Luis Antonio Mañeru y Alves

Luis Antonio Mañeru was born on April 28, 1946. His father (Managing Director of Elizalde Rope Factory, Inc.) was a Spanish citizen born in Manila of mixed Filipino and Spanish heritage named Ignacio Mañeru while his mother, born in Manila, was a Filipina-Portuguese named Beatriz Alves Zaragoza (she belonged to the well-known Zaragoza Clan of Manila on her maternal side while her paternal lineage was Portuguese from Macau). Ignacio's father, the patriarch Ramon Mañeru, was a Navarrese Spaniard who arrived in the Philippines in 1897 and eventually married Rosario Azada, from Tabaco, Albay, herself the daughter of an Andalusian Spaniard and a local lass; a member of the Roco Clan. Luis in turn married a German American named Marlies Hackett, daughter of Allen who was president of the American construction conglomerate Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P). They had four children: Mara Alyssa, Mikhos Agustin, Marco Antonio, Mariel Alexis. Luis went to De La Salle College in Taft for grade school, graduated in 1966 from the American (now International) School in Makati for high school, (see International School Alumni, 1966) and the University of Santa Clara in California, USA, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1971, capping his scholastic studies with a Master in Business Administration at the Jose Rizal College in Mandaluyong in 1977. He is known in academic circles as a winner for Best Translation by the Manila Critics Circle in 1997 and 1998 for his work on the monumental 600-page world-renown 1865 treatise entitled "Flora de Filipinas" by the 19th century Augustinian botanist-friar Manuel Blanco. Luis was also commissioned to undertake other important historical translations like the 1,000-page archives of the "Dominicans in the Philippine Revolution." (See University of Santo Tomas Archives). Another important translation was a commission by Pedro Roxas’ Fundación Santiago to translate 4 of the entire 7-volume collection of the 19th century Filipino political newspaper published in Spain called "La Solidaridad." (see articles published in Star, Bulletin, Inquirer). All these were published in books for the Centennial of the Philippine Revolution in 1998 recognizing Luis and his mother as principal translators. Luis became a prolific translator and author with more than 14 books published to his name. Other books translated by him and subsequently published were the Augustinians’ detailed account of the "Conquistas de Filipinas", Book I in the Museum of San Agustín archives; an anthology of modern short stories by contemporary French authors commissioned by the French embassy; the Jesuits’ account of the "Philippine Insurrection in Cavite" by Telesforo Canseco; the "Meditations of Fr. Pedro Palau" of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters; and the "Handbook of the Spanish Sisters of Charity" who manage the Spanish hospice Hogar San Joaquín. Luis was granted his own Coat of Arms and registered in Germany by the Heraldische Gemeinshaft Westfalen (Westphalian Heraldry Society). He met the official Philippine Heraldist Jude Grupe while doing research for the Roco family project. He eventually joined the Society as a herald himself and was given a seal of office as a bonafide Heraldist. Because of his efforts Luis was not only granted his own Coat of Arms but also a medal of Merit in 2005 by the President of the Society, the Duke of Savoy.