Albert del Rosario

Albert Ferreros del Rosario Sr. (November 14, 1939 – April 18, 2023) was a Filipino businessman, diplomat, and government official. He served as the secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines from 2011 to 2016 under the Benigno Aquino III administration. During his tenure as foreign minister, he was notable for representing the Philippines in a case against China's claim of the South China Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Ferreros and the surname or paternal family name is del Rosario.

Albert del Rosario
del Rosario in 2012
25th Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office
February 23, 2011 – March 7, 2016
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byAlberto Romulo
Succeeded byJose Rene Almendras (acting)
Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States
In office
2001–2006
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byErnesto Maceda
Succeeded byWilly C. Gaa
Personal details
Born
Albert Ferreros del Rosario

(1939-11-14)November 14, 1939
Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines
DiedApril 18, 2023(2023-04-18) (aged 83)
on flight to San Francisco, California, US
SpouseGretchen de Venecia
RelationsMonsour del Rosario (nephew)
Gregorio del Pilar (first-cousin-twice-removed)[1][2]
Children4
Alma materNew York University (BEc)
OccupationBusiness executive

Prior to serving foreign affairs secretary, he was chair of the Philippine Stratbase Consultancy and the Makati Foundation for Education and served as the ambassador of the Philippines to the United States from 2001 to 2006 during the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration.

Early life

Albert Ferreros del Rosario was born in Manila on November 14, 1939, to Luis del Rosario and Amparo Ferreros.[3] His great-grandmother Teresa Sempio was a sister of Felipa Sempio, the mother of Gregorio del Pilar.[2] His grandfather, Judge Simplicio Sempio del Rosario, was a delegate to the Malolos Congress.[4][2]

Del Rosario graduated from Xavier High School in New York and subsequently attended college at New York University, graduating with a degree in Economics.[5] In 2006, he was inducted into the Xavier High School Hall of Fame.[6]

Del Rosario was the uncle of actor, martial artist, and former Makati congressman Monsour del Rosario.[7]

Political career

During Corazon Aquino's presidential term, del Rosario would accompany her on state visits to the United States.[8]

Before entering politics, del Rosario was on the board of several companies. He was chair of the Philippine Stratbase Consultancy and the Makati Foundation for Education.[9] He was also president of Gotuaco, Del Rosario Insurance Brokers, and Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp.[9]

Before being appointed by Benigno Aquino III to the secretary of foreign affairs post, del Rosario was the Philippine ambassador to the United States under then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2006.[10] He stepped down to return to the private sector.[9] In 2008, he wrote that he could not defend the emergency rule to Washington since it was "unjustifiable".[11]

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

On February 24, 2011, President Benigno Aquino III swore in del Rosario as his secretary of foreign affairs replacing Alberto Romulo.[12]

del Rosario with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

In May 2012, del Rosario called on the United States to supply the Philippines with "naval patrol vessels, aircraft, advanced radar systems and coastal surveillance facilities" in order to maintain his nation's sovereignty against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.[13]

On March 30, 2014, the Philippines submitted its country's memorial to the Arbitral Tribunal in the Hague hearing the case it brought against the People's Republic of China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.[14] The memorial sought to have China's claim of 90% of the South China Sea, including several features within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, declared invalid.[15] The case was the first time international legal experts formally considered the validity of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.[16] On July 7, 2015, del Rosario appeared before the Arbitral Tribunal in the Hague to present "Why the Philippines brought this case to Arbitration and its importance to the region and the world".[17]

On February 8, 2016, del Rosario announced that he would resign as secretary of foreign affairs, citing health reasons, which was later to be revealed he had a spinal condition.[18] He stepped down on March 7, 2016, nearly four months before the end of President Aquino's term.[19]

Honors

In 1991, President Corazon Aquino conferred the Philippine Army Award to del Rosario for his initiatives as chair of the Makati Foundation for Education.[12]

On September 15, 2014, del Rosario was awarded the Tanging Dangal Award (Gawad Dangal na Lipi), the highest recognition given to a Bulakenyo who demonstrates outstanding contributions to society.[20]

On September 24, 2015, he was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (Honoris Causa) from New York's College of Mount Saint Vincent for his commitment to democracy, advocacy to the poor, opposing corruption and promoting peaceful change in the Philippines.[21]

Death

Prior to del Rosario's resignation, he had suffered from an undisclosed spinal medical condition.[18] In 2015, he had undergone spinal surgery in the United States to treat it, but the procedure was unsuccessful.[18]

Del Rosario died on April 18, 2023, from a heart attack while on board a commercial flight en route to San Francisco for a private pilgrimage.[22][23] He was 83.[3][24] A coroner in San Mateo concluded that del Rosario had died from heart failure and cardiomyopathy. His remains were returned to Manila on April 22.[25]

References
  1. "Albert del Rosario: patriot, family man". April 21, 2023.
  2. "Former top Philippine envoy Del Rosario dies". Business World. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. "Former DFA Chief Albert del Rosario dies". CNN Philippines. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. "Members of the Malolos Congress, the constituent assembly of the..." Getty Images. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  5. "'I Want to Be Known as a Patriot': The Legacy of Albert Del Rosario". Esquire Mag. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  6. "February 2006 Xavier Alumnews". Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  7. Sallan, Edwin (2018). "Monsour Del Rosario: From Action Star To Action Man". Animo Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  8. "Former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario Dies at 83". Spot Philippines. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. "Del Rosario quits DFA, cites health". Global Nation. February 9, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  10. "Ex-DFA chief Albert del Rosario passes away at 83". Manila Standard. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. "Secretary of Foreign Affairs". Expat Magazine Issue # 20. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  12. "Del Rosario sworn in as acting DFA chief". ABS-CBN News. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  13. Dudley, Richard. "Philippines Seeks US Assistance in Strengthening its Military." Archived May 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Defense Update, May 4, 2012.
  14. "Albert del Rosario, Philippine's consummate diplomat, 83". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. "South China Sea dispute: Huge Chinese 'fishing fleet' alarms Philippines". BBC News. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  16. "The Philippines' UNCLOS Claim and the PR Battle Against China". Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. "FULL TEXT: DFA chief del Rosario's speech at UN tribunal". July 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  18. "Ex-DFA Chief Albert del Rosario Passes Away at 83". Manila Standard. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  19. Hegina, Aries Joseph (February 8, 2016). "Palace: DFA chief Del Rosario to step down on March 7". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  20. "Bulacan, Philippines: News: 16 Sep 2014 – DFA Sec Del Rosario, symbol of a true Bulakenyo". www.bulacan.gov.ph. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  21. "Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines to Visit Mount Saint Vincent". College of Mount Saint Vincent. September 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  22. "DFA on Del Rosario: 'Consummate diplomat, inspiring leader'". Daily Tribune. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  23. "Del Rosario's family issues statement as remains of ex-DFA chief arrives from US". Radio Philippines Network. BusinessMirror. April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  24. Albert Del Rosario, who won Philippines' maritime case vs China, dies at 83
  25. Mangaluz, Jean (April 22, 2023). "An ambassador comes home: Albert del Rosario's remains back in the Philippines". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
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