Rogelio de la Rosa
Encyclopedia
Regidor de la Rosa better known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was one of the most popular Filipino
matinee idols of the 20th century. He is also remembered for his statesmanship, in particular his accomplishments as a diplomat. Elected to the Philippine Senate
from 1957 to 1963, he also was the first Filipino film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a substantial political career, paving the way for other than future Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians such as Senators Eddie Ilarde
, Ramon Revilla, Sr., Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.
, Jinggoy Estrada
, Lito Lapid and President
Joseph Estrada
.
, the son of an arnis
champion. Lubao was also the hometown of Diosdado Macapagal
, six years his senior and a future political opponent and brother-in-law. Macapagal's first wife, Purita, was de la Rosa's sister. He has Spanish
and Chinese
ancestry.
While in high school, de la Rosa, along with Macapagal would regularly perform in zarzuela
s as a villain. As a teenager, he was cast by his uncle, a film director, in a starring role in the silent film Ligaw na Bulaklak opposite Rosa del Rosario
. The film's director, José Nepomuceno
, gave him the screen name "Rogelio de la Rosa". However, the young actor did not then engage in a regular film career, opting instead to attend college at the Far Eastern University
in Manila.
He had also lived in San Nicolás. His house still stands to this day.
He was an excellent collegiate athlete and debater in the years from 1932 to 1934. In 1933, de la Rosa won the Claro M. Recto Gold Medal in a national oratorical contest.
, Carmen Rosales
, Emma Alegre
, Paraluman
, and Corazon Noble. Carmen Rosales proved to be his most durable onscreen partner, and their "love team" is said to be among the most successful in the history of Philippine movies.
When the Philippine film industry was held to a standstill during the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945, de la Rosa remained in the public eye as a bodabil
performer at the Life Theater in Manila
. After the war, he resumed his film career and proved more popular than ever. emerged as a star, perhaps the most popular film actor of the first decade of the post-war. He formed his own film production company, RDR Productions, and starred as well in productions of LVN Pictures
, often with Rosales. By 1948, he was the highest paid Filipino movie actor. His success in films remained steady in the 1950s. He had been cast as the first Filipino actor to star in an American-produced movie, The Avenger. His 1955 role in Higit sa Lahat with Emma Alegre
earned him the 'Best Actor' trophy at the 1956 FAMAS awards, as well as a citation as Southeast Asia's
Best Actor at the Hongkong Film Festival.
, de la Rosa ran and won a seat in the Philippine Senate under the banner of the Liberal Party
. He served for one 6-year term spanning the 4th
and 5th Congress
. As a Senator, he was active in issues of particular concern within his home province of Pampanga
such as fisheries and agriculture
, emerging as a strong advocate for nationalization
of those industries. Appropriately, de la Rosa was also interested in issues relating to the Filipino film industry, co-authoring a bill that would lead to the establishment of a Board of Censors.
After 3 years in the Senate, De La Rosa decided to run for the presidency as an independent candidate. His residual popularity as a film star, as well as the unpopularity of incumbent re-electionist Nacionalista Carlos P. Garcia
made him a credible candidate. The other major candidate in the race was then-Vice President Macapagal of the Liberal Party
, his former brother-in-law. Then shortly before election day, de la Rosa withdrew from the election. The reasons for his withdrawal remain a mystery. According to his official Senate biography, de la Rosa was concerned about the strength of what he perceived as the corrupt political machinery of President Garcia, and was ultimately convinced that his withdrawal from the race was the only way to ensure Garcia's defeat. Whatever the motivation, de la Rosa's gambit proved successful, and Macapagal was easily elected over Garcia.
Returning to the Liberal Party, de la Rosa was defeated for reelection to the Senate in the 1963 general elections
. He would never again be elected to public office.
, an important designation considering that country's proximity to the Philippines. During the administration of Ferdinand Marcos
, de la Rosa was also named as Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands
, and to the Soviet bloc countries of Poland
, Bulgaria
and Czechoslovakia
. He was duly admired for his savvy in foreign affairs and language proficiency. He also used his position to promote Filipino art and culture and to assist Filipino artists performing abroad. His last diplomatic post was Philippine Ambassador to Sri Lanka. He was well loved by the Filipino community there and reciprocated by serving his utmost best.
After retiring from the diplomatic corps, de la Rosa made his last foray into politics by unsuccessfully running in the 1984 Batasang Pambansa
parliamentary elections. Shortly before his death from a heart attack
in 1986, he played one last acting role, in a guest spot on the popular drama anthology Coney Reyes on Camera
.
De la Rosa was married twice. His second wife, Lota Delgado
was a former leading lady of his in films.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
matinee idols of the 20th century. He is also remembered for his statesmanship, in particular his accomplishments as a diplomat. Elected to the Philippine Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
from 1957 to 1963, he also was the first Filipino film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a substantial political career, paving the way for other than future Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians such as Senators Eddie Ilarde
Eddie Ilarde
Edgar U. Ilarde , also known as Eddie Ilarde, is a Filipino radio and television host who was elected to one term in the Philippine Senate. He also served one term each as a Congressman and as an Assemblyman of the Interim Batasang Pambansa...
, Ramon Revilla, Sr., Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.
Bong Revilla
Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. , is a Filipino actor, politician and senator of the Republic of the Philippines. In 2009, he legally changed his last name to Bong Revilla....
, Jinggoy Estrada
Jinggoy Estrada
Jose Pimentel Ejercito, Jr. , better known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, is a Filipino politician and former film actor who has been a member of the Senate of the Philippines since 2004...
, Lito Lapid and President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
.
Early life
He was born in Lubao, PampangaLubao, Pampanga
Lubao is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 143,058 people in 23,446 households...
, the son of an arnis
Arnis
Arnis may refer to:*A Filipino martial art, see Eskrima**a modern version of the traditional martial art, see Modern Arnis*Arnis, Germany, a small town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
champion. Lubao was also the hometown of Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
, six years his senior and a future political opponent and brother-in-law. Macapagal's first wife, Purita, was de la Rosa's sister. He has Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
ancestry.
While in high school, de la Rosa, along with Macapagal would regularly perform in zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
s as a villain. As a teenager, he was cast by his uncle, a film director, in a starring role in the silent film Ligaw na Bulaklak opposite Rosa del Rosario
Rosa del Rosario
Rosa del Rosario was a well-known half-Filipina, half-American Mestiza actress in Philippine Movies who made her film debut in 1932 horror film Satanas . Her real name was Rose del Rosario Stagner. Her mother was from Pampanga...
. The film's director, José Nepomuceno
José Nepomuceno
José Nepomuceno was one of the pioneering directors of the cinema of the Philippines. He is also known as the founder of Philippine movies. It was in 1919 when he produced the first Filipino silent film entitled Dalagang Bukid. The film starred Atang de la Rama, a future National Artist of the...
, gave him the screen name "Rogelio de la Rosa". However, the young actor did not then engage in a regular film career, opting instead to attend college at the Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
in Manila.
He had also lived in San Nicolás. His house still stands to this day.
He was an excellent collegiate athlete and debater in the years from 1932 to 1934. In 1933, de la Rosa won the Claro M. Recto Gold Medal in a national oratorical contest.
Film stardom
De la Rosa burst into stardom in the late 1930s after being frequently cast in dramas as a romantic idol opposite such actresses as Rosa del RosarioRosa del Rosario
Rosa del Rosario was a well-known half-Filipina, half-American Mestiza actress in Philippine Movies who made her film debut in 1932 horror film Satanas . Her real name was Rose del Rosario Stagner. Her mother was from Pampanga...
, Carmen Rosales
Carmen Rosales
Januaria Keller was a noted pre-WWII Filipina actress better known as Carmen Rosales and Mameng and is noted for her skill in acting and sweet voice.-Personal life:...
, Emma Alegre
Emma Alegre
Emma Alegre is a Filipina actress. She was a leading lady of the mid-1950s, working mostly for LVN Pictures. She first appeared on the movie Dalaginding. In her third movie was Damong Ligaw where she was billed second...
, Paraluman
Paraluman
Sigrid Sophia Agatha von Giese , better known asParaluman, was a FAMAS-award winning Filipino actress active from the 1940s to the 1970s. She was a contemporary of the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr...
, and Corazon Noble. Carmen Rosales proved to be his most durable onscreen partner, and their "love team" is said to be among the most successful in the history of Philippine movies.
When the Philippine film industry was held to a standstill during the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945, de la Rosa remained in the public eye as a bodabil
Bodabil
Bodabil was a popular genre of entertainment in the Philippines from the 1910s until the mid-1960s. For decades, it competed with film, radio and television as the dominant form of Filipino mass entertainment. It peaked in popularity during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines from 1941 to 1945...
performer at the Life Theater in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. After the war, he resumed his film career and proved more popular than ever. emerged as a star, perhaps the most popular film actor of the first decade of the post-war. He formed his own film production company, RDR Productions, and starred as well in productions of LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures, Inc. is one of the biggest film studios in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005...
, often with Rosales. By 1948, he was the highest paid Filipino movie actor. His success in films remained steady in the 1950s. He had been cast as the first Filipino actor to star in an American-produced movie, The Avenger. His 1955 role in Higit sa Lahat with Emma Alegre
Emma Alegre
Emma Alegre is a Filipina actress. She was a leading lady of the mid-1950s, working mostly for LVN Pictures. She first appeared on the movie Dalaginding. In her third movie was Damong Ligaw where she was billed second...
earned him the 'Best Actor' trophy at the 1956 FAMAS awards, as well as a citation as Southeast Asia's
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
Best Actor at the Hongkong Film Festival.
Senator and presidential candidate
In the 1957 general electionsPhilippine general election, 1957
Senatorial elections were held on November 12, 1957 in the Philippines. The Nacionalista Party, despite losing two seats to the Liberal Party still held the Senate with twenty seats. The Liberals who won were actor Rogelio de la Rosa and former basketball player Ambrosio Padilla.-See...
, de la Rosa ran and won a seat in the Philippine Senate under the banner of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
. He served for one 6-year term spanning the 4th
4th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 27, 1958 until December 13, 1961.-Sessions:*First Regular Session: January 27 – May 22, 1958**First Special...
and 5th Congress
5th Congress of the Philippines
The Fifth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 22, 1962 until December 17, 1965.-Sessions:*First Regular Session: January 22 – May 17, 1962*Second Regular...
. As a Senator, he was active in issues of particular concern within his home province of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
such as fisheries and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, emerging as a strong advocate for nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of those industries. Appropriately, de la Rosa was also interested in issues relating to the Filipino film industry, co-authoring a bill that would lead to the establishment of a Board of Censors.
After 3 years in the Senate, De La Rosa decided to run for the presidency as an independent candidate. His residual popularity as a film star, as well as the unpopularity of incumbent re-electionist Nacionalista Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
made him a credible candidate. The other major candidate in the race was then-Vice President Macapagal of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
, his former brother-in-law. Then shortly before election day, de la Rosa withdrew from the election. The reasons for his withdrawal remain a mystery. According to his official Senate biography, de la Rosa was concerned about the strength of what he perceived as the corrupt political machinery of President Garcia, and was ultimately convinced that his withdrawal from the race was the only way to ensure Garcia's defeat. Whatever the motivation, de la Rosa's gambit proved successful, and Macapagal was easily elected over Garcia.
Returning to the Liberal Party, de la Rosa was defeated for reelection to the Senate in the 1963 general elections
Philippine general election, 1963
A senatorial election was held on November 12, 1963 in the Philippines. The 1963 elections were known as a midterm election as the date when the elected officials take office falls half-way through President Diosdado Macapagal's four-year term....
. He would never again be elected to public office.
Diplomat and later years
De la Rosa remained in public service as an acclaimed diplomat. In 1965, he was appointed Philippine Ambassador to CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, an important designation considering that country's proximity to the Philippines. During the administration of Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, de la Rosa was also named as Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and to the Soviet bloc countries of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He was duly admired for his savvy in foreign affairs and language proficiency. He also used his position to promote Filipino art and culture and to assist Filipino artists performing abroad. His last diplomatic post was Philippine Ambassador to Sri Lanka. He was well loved by the Filipino community there and reciprocated by serving his utmost best.
After retiring from the diplomatic corps, de la Rosa made his last foray into politics by unsuccessfully running in the 1984 Batasang Pambansa
Batasang Pambansa
The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
parliamentary elections. Shortly before his death from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1986, he played one last acting role, in a guest spot on the popular drama anthology Coney Reyes on Camera
Coney Reyes on Camera
Coney Reyes on Camera was a weekly drama anthology that aired from 1984-1998 in 2 networks and became the longest running drama anthology in Philippine TV history until Maalaala Mo Kaya became the longest running drama anthology in 2011. Coney was the host, lead star, and producer.-Overview:The...
.
De la Rosa was married twice. His second wife, Lota Delgado
Lota Delgado
Lota Delgado was a Filipino actress noted mostly for her pre-World War II career.She largely stopped acting after marrying fellow actor and future Senator Rogelio dela Rosa.She died on April 28, 2009 in Manila, Philippines....
was a former leading lady of his in films.
Filmography
- 1932 – Ligaw na Bulaklak
- 1932 – Tianak
- 1932 - Ulong Inasnan
- 1933 - Nahuling Pagsisisi
- 1933 - Ang Ganid
- 1934 - Krus na Bato
- 1934 - Sawing Palad
- 1936 - Buhok ni Ester
- 1936 - Diwata ng Karagatan
- 1936 - Kalupitan ng Tadhana
- 1936 - Awit ng mga Ulila
- 1936 - Anak-Dalita
- 1936 - Lagablab ng Kabataan
- 1937 - Anak ng Pari
- 1937 - Magkapatid
- 1937 - Teniente Rosario
- 1938 - Bituing Marikit
- 1938 - Inang Mahal
- 1938 - Makiling
- 1938 - Sanggumay
- 1938 - Ang Magmamani
- 1938 - Bago Lumubog ang Araw
- 1938 - Mga Sugat ng Puso
- 1938 - Bukang Liwayway
- 1938 - Bahay-Kubo
- 1938 - Diwata ng Karagatan
- 1939 - Magkaisang Landas
- 1939 - Lagot Na Kuwintas
- 1939 - Pasang Krus
- 1939 - Florante at Laura
- 1939 - Dalisay
- 1939 - Ang Magsasampaguita
- 1939 - Takip-Silim
- 1940 - Senorita
- 1940 - Magbalik ka, Hirang
- 1940 - Gunita
- 1940 - Katarungan
- 1940 - Lambingan
- 1940 - Diwa ng Awit
- 1940 - Estrellita
- 1940 - Colegiala
- 1940 - Nang Mahawi ang Ulap
- 1941 - Panambitan
- 1941 - Tarhata
- 1941 - Tampuhan
- 1941 - Ang Maestra
- 1941 - Serenata sa Nayon
- 1942 - Caballero
- 1942 - Anong Ganda Mo
- 1944 - Perfidia
- 1946 - Garrison 13
- 1946 - Angelus
- 1946 - Dalawang Daigdig
- 1946 - Tagumpay
- 1946 - Honeymoon
- 1946 - Ang Prinsipeng Hindi Tumatawa
- 1947 - Sarung Banggi
- 1947 - Backpay
- 1947 - Ang Lalaki
- 1947 - Ang Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo
- 1948 - Sa Tokyo Ikinasal
- 1948 - Bulaklak at Paruparo
- 1948 - Ang Vengador
- 1948 - Hampas ng Langit
- 1949 - Kampanang Ginto
- 1949 - Milyonarya
- 1949 - Bandilang Basahan
- 1949 - Camelia
- 1949 - Kidlat sa Silangan
- 1950 - Ang Hiwaga ng Tulay na Bato
- 1950 - 48 Oras
- 1950 - Doble Cara
- 1950 - Ang Kampana ng San Diego
- 1950 - Prinsipe Amante
- 1950 - Tigang na Lupa
- 1950 - Sohrab at Rustum
- 1951 - Bayan O Pag-ibig
- 1951 - Prinsipe Amante sa Rubitanya
- 1951 - Haring Cobra
- 1952 - Irisan
- 1952 - Romansa sa Nayon
- 1953 - Sa Paanan ng Bundok
- 1954 - Maala-Ala Mo Kaya?
- 1954 - Dakilang Pgpapakasakit
- 1954 - Jack & Jill
- 1954 - Ikaw ang Buhay Ko
- 1954 - Aristokrata
- 1955 - Ang Tangi kong Pag-ibig
- 1955 - Artista
- 1955 - Higit sa Lahat
- 1955 - Sonny Boy
- 1955 - Iyung-Iyo
- 1955 - Pandanggo ni Neneng
- 1956 - Babaing Mandarambong
- 1956 - El conde de Monte Carlo
- 1956 - Idolo
- 1956 - Pampanggenya
- 1956 - Gintong Pangarap
- 1957 - Sino ang Maysala
- 1957 - Veronica