stories, and as far as storytelling is concerned, our Lolo Peping is the known storyteller among his brothers.
I recently found out that the column of his brother Anding Roces y Reyes, “Roses and Thorns,” the very same column I have chosen to continue in his honor, was once inspired by my other Tio Abuelo, Liling Roces, who then in his time had a column called “Thorns and Roses.”
Having come across an old article by Rafael Reyes Roces Jr., better known as Liling, I interestingly saw how he wrote about stocks and investments in those days which to date is still a strong topic of interest.
As part of the younger generation of Roces writers, following in the footsteps of my abuelos who have been through war where literature, history and storytelling has by far become a big part of my youth, I have come to realize that the fundamental foundations for a great story are built on service.
One must be immersed into a community or involved in the situation of current times while having the ability to respond effectively and taking the necessary risks that may come along the way.
Liling was killed by Japanese militia and Peping lived to tell the stories being a guerilla fighter himself.
Such painful experiences have contributed to our foundation not just as writers but as a family.
So while I belong to the generation of “newbies” in my family with large shoes to fill, I take with me the treasures from the past knowing that there will always be Thorns in Roses, and Roses will always have Thorns.