The 1942 Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence was awarded to Carlos P. Romulo, the first non-American to receive the honor, for his reporting on Far Eastern developments. A versatile public servant, he transitioned from journalism and military service to a central role in international diplomacy, navigating the complex geopolitical shifts of the mid-twentieth century as a representative of the Philippines.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1899 in Manila and raised in Camiling, Romulo attended Manila High School before graduating from the University of the Philippines and Columbia University. He began his professional life as an educator, serving as a professor of English in 1923. His early administrative experience included acting as secretary to Senate President Manuel Quezon. By the 1930s, he shifted his focus to media, taking on the role of publisher and editor for The Philippines Herald while also helping co-found the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
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During the Second World War, Romulo served as an aide to General Douglas MacArthur with the rank of major. He was evacuated from the Philippines in April 1942, departing from Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao. Throughout the conflict, he contributed to Allied propaganda efforts and joined President Quezon’s War Cabinet as Secretary of Information in 1943. By the conclusion of the war, he held the rank of general.
Diplomatic Leadership
Romulo held various significant roles, including Resident Commissioner of the Philippines from 1944 to 1947. He served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly between 1949 and 1950, becoming the first Asian to hold the post. His tenure as a diplomat involved representing the Philippines as ambassador to the United States across two terms: 1952–1953 and 1955–1962. Later, he served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1968 until 1984.
Academic and Political Influence
Between 1962 and 1968, Romulo acted as the President of the University of the Philippines. In domestic politics, he unsuccessfully sought the Liberal Party’s presidential nomination in 1953 but later managed the successful campaign of Ramon Magsaysay. Over his long career, he received numerous international accolades, including the United Nations Peace Medal in 1981 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984. He died in Manila in 1985 and is buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Manila and Camiling
- Died: 1985, Manila
- Military Rank: General
- Education: University of the Philippines, Columbia University, Manila High School
- Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence: 1942
- President of the UN General Assembly: 1949-1950
- Secretary of Foreign Affairs: 1968-1984
- Buried: Libingan ng mga Bayani
Questions readers ask
What major honor did Carlos P. Romulo receive in 1942?
He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence, becoming the first non-American to achieve this.
Did Romulo serve in the United States Congress?
He served as the Resident Commissioner of the Philippines from 1944 to 1947, acting as a non-voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
