Secretary Rodolfo del Rosario is CY 2004 Blue Knight Awardee

In a small but formal ceremony at the Marco Polo Hotel last December 30, 2004, the Ateneo de Davao Alumni Association awarded former Davao del Norte Governor and now Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers, Secretary Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, as this year’s Blue Knight Awardee. The Award was presented by no less than the ADDU President Fr. Antonio Samson S.J., Alumni President Ralph Aviola and Blue Knight Award Committee Chair Conrad Adeva.

In his speech, Secretary del Rosario admitted that while he was deeply honored and grateful for the award, it also came as a big surprise for him. When the Alumni office called his secretary asking for an appointment, he was expecting that the officers were coming to him again to ask for some donation (Secretary del Rosario has been a consistent source of funds for the Alumni). To his surprise, the visit turned out to be the best Christmas gift he received last year.

Secretary del Rosario was a member of the pioneer batch who enrolled at the Ateneo de Davao when it first opened in 1948. He was then a grade six student who went on to finish high school in 1953. He began his career as a salesman at DAMOSA. His first stint in public office was in 1978 when he was elected Assemblyman during the Interim Batasang Pambansa. He was re-elected in 1984 and was also appointed Natural Resources Minister by then President Ferdinand Marcos. When People Power ushered in the New Philippine Congress, he was elected 2nd District Representative for the Davao Province and held office for three consecutive terms. In 1998, he was elected Governor of Davao del Norte and served the province for two consecutive terms. Secretary del Rosario was instrumental in the creation of Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte; both carved out from the old boundaries of Davao Province. It was also thru his initiative that led to the creation of the Island Garden City of Samal.

The Blue Knight Award is the highest award given to an alumnus or alumna in Ateneo. In addition to distinguishing himself in his chosen field of business or profession, the awardee must be a living testament to Ateneo’s mission of developing “Men and Women for Others’. It is a most coveted award among the alumni and alumnae of Ateneo and the awardees are accorded the highest respect and admiration in the Ateneo Alumni community.