Manuel Acuna Roxas was born on January 1, 1892, in Roxas City, Capiz Province, Western Visayas, Philippines. He was the son of Gerardo Roxas Luis and Rosario Acuņa Villaruz. He was married to Trinidad de Leon. He graduated from Manila High School in 1909. He pursued law at the University of the Philippines and later taught law at the Philippine Law School and National University.br>
During World War II, he served as a Brigadier General in the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). He was a recognized guerrilla and military leader of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Roxas was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1941, was unable to serve due to World War II but played complex roles during the Japanese occupation, working with the collaborationist government while secretly aiding the resistance. Captured in 1942, he was later pardoned by General MacArthur.

After the war, Roxas became Senate President and, in 1946, formed the Liberal Party to run for president with strong backing from MacArthur and the U.S. military. Roxas became the first president of the independent Philippines on July 4, 1946, aligning closely with American interests to maintain U.S. military bases in the country. Roxas suffered multiple heart attacks and passed away on April 15, 1948. He is now buried in the Manila North Cemetery, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org