Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines to Visit Mount Saint Vincent
9/23/2015
Riverdale, N.Y. – The University of Mount Saint Vincent is pleased to announce the upcoming visit of the Honorable Albert del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, on Thursday, September 24, 2015. The College will present him with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for his commitment to democracy, advocacy to the poor, opposing corruption, and promoting peaceful change in the Philippines. The degree will be conferred at a convocation ceremony held at 3 p.m. in Smith Hall, followed by a reception in the President’s Reception Room.
Albert del Rosario has been the Secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs since February 2011. Prior to his appointment, he was the Philippine Ambassador to the United States of America from 2001 to 2006. He was born in Manila, Philippines, attended Xavier High School in New York, and attended New York University, graduating with a degree in economics.
Secretary del Rosario also has connections to the University of Mount Saint Vincent. His three sisters, Alicia Ong ’62, Amparo Palenzuela ’59, and the late Virginia Abello ’57, graduated from the Mount.
Secretary del Rosario will be the first sitting official of the Republic of the Philippines to receive an honorary degree from the University of Mount Saint Vincent. The late former President Corazon Aquino, an alumna of the College, and her son, President Benigno S. Aquino III, have been awarded the Elizabeth Seton Medal, the College’s highest honor. The award was bestowed upon President Corazon Aquino during her visit to the College in 1986, and to President Benigno S. Aquino III during his visit in 2010.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.