León María Ignacio Agapito Guerrero y Francisco, GCrM KGCR (March 24, 1915 – June 24, 1982), better known simply as Leon Ma. Guerrero III, was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

diplomat and novelist, and was one of the foremost Filipino nationalists of his era. A partner in the law practice of senator

Claro M. Recto Claro Mayo Recto Jr. (born Claro Recto y Mayo; February 8, 1890 – October 2, 1960) was a Filipino politician, jurist, and poet. He is remembered for his nationalism, for "the impact of his patriotic convictions on modern political though ...

, he became Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs during the Magsaysay administration. His then controversial advocacy of ''Asia for the Asians'' and espousal of a realistic re-examination of relations with the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

are now commonly accepted as being ahead of their time.

Early life

''Leoni'', as his family called him, was born on 24 March 1915 in

Ermita Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city ...

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

to one of the nation's most prominent families. His parents were Dr. Alfredo León Guerrero and Filomena Francisco, the first Filipino woman pharmacist. His sister, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, would also be grow up to be a journalist and one of the most preeminent figures in Philippine letters. His paternal grandfather was León María Guerrero y Leogardo, a distinguished botanist,

Malolos Congress The Malolos Congress (also known as the Revolutionary Congress), formally known as the National Assembly, was the legislative body of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. Members were chosen in the elections held from June 23 to Septe ...

delegate and member of the first

Philippine Assembly The Philippine Assembly (sometimes called the Philippine National Assembly) was the lower house of the Philippine Legislature from 1907 to 1916, when it was renamed the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The Philippine Assembly wa ...

. His maternal grandfather was Gabriel Beato Francisco, a journalist who had been manager of ''El Comercio'', the foremost mercantile newspaper during the Spanish regime. In 1938, he married Anita Corominas of Cebu. She was the daughter of Don Jose Corominas and Doña Paz Escaño. Her maternal grandparents were Don Fernando Escaño and Doña Agustina Faelnar. Her niece was married to the son of José E. Romero, the first Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James's.

Later life

On retirement he was the country's senior career diplomat, having served as ambassador in London, Madrid, New Delhi, Mexico City and Belgrade. On June 19, 1982, only a few days before he died, he received the, ''Gawad Mabini'', the highest award in the Philippine Foreign Service. He held the rank of Knight Grand Cross of the Knights of Rizal. Among his many works are internationally acclaimed translations of José Rizal's '' Noli Me Tángere'' and '' El filibusterismo''. He also wrote the biography of Rizal: The First Filipino.

Works

* Twilight in Tokyo 1946 * Passion and Death of the USAFFE 1947 * Report from Europe 1951 * Alternatives for Asians 1957 * An Asian on Asia 1958 * The First Filipino 1962 (Awarded first prize in the Rizal Biography Contest under the auspices of the José Rizal National Centennial Commission.) * El Si y El No. 1963. (Winner of the

Premio Zobel Premio Zóbel is a Philippine literary award conferred on Filipino writers in Spanish language. It was established to revivify the Spanish language and to promote the best writing created by Filipino authors in the language. Founded in 1920, it ...

) * Las Dos Muertes de General Aguinaldo (1964) * Two Friars in Exodus (A Contribution to Studies in Philippine Church History) 1969 * The Philippine Revolution by Apolinario Mabini 1969 * Today Began Yesterday 1975 * We Filipinos (Posthumous anthology of his writings) 1984

Translations

* Noli Me Tangere, by José Rizal 1961 * El Filibusterismo, by José Rizal 1962

Honors and awards

: Grand Cross (''Dakilang Kamanong'') of the

Gawad Mabini Gawad Mabini is an honor given by the Republic of the Philippines. History Created by Presidential Decree No. 490, the Gawad Mabini may be conferred upon personnel of the DFA, both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service, and upon Filipi ...

, 1982 *

: The

Order of the Knights of Rizal The Knights of Rizal is an Order of Chivalry from the Philippines, created to honor and uphold the ideals of Philippine national hero José Rizal. The civic organisation of the "Order of the Knights of Rizal" was established in 1911 by Colonel A ...

, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR).

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guerrero, Leon Maria Filipino diplomats People from Ermita 1915 births 1982 deaths Ambassadors of the Philippines to the United Kingdom Magsaysay administration personnel Leon Maria III Spanish-language writers of the Philippines 20th-century Filipino lawyers Writers from Manila Ateneo de Manila University alumni Philippine Law School alumni