Regidor de la Rosa, better known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century.

ROGELIO DEL LA ROSA

de la Rosa burst into stardom in the late 1930s after being frequently cast in dramas as a romantic idol opposite popular actresses. 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.

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 formed his own film production company, RDR Productions, and starred in productions of LVN Pictures. By 1948, he was the highest paid Filipino movie actor.

In the 1956 FAMAS he won 'Best Actor' for his role in 'Higit sa Lahat'.

He was elected to the Philippine Senate from 1957 to 1963. After three 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 Carlos Garcia made him a credible candidate. The other major candidate in the race was then-Vice President Macapagal his former brother-in-law, shortly before election day, de la Rosa withdrew from the election.

In 1965, de la Rosa was appointed Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia. 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. His last diplomatic post was Philippine Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

12 November 1916

to 10 November 1986