GOVPH

ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO

SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Republic of the Philippines

The Honorable Albert F. del Rosario was born in Manila on November 14, 1939 and has worked for both the private sector and government. He attended Xavier High School in New York City and subsequently graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.

Secretary Del Rosario’s business career spanned a vast field which included insurance, banking, real estate, shipping, telecommunications, consumer products, retail, pharmaceutical, and food industries, among others. He was member of the Board and director of various firms prior to entering public service as Philippine Ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C.

The Secretary’s experience in the private sector included positions as chair of Philippine Stratbase Consultancy, Inc. and Makati Foundation for Education; president of Gotuaco, Del Rosario Insurance Brokers, Inc. and Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corporation (PTIC); director in various companies and non-profit organizations, including the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, First Pacific Company (Hong Kong), PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (Indonesia), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Philex Mining Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC), Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), ABC Development Corporation (ABC 5), Asia Insurance (Philippines) Corporation, Philippine Cancer Society, Cultural Center of the Philippines Foundation, Incorporated (CCPFI); trustee of PinoyME Foundation, Inc.; member of the Asia Society’s International Council and of the Board of Governors of International Graduate University (Washington, DC). In addition, the Secretary headed the development of Pacific Plaza Towers, Metro Pacific Corporation’s signature project at Fort Bonifacio, Global City.

As Philippine Ambassador to the United States, he was instrumental in securing US$1.2 Billion U.S. funding assistance for the Philippines, bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism and peace and development in Mindanao, investments in the country’s Business Process Outsourcing industry, and greater access for Philippine exports. His enduring legacy which continues to benefit the Philippines includes the formation of the Philippines-US Congressional Friendship composed of over 80 legislators from the US House of Representatives, retaining the Philippines in the list of approved investment locations in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), development of the Reform Program for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pioneering the Ambassadors/Consuls General Tour of the Philippines, and Bayan Ko-Bahay Ko Program.

In September of 2004, he was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu by H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for his outstanding efforts in promoting foreign relations. In early 2001, he received the EDSA II Heroes Award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in recognition of his efforts in promoting Philippine democracy. He also received the Philippine Army Award from President Corazon Aquino for his initiatives as Chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education in 1991. He was elevated to the Xavier Hall of Fame in New York City in 2006.

Secretary del Rosario is married to Gretchen de Venecia. They have five children and six grandchildren.

The Chancery Building

The Chancery occupies approximately 8,000 square meters of land along Sukhumvit Road, one of Thailand’s major highways. It is located between the Khlong Toei and Vadhana districts.

The Philippine Government purchased the property on 28 June 1963, during the tenure of then Ambassador Jose Ingles.

Previously known as the Mangala Palace, the property served as the residence of H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra Mangala from 1932, after the passing of her husband, until the end of her life in 1957.

H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra was very fond of Thai theater, dance and music and had been producing performances throughout her life. At the palace, she began her productions with khon (a genre of Thai dance drama) in 1942 for her birthday. Later, she established a troupe called Chu Nat Durinyanga Silp to perform various kinds of Thai theater forms. Her troupe performed regularly, with her palace serving as an outdoor theater and using various corners as the scenery. The troupe occasionally performed elsewhere on auspicious occasions such as the opening of Chulalongkorn University auditorium.¹

The daughter of H.R.H. Prince Bhanurangsri Savangwongse, H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra Mangala was married to H.R.H. Prince Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi, and the first member of the house of “Yugala.” He was the son of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and H.R.H Princess Saisavali Bhiromya, Princess Suddhasininart Piyamaharai Padiyaradda.²

H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra had three sons: H.H. Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala, H.H. Prince Anususara Mongolkara, and H.H. Prince Chalermbala Dighambara.³

One of her sons, H.H. Prince Anususara Mongolkara went on to become a famous Thai film director and a recipient of the 1996 National Artist of Thailand. He was also the great-uncle of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, the Princess Suddhanarinatha, mother of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiribajra, who is the eldest daughter of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (Rama X) and eldest granddaughter of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX).

The Chancery’s neighborhood has evolved from a mainly residential area characterized by stand-alone houses to one consisting of commercial centers and condominium buildings. Changes in the area were quick, following Bangkok’s rapid population growth and consequent development, especially the construction of the BTS SkyTrain along Sukhumvit Road.

Since its purchase, the Chancery has served as office to thirteen (13) Philippine Ambassadors and numerous Foreign Service personnel, and has been witness to major events in Thai history and the growth of the Filipino community in Thailand. It has also seen its own share of natural calamities, the most recent being the flooding on 17 October 2017.

The Chancery consists of a two-storey structure housing the Ambassador’s Office and the Administrative, Cultural, Economic, Multilateral, and Political Sections, including the Philippine Trade and Investment Center. An annex building houses the Consular Section and the representatives of the Department of National Defense and Department of Agriculture.

[1] http://www.thaithesis.org/detail.php?id=1082540000323 
[2] https://culture.ssru.ac.th/en/news/view/news444 
[3] https://culture.ssru.ac.th/en/news/view/news648 

Last update: 03 April 2023

President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III is an economist by training and a public official by profession. He served three terms as Congressman of the Second District of Tarlac before placing sixth in the May 2007 Senatorial elections that earned him a 6-year mandate as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE

PRESIDENT, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SENATOR, SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 14TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, July 1, 2007 – June 29, 2010

A. Chairman, Committee on Local Government

B. Vice Chairman, Committee on Justice and Human Rights

C. Committee Membership

•    Accounts
•    Constitutional Amendments, Revisions of Codes and Laws
•    Economic Affairs
•    Education, Arts and Culture
•    Environment and Natural Resources
•    National Defense and Security
•    Peace, Unifications and Reconciliation
•    Public Works
•    Trade and Commerce
•    Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement
•    Ways and Means
•    Youth, Women and Family Relations

D. Priority Bills

•    Senate Bill No. 1370 – an act granting an annual productivity incentive to all workers in the private sector, establishing mechanisms for its implementation, and for other purposes
•    Senate Bill No. 1719 – an act limiting the re-appointment of presidential nominees by-passed by the Commission on Appointments (CA)
•    Senate Bill No. 1710 – an act banning the re-appointment of a regular member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) who has already served the full term
•    Senate Bill No. 2035 – an act requiring the regular maintenance and preservation of all public infrastructures, establishing mechanisms for its implementation and for other purposes
•    Senate Bill No. 2036 – an act increasing the penalties for non-compliance of the prescribed increases and adjustments in the wage rates of workers, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 6727

E. Resolutions

•    Senate Resolution No. 190 – investigating the exercise and implementation of the powers of local chief executives under Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991” in relation to Republic Act 6975 known as the “Philippine National Police (PNP) Law” and Republic Act 8551 known as “The PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998”
•    Senate Resolution No. 205 – investigating the bomb explosion at the House of Representatives, condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent bombing at the House of Representatives, extending sympathies to the victims and calling on authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into this incident
•    Senate Resolution No. 229 – directing the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the circumstances leading to the arrest and ‘processing’ of journalists and media personalities after the Manila Peninsula standoff on 29 November 2007

DEPUTY SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 13TH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES, November 2004 –February 2006
MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1998-2001; 2001-2004; 2004-2007

A. Committee Membership

13th Congress

•    Banks & Financial Intermediaries
•    Energy
•    Export Promotion
•    Public Order & Safety

12th Congress

•    Civil, Political & Human Rights
•    Good Government
•    Inter-Parliamentary Relations & Diplomacy
•    Public Order & Security

11th Congress

•    Agriculture
•    Appropriations
•    Banks & Financial Intermediaries
•    Civil, Political & Human Rights (Vice-Chairman)
•    Natural Resources
•    People’s Participation
•    Public Order & Security
•    Suffrage and Electoral Reforms
•    Trade & Industry
•    Transportation & Communications

B. Priority Bills

•    House Bill No. 4251 – granting annual productivity incentives to all workers in the private sector
•    House Bill No. 4397 – strengthening the regulatory power of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to effectively enforce consumer laws
•    House Bill No. 4252 – increasing the penalties for non-compliance of the prescribed increases and adjustments in the wage rates of workers
•    House Bill No. 3616 – extending the reglementary period for the educational qualification for PNP members
•    House Bill No. 1842 – providing for the codification of criminal laws

C. Resolutions

•    House Resolution No. 65 – inquiry in aid of legislation into the politics and processes of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in granting rate increases to electric utilities
•    House Resolution No. 788 – creating a select Congressional Oversight Committee on intelligence funds to check and study the use of intelligence funds by government agencies to ensure that funds allocated therefor are utilized for the purpose they are intended

LIBERAL PARTY LEADERSHIP

•    Executive Vice President, December 18, 2007 to present
•    Vice Chairman, March 17, 2006 to December 17, 2007
•    Secretary General, 2004 to March 16, 2006
•    Vice-President for Luzon 2002-2004
•    Secretary General, 1999-2002
•    Chairman of the Board, Central Luzon Congressional Caucus

EDUCATION

Tertiary Education: AB Economics, Ateneo de Manila University (1977-1981)?Secondary Education: Ateneo de Manila University (1973-1977)

PERSONAL DATA

Date of Birth        :    8 February 1960

Place of Birth       :    Manila

Civil Status          :    Single

Parents               :    Former Senator Benigno Simeon “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (†) and Former President Corazon C. Aquino (†)