| AMB. ALBERT DEL ROSARIO |
Ambassador Albert del Rosario served as the Philippines
Ambassador to the United States for five years, from
2001-2006. In that time, with his low-key style and calm
demeanor, Ambassador del Rosario proved to be one of
the most effective Philippine envoys ever assigned to
Washington, D.C.
One of his secrets of success was that Ambassador del
Rosario brought a private sector work ethic with him to
Washington. The Ambassador spent a very successful
four decades in business, before signing up to serve Juan
de la Cruz in the American capital. He used this
invaluable private sector experience as a motor drive for
public service when he became the country’s top diplomat
in the United States.
Ambassador del Rosario tirelessly promoted the Philippine
national interest, from the corridors of power within the
Washington Beltway, to far-flung congressional districts
Ambassador to the United States for five years, from
2001-2006. In that time, with his low-key style and calm
demeanor, Ambassador del Rosario proved to be one of
the most effective Philippine envoys ever assigned to
Washington, D.C.
One of his secrets of success was that Ambassador del
Rosario brought a private sector work ethic with him to
Washington. The Ambassador spent a very successful
four decades in business, before signing up to serve Juan
de la Cruz in the American capital. He used this
invaluable private sector experience as a motor drive for
public service when he became the country’s top diplomat
in the United States.
Ambassador del Rosario tirelessly promoted the Philippine
national interest, from the corridors of power within the
Washington Beltway, to far-flung congressional districts
and business centers all over the Union. He reached out to the Filipino Community
everywhere and to every sector of the American public that he could access. Ambassador del
Rosario was extremely effective in attaining Philippine diplomatic priorities and objectives. His
tireless representations and networking helped source $1.2 billion in additional U.S.
assistance for the Philippines in fields ranging from counter-terrorism to educational
cooperation.
The Ambassador was at the center of the strategy to bring Philippine and American security
cooperation, involving both the military and law enforcement, closer together in order to
combat global terrorism. He shaped bilateral cooperation to promote peace and development
in Mindanao, for which Washington committed both financial and diplomatic support.
In economic diplomacy, Ambassador del Rosario spoke of business in a way that the American
private sector could instinctively relate. The Ambassador initiated a marketing program to
position the Philippines as a dynamic BPO destination. He helped attract American
investments and promoted greater access for Philippine exports.
Ambassador del Rosario showed his true mettle when he managed multisectoral campaigns,
which included the Filipino Community, to protect vital Philippine economic interests. He
helped ensure continued access for Philippine canned tuna exports to the United States. He
successfully retained the Philippines as an investment destination for the California Public
Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
Indeed, at every step, Ambassador del Rosario also sought to help and to enlist the help of
the Filipino Community in the United States for Community causes and for the national
interest. In this spirit, Ambassador del Rosario was a determined champion of the Filipino
Community in supporting the Filipino Veterans of World War II. His advocacy contributed to
the recent breakthrough in the U.S. Congress on behalf of the Filipino Veterans.
With the Filipino Community, Ambassador del Rosario launched the annual
“Ambassadors/Consuls General Tour of the Philippines,” an innovative program to boost
Filipino-American involvement in tourism, trade and investment in the Philippines. He also
initiated the “Bayan Ko-Bahay Ko” program to encourage more overseas Filipino investment in
Philippine real estate and housing.
Avid humanitarians, Ambassador del Rosario and his charming wife, Gretchen, embraced the
Washington-based Feed the Hungry, the globally-organized Gawad Kalinga, and many other
Filipino charitable groups that send back hope and help to the Philippines every year. The
couple made extensive personal contributions to Community reach-out projects in the
Philippines, including the provision of books for disadvantaged areas, feeding programs and
calamity aid.
Another program born during Ambassador del Rosario’s tenure is the Winter Clothes Drive for
the Pinoy Teachers Network of Metro DC. Begun in 2006 by Gretchen, the Winter Clothes
Drive continues to be one of the Philippine Embassy’s community-oriented reach-out projects.
In recognition of his diplomatic achievements, Ambassador del Rosario was awarded the
Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu, by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004. The
Ambassador is also a recipient of the EDSA II Presidential Heroes Award for fostering
Philippine Democracy, and the Philippine Army Award from President Corazon Aquino for his
accomplishments as Chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education.
Yet for all his stature and his success, Ambassador del Rosario remained throughout a soft-
spoken gentleman of the old school. The quiet Ambassador would take “evening walks,”
alone or just with his wife, almost daily as exercise. He would go with no limo, no security, no
assistants, no frills, no fuss.
His modesty and self-effacing nature was always evident. Even under tremendous pressure,
Ambassador del Rosario never lost the reassuring calm that distinguished his leadership and
that endeared his Embassy staff and all others to him.
Ambassador del Rosario will be long remembered in Washington, not simply as a diplomat par
excellence, but even more so as a true patriot who, ever faithful to the high principles of duty
and honor, set aside success elsewhere, to place himself at the service of his nation and his
people. The Republic cannot ask for more from a citizen.
everywhere and to every sector of the American public that he could access. Ambassador del
Rosario was extremely effective in attaining Philippine diplomatic priorities and objectives. His
tireless representations and networking helped source $1.2 billion in additional U.S.
assistance for the Philippines in fields ranging from counter-terrorism to educational
cooperation.
The Ambassador was at the center of the strategy to bring Philippine and American security
cooperation, involving both the military and law enforcement, closer together in order to
combat global terrorism. He shaped bilateral cooperation to promote peace and development
in Mindanao, for which Washington committed both financial and diplomatic support.
In economic diplomacy, Ambassador del Rosario spoke of business in a way that the American
private sector could instinctively relate. The Ambassador initiated a marketing program to
position the Philippines as a dynamic BPO destination. He helped attract American
investments and promoted greater access for Philippine exports.
Ambassador del Rosario showed his true mettle when he managed multisectoral campaigns,
which included the Filipino Community, to protect vital Philippine economic interests. He
helped ensure continued access for Philippine canned tuna exports to the United States. He
successfully retained the Philippines as an investment destination for the California Public
Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
Indeed, at every step, Ambassador del Rosario also sought to help and to enlist the help of
the Filipino Community in the United States for Community causes and for the national
interest. In this spirit, Ambassador del Rosario was a determined champion of the Filipino
Community in supporting the Filipino Veterans of World War II. His advocacy contributed to
the recent breakthrough in the U.S. Congress on behalf of the Filipino Veterans.
With the Filipino Community, Ambassador del Rosario launched the annual
“Ambassadors/Consuls General Tour of the Philippines,” an innovative program to boost
Filipino-American involvement in tourism, trade and investment in the Philippines. He also
initiated the “Bayan Ko-Bahay Ko” program to encourage more overseas Filipino investment in
Philippine real estate and housing.
Avid humanitarians, Ambassador del Rosario and his charming wife, Gretchen, embraced the
Washington-based Feed the Hungry, the globally-organized Gawad Kalinga, and many other
Filipino charitable groups that send back hope and help to the Philippines every year. The
couple made extensive personal contributions to Community reach-out projects in the
Philippines, including the provision of books for disadvantaged areas, feeding programs and
calamity aid.
Another program born during Ambassador del Rosario’s tenure is the Winter Clothes Drive for
the Pinoy Teachers Network of Metro DC. Begun in 2006 by Gretchen, the Winter Clothes
Drive continues to be one of the Philippine Embassy’s community-oriented reach-out projects.
In recognition of his diplomatic achievements, Ambassador del Rosario was awarded the
Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu, by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004. The
Ambassador is also a recipient of the EDSA II Presidential Heroes Award for fostering
Philippine Democracy, and the Philippine Army Award from President Corazon Aquino for his
accomplishments as Chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education.
Yet for all his stature and his success, Ambassador del Rosario remained throughout a soft-
spoken gentleman of the old school. The quiet Ambassador would take “evening walks,”
alone or just with his wife, almost daily as exercise. He would go with no limo, no security, no
assistants, no frills, no fuss.
His modesty and self-effacing nature was always evident. Even under tremendous pressure,
Ambassador del Rosario never lost the reassuring calm that distinguished his leadership and
that endeared his Embassy staff and all others to him.
Ambassador del Rosario will be long remembered in Washington, not simply as a diplomat par
excellence, but even more so as a true patriot who, ever faithful to the high principles of duty
and honor, set aside success elsewhere, to place himself at the service of his nation and his
people. The Republic cannot ask for more from a citizen.
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| Exemplary diplomat, a gentleman, low-key, suave and highly intelligent, humble and unimposing COMMUNITY MOVER and HUMANITARIAN Well-loved by the Filipino community |
| Albert's Photo Album |
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