David and Pacita
Roads celebrated
their 51st wedding
anniversary just
before he died,
aged 87. They met
in 1955 when he
was a
correspondent and
she was a newly
crowned beauty
queen.
Roads celebrated
their 51st wedding
anniversary just
before he died,
aged 87. They met
in 1955 when he
was a
correspondent and
she was a newly
crowned beauty
queen.
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David Roads: 1921-2008
ISABEL T ESCODA HONG KONG
Even as the burdens of illness and old age took their toll on him physically,
American journalist and historian David Roads stayed mentally fit and
personally amiable till the very end.
By the time he was 80 and suffering from a host of medical problems, he
nevertheless kept up a daily routine of leaving his Central flat to fetch his mail
at the General Post Office, and then do a spot of supermarket shopping and
perhaps grab a bite for lunch before heading home. It was a laborious exercise
for someone his age, but he managed it on most days, which was a testimony
to his strong spirit.
ISABEL T ESCODA HONG KONG
Even as the burdens of illness and old age took their toll on him physically,
American journalist and historian David Roads stayed mentally fit and
personally amiable till the very end.
By the time he was 80 and suffering from a host of medical problems, he
nevertheless kept up a daily routine of leaving his Central flat to fetch his mail
at the General Post Office, and then do a spot of supermarket shopping and
perhaps grab a bite for lunch before heading home. It was a laborious exercise
for someone his age, but he managed it on most days, which was a testimony
to his strong spirit.
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Dave may
have been
waning
physically
over the past
few years, but
he wasn’t the
kind to let the
world go by
without
comment
have been
waning
physically
over the past
few years, but
he wasn’t the
kind to let the
world go by
without
comment
Since retiring from journalism, Dave had been
working, off and on, on a book about famous
Asian leaders who had spent part of their
exiles in Hong Kong.
These included China’s Sun Yat Sen, Vietnam’
s Ho Chi Minh, and Philippine national hero
Jose Rizal. As a practising Mason, Dave had
done research on Rizal’s involvement with
Masonry and was an authority on the subject.
Along with his wife, the former Pacita
Francisco, Dave travelled occasionally to the
US to visit his relatives and her twin sister in
California. Although they have a home in
Marikina, they had been spending most of
their time in Hong Kong.
working, off and on, on a book about famous
Asian leaders who had spent part of their
exiles in Hong Kong.
These included China’s Sun Yat Sen, Vietnam’
s Ho Chi Minh, and Philippine national hero
Jose Rizal. As a practising Mason, Dave had
done research on Rizal’s involvement with
Masonry and was an authority on the subject.
Along with his wife, the former Pacita
Francisco, Dave travelled occasionally to the
US to visit his relatives and her twin sister in
California. Although they have a home in
Marikina, they had been spending most of
their time in Hong Kong.
Pacita has long been one of the moving spirits behind the Catholic Women’s
League and has a large number of friends. She and I would sometimes
banter over the telephone in Spanish for long spells, not just recalling old
days in Manila but commenting on present-day political shenanigans.
Dave may have been waning physically over the past few years, but he wasn’t
the kind to let the world go by without comment. Just two months ago, I was
surprised to hear his still vigorous voice on the other end of the phone line
when he called to comment favorably on an article I had written for the Hong
Kong correspondents’ club magazine about Burma’s beleaguered female
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Small acts of kindness like these were hallmarks of a gentleman like Dave.
Known to the Filipino community in his own right, not just because he was
married to the vivacious Pacita, Dave was an acknowledged scholar on
certain aspects of Philippine history.
He had met Pacita in 1955 when he was an Associated Press correspondent
assigned to cover a social event sponsored by Hong Kong’s Lions Club.
She came representing her country, as did other beauties from around Asia.
She relates that when Dave interviewed her, it was love at first sight. Small
wonder, as Pacita, who had been crowned Miss Luzon and starred in the film
“Ang Vengador” with heartthrob Rogelio dela Rosa in 1948, is a sweet and
charming woman. Her marriage to Dave lasted 51 years.
Born in Nebraska, Dave saw action as a marine during World War II and was
wounded in Okinawa, which earned him a Purple Heart.
Back home, he finished his education at the University of Colorado, after
which he gained a scholarship to study abroad. He ended up in Hong Kong
University where he obtained his political science degree. Soon after, he was
hired by the news agency Associated Press, for whom he worked for 13
years. He was one of five people who founded Hong Kong’s Foreign
Correspondents Club and later served as president for a term.
Among his memorable accomplishments was his hosting of a popular public
affairs TVB program called “Meet the Press” which lasted over a decade.
League and has a large number of friends. She and I would sometimes
banter over the telephone in Spanish for long spells, not just recalling old
days in Manila but commenting on present-day political shenanigans.
Dave may have been waning physically over the past few years, but he wasn’t
the kind to let the world go by without comment. Just two months ago, I was
surprised to hear his still vigorous voice on the other end of the phone line
when he called to comment favorably on an article I had written for the Hong
Kong correspondents’ club magazine about Burma’s beleaguered female
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Small acts of kindness like these were hallmarks of a gentleman like Dave.
Known to the Filipino community in his own right, not just because he was
married to the vivacious Pacita, Dave was an acknowledged scholar on
certain aspects of Philippine history.
He had met Pacita in 1955 when he was an Associated Press correspondent
assigned to cover a social event sponsored by Hong Kong’s Lions Club.
She came representing her country, as did other beauties from around Asia.
She relates that when Dave interviewed her, it was love at first sight. Small
wonder, as Pacita, who had been crowned Miss Luzon and starred in the film
“Ang Vengador” with heartthrob Rogelio dela Rosa in 1948, is a sweet and
charming woman. Her marriage to Dave lasted 51 years.
Born in Nebraska, Dave saw action as a marine during World War II and was
wounded in Okinawa, which earned him a Purple Heart.
Back home, he finished his education at the University of Colorado, after
which he gained a scholarship to study abroad. He ended up in Hong Kong
University where he obtained his political science degree. Soon after, he was
hired by the news agency Associated Press, for whom he worked for 13
years. He was one of five people who founded Hong Kong’s Foreign
Correspondents Club and later served as president for a term.
Among his memorable accomplishments was his hosting of a popular public
affairs TVB program called “Meet the Press” which lasted over a decade.
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A journalist and a gentleman