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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/dela_rosa_rosales.webp"  alt="Rogelio de la Rosa with Carmen Rosales" />
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(Rogelio de la Rosa with <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2720/today-in-philippine-history-march-3-1917-carmen-rosales-a-noted-actress-and-world-war-ii-guerilla-fighter-was-born-in-pangasinan" class="news_link">Carmen Rosales</a>)
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He started his movie career as a singer who accompanied himself on the ukulele, performed as a regular villain in Pampango zarzuelas during his teens. It was his uncle, Gregorio Fernandez, who directed him in his first starring role in a motion picture in 1929, in <i>"Ligaw na Bulaklak"</i> opposite Rosa del Rosario.
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De la Rosa burst into stardom in the late 1930s after being frequently cast in dramas as a romantic idol opposite several popular  actresses.  His partnership with Carmen Rosales proved to be the most durable onscreen "love team" and is said to be among the most successful in the history of Philippine movies.
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His 1955 role in <i>Higit sa Lahat</i> with Emma Alegre earned him the Best Actor trophy at the 1956 <span class="news_link" title="Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards" >FAMAS awards</span>, as well as a citation as Southeast Asia's Best Actor at the Hongkong Film Festival.  Dela Rosa was also  the first Filipino to star in an American Picture, "The Avenger",  which was produced in Hollywood.
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In the 1957 general elections, de la Rosa ran and won a seat in the Philippine Senate under the  Liberal Party.  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.
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November 16, 1986: Rogelio dela Rosa died of a fatal heart attack