He also wrote the biography of Rizal: The First Filipino. Among his many works are internationally acclaimed translations of José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El filibusterismo. He held the rank of Knight Grand Cross of the Knights of Rizal. On June 19, 1982, only a fewdays before he died, he received the, Gawad Mabini, the highest award in the Philippine Foreign Service. On retirement he was the country's senior career diplomat having served as Ambassador in London, Madrid, New Delhi, Mexico City and Belgrade. His sister, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil would also be grow up to be a journalist and, later one of the pre-eminent figures of Philippine letters. His paternal grandfather, for whom he was named, was Leon María Guerrero, the distinguished botanist, Malolos Congress delegate, and member of the first Philippine Assembly.

Alfredo Leon Maria Guerrero, and his mother was Filomena Francisco, the first Filipino woman pharmacist. 'Leoni,' as his family called him, was born on Main Ermita, Manila to one of the nation's most prominent families. His then controversial advocacy of 'Asia for the Asians' and espousal of a realistic re-examination of relations with the United States are now commonly accepted as being ahead of their time. Recto, he became Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs during the Magsaysay administration. A partner in the law practice of senator Claro M. Guerrero III, was a Filipino diplomat and novelist, and was one of the foremost Filipino nationalists of his era. Alfredo Leon Maria Guerrero, and his mother was Filomena Francisco, t León María Ignacio Agapito Guerrero y Francisco better known simply as Leon Ma.

León María Ignacio Agapito Guerrero y Francisco better known simply as Leon Ma.

The first filipino leon maria guerrero