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Albert del Rosario
Albert del Rosario at the State Department April 30, 2012.jpg
del Rosario in 2012
25th Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office
February 23, 2011 – March 7, 2016
President Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by Alberto Romulo
Succeeded by Jose Rene Almendras (acting)
Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States
In office
2001–2006
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by Ernesto Maceda
Succeeded by Willy C. Gaa
Personal details
Born
Albert Ferreros del Rosario

(1939-11-14)November 14, 1939
Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Died April 18, 2023(2023-04-18) (aged 83)
on flight to San Francisco, California, US
Spouse Gretchen de Venecia
Relations Monsour del Rosario (nephew)
Gregorio del Pilar (first-cousin-twice-removed)
Children 4
Alma mater New York University (BEc)
Occupation Business executive

Albert Ferreros del Rosario Sr. (born November 14, 1939 – died April 18, 2023) was a very important Filipino person. He was a successful businessman, a diplomat, and a government official. He is best known for being the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the Philippines. He held this job from 2011 to 2016.

During his time as Foreign Affairs Secretary, he did something very important. He represented the Philippines in a big legal case against China. This case was about who owned parts of the South China Sea. It was heard under the rules of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Before becoming Foreign Affairs Secretary, he was the Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States. He served as ambassador from 2001 to 2006.

Early Life and Education

Albert Ferreros del Rosario was born in Manila, Philippines, on November 14, 1939. His parents were Luis del Rosario and Amparo Ferreros. His family had some important people in history. For example, his great-grandmother's sister was the mother of Gregorio del Pilar, a famous Filipino general.

Albert del Rosario went to Xavier High School in New York. After high school, he studied at New York University. He earned a degree in Economics there. In 2006, his high school honored him by putting him in their Hall of Fame.

He was also the uncle of Monsour del Rosario. Monsour is an actor, a martial artist, and a former politician in Makati.

Career Before Politics

Before he started working in government, Albert del Rosario was a leader in many businesses. He was the head of a company called Philippine Stratbase Consultancy. He also led the Makati Foundation for Education. He was president of several other companies, including an insurance company and a telecommunications company.

He gained a lot of experience in business. This experience helped him later in his public service roles.

Serving His Country

Albert del Rosario first became a diplomat when he was appointed as the Philippine ambassador to the United States. This happened in 2001, during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He served as ambassador until 2006. After this, he went back to working in private businesses.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

On February 24, 2011, President Benigno Aquino III chose Albert del Rosario to be his Secretary of Foreign Affairs. This is a very important job. It means he was the top diplomat for the Philippines. He was in charge of how the Philippines dealt with other countries.

Clinton and del Rosario
del Rosario with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

One of his main goals was to protect the Philippines' rights in the South China Sea. In May 2012, he asked the United States for help. He wanted naval ships, aircraft, and radar systems. These would help the Philippines protect its territory against claims from China.

A very important event happened on March 30, 2014. The Philippines officially filed a case against China at an international court in the Hague. This case was about China's claim to a large part of the South China Sea. The Philippines argued that China's claims were not valid under international law. This was a big step because it was the first time experts looked at China's claims in a formal legal way.

On July 7, 2015, Albert del Rosario himself spoke to the court. He explained why the Philippines brought the case. He also talked about how important this case was for the region and the world.

He announced his resignation on February 8, 2016. He said it was for health reasons. He officially stepped down on March 7, 2016.

Awards and Recognition

Albert del Rosario received several honors for his work.

  • In 1991, President Corazon Aquino gave him the Philippine Army Award. This was for his work as the head of the Makati Foundation for Education.
  • On September 15, 2014, he received the Tanging Dangal Award. This is a very high award given to people from Bulacan who have done great things for society.
  • On September 24, 2015, he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. This award recognized his dedication to democracy, helping the poor, fighting corruption, and promoting peaceful change in the Philippines.

Death

Albert del Rosario had a spinal medical condition. He had surgery for it in 2015, but it was not successful.

He passed away on April 18, 2023. He was 83 years old. He died from a heart attack while on a flight to San Francisco. He was going on a private trip. Doctors later said he died from heart failure. His body was brought back to Manila on April 22.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Albert del Rosario para niños

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