Rogelio de la Rosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Rogelio de la Rosa
Senator of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1957 – December 30, 1963
Personal details
Born	Regidor Lim de la Rosa (1916-11-12)November 12, 1916 Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines
Died	November 26, 1986(1986-11-26) (aged 70) The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1984)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (1957–1963)
Spouses	María de los Dolores Bayot y Zurbito Carlota Delgado
Relations	Purita de la Rosa (sister) Jaime de la Rosa (brother) África de la Rosa (sister)
Children	7
Alma mater	Far Eastern University
Occupation	Actor, politician, diplomat

Regidor Lim de la Rosa (born November 12, 1916 – died November 26, 1986), known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was a famous Filipino actor and politician. He was one of the most popular movie stars in the Philippines during the 20th century. People also remember him for his skills as a diplomat, representing his country abroad.

Rogelio de la Rosa was elected to the Philippine Senate from 1957 to 1963. He was the first Filipino film actor to become a successful politician. His journey opened the door for many other entertainers to enter politics, including future Senators and even a President.

Early Life and Education

Rogelio de la Rosa was born in Lubao, Pampanga. His father was a champion in arnis, a Filipino martial art. Lubao was also the hometown of Diosdado Macapagal, who later became a Philippine President. Macapagal's first wife, Purita, was Rogelio's sister. Rogelio de la Rosa had both Spanish and Chinese family roots.

When he was in high school, Rogelio and Macapagal often performed in `zarzuelas`. These were popular Spanish musical plays. Rogelio usually played the villain in these shows.

As a teenager, his uncle, who was a film director, gave him a main role. This was in the silent film Ligaw na Bulaklak, where he acted with Rosa del Rosario. The film's director, José Nepomuceno, gave him the screen name "Rogelio de la Rosa". However, Rogelio did not immediately become a full-time actor. Instead, he went to college at Far Eastern University in Manila. He was a great athlete and debater in college. In 1933, he won a national public speaking contest, earning the Claro M. Recto Gold Medal.

Becoming a Movie Star

Rogelio de la Rosa became a huge star in the late 1930s. He often played romantic heroes in dramas. He acted alongside famous actresses like Rosa del Rosario and Carmen Rosales. His pairing with Carmen Rosales was very popular. Their "love team" is considered one of the most successful in Filipino movie history.

During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, the Philippine film industry stopped. But Rogelio de la Rosa stayed famous by performing in `bodabil` shows. These were variety shows at the Life Theater in Manila. After the war, he returned to films and became even more popular. He was perhaps the most famous actor in the first ten years after the war. He even started his own film company, RDR Productions. He also starred in movies by LVN Pictures, often with Carmen Rosales.

By 1948, he was the highest-paid Filipino movie actor. His success continued steadily into the 1950s. He was the first Filipino actor to star in an American-made movie, called The Sword of Avenger. In 1955, he won the 'Best Actor' award for his role in Higit sa Lahat. He received this award at the 1956 FAMAS awards. He also won Best Actor at the 1956 Southeast Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong.

Political Career

A portrait of Dela Rosa.

Serving as a Senator

In the 1957 elections, Rogelio de la Rosa ran for a seat in the Philippine Senate. He won as a member of the Liberal Party. He served one six-year term. As a Senator, he focused on issues important to his home province of Pampanga. These included fisheries and agriculture. He strongly supported making these industries Filipino-owned. He also cared about the Filipino film industry. He helped write a bill that led to the creation of a film censorship board, the Board of Censors.

Running for President

After three years as a Senator, Rogelio de la Rosa decided to run for president. He ran as an independent candidate. His fame as a movie star helped him. Also, the current president, Carlos P. Garcia, was not very popular. This made Rogelio a strong candidate. The other main candidate was Vice President Macapagal, his former brother-in-law. Macapagal was from the Liberal Party.

Just before election day, Rogelio de la Rosa decided to withdraw from the election. He announced this on TV. His official Senate biography says he was worried about President Garcia's powerful political group. He believed that only by stepping aside could he help ensure Garcia's defeat. Whatever his reason, his decision worked. Macapagal was easily elected president over Garcia. Rogelio de la Rosa then rejoined the Liberal Party. However, he lost his bid for re-election to the Senate in the 1963 elections. He never won another public office after that.

Diplomat and Later Years

De la Rosa (right) with his wife Lota Delgado (left)

Rogelio de la Rosa continued to serve the public as a respected diplomat. In 1965, he became the Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia. This was an important role because Cambodia is close to the Philippines. During the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, Rogelio de la Rosa also served as Ambassador to the Netherlands. He was also Ambassador to several Soviet bloc countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia. He was admired for his knowledge of foreign affairs and his language skills. He also used his position to promote Filipino art and culture. He helped Filipino artists who were performing abroad. His last diplomatic job was as the Philippine Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

After retiring from being a diplomat, De la Rosa tried politics one last time. He ran for a seat in the 1984 Batasang Pambansa (parliamentary election) but did not win. He passed away from a heart attack in 1986. Shortly before his death, he had one last acting role. He appeared as a guest on the popular TV drama show Coney Reyes on Camera.

Rogelio de la Rosa was married twice. His second wife, Lota Delgado, was an actress who had been his leading lady in movies. He was buried in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, next to his brother's grave.

Images for kids

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  De la Rosa's grave.

Selected Film Roles