# Monsour del Rosario

Manuel Monsour Tabib del Rosario III (born May 11, 1962) is a Filipino actor, martial artist, producer, businessman, and politician. He is popularly known as a Filipino taekwondo champion and actor who starred in several Filipino and international action films. He is the Secretary General of the Philippine Taekwondo Association and a member of the Philippine Olympic National Sports Association Martial Arts Council. He has also served as a city councilor from the 1st district of Makati from 2010 to 2016 and later as congressman representing the same district from 2016 to 2019.

## Biography

Del Rosario was born in Manila and grew up in Bacolod, his family's hometown, and moved to Makati in 1979. His mother is Lebanese, and his uncle was a businessman and the former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario.
He first learned martial arts under Joe Lopez-Vito, a Moo Duk Kwan system of Tang Soo Do practitioner. After he returned to Manila for his high school education, del Rosario shifted to taekwondo in 1977 as a student of Hong Sung-Chon (who is known as a "Father of Philippine Taekwondo"). Under Master Hong, del Rosario attained a Korean 8th Dan taekwondo black belt. He is a graduate of De La Salle University - Manila.
Del Rosario became a member of the Philippine national taekwondo team from 1982 until 1989, serving as the team's captain in his last four years on the team.
He was ranked first in the Philippines in the Lightweight Division while he was on the team, and was an eight-time National Lightweight champion. From 1982 to 1989, he competed in several international competitions, including the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games, the World Games, the World Taekwondo Championships and the Asian Taekwondo Championships. He earned a gold medal in the 14th and 15th Southeast Asian Games, a bronze medal in the 10th Asian Games, and reached the quarterfinal round during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
Along with Stephen Fernandez, del Rosario established the Olympians Taekwondo Training Center, a taekwondo dojang (school) in Taguig.

## Personal life

Del Rosario is married to Joy Zapanta. She suffered a miscarriage with their twins but later gave birth to their son Matthew in 2006 and their daughter Isabella, who is also a taekwondo athlete.

## Acting career

Del Rosario appeared in Filipino action films as early as 1986. Among his more notable starring roles were in Bangis (1995), Buhawi Jack (1998) and Pintado (2000). He appeared in several international film productions, such as Demonstone (1990), Bloodfist II (1990), Techno Warriors (1998) working alongside international martial artist Darren Shahlavi, When Eagles Strike (2003), Bloodfist 2050 (2005) with young martial artist Matt Mullins, and The Hunt for Eagle One (2006). Del Rosario joined Phillip Salvador, Aurora Sevilla and Willie Revillame in Joe Pring 2: Kidlat ng Maynila (1991) produced by Four n Films. He also performed with Lito Lapid, Monica Herrera, and Johnny Delgado in Medal of Valor: Habang Nasasaktan Lalong Tumatapang (1991) also produced by Four n Films. His recent films were Super Noypi (2005) and Tatlong Baraha (2006).

## Political career

Del Rosario first ran for councilor of Makati from the 1st district in 2007 under the ticket of mayoralty candidate and Senator Lito Lapid, but lost. He ran for councilor in 2010 under Nacionalista Party and was successful this time. He was re-elected in 2013 under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), then the ruling party in Makati.
Initially running for re-election in 2016, he instead ran for representative of Makati's 1st district as a substitute to Ichi Yabut, who decided to seek re-election as a councilor instead, and he was successfully elected to a three-year term. As a representative, he principally authored 58 House bills and 47 resolutions and co-authored 118 bills and 9 resolutions in total. The following are the bills he authored and enacted into law :
* Republic Act No. 11165: Telecommuting Act (as principal author)
* Republic Act No. 10931: Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (as co-author)
* Republic Act No. 10928: Philippine Passport Act (as co-author)
* Republic Act No. 10969: Free Irrigation Service Act (as co-author)
* Republic Act No. 11223: Universal Healthcare Act (as co-author)
Though eligible for re-election as representative, he ran for vice mayor of Makati in 2019 as the running mate of Junjun Binay; however, they both lost. He ran for senator in 2022 under Reporma but lost, placing 29th overall.
He is running for vice mayor of Makati for the second time in 2025, this time as the running mate of Senator Nancy Binay and under UNA.

## Filmography
### Film

* Gabi Na, Kumander (Viva Films, 1986)
* Iisa Lang ang Dapat Mamatay (Imus Productions, 1986)
* Enteng the Dragon (RVQ Productions, 1988)
* Eagle Squad – Mon Rivera (Viva Films and Falcon Productions, 1989)
* Hindi Pahuhuli Nang Buhay (Viva Films, 1989)
* Demonstone – Pablo (1990)
* Bloodfist II – Tobo Castanerra (1990)
* Legend of Lost Dragon (Archer Films, 1990)
* Dadaan Ka sa Ibabaw ng Aking Bangkay – Arnold (Red Horse Production and Seiko Films, 1990)
* Subukan Kita Kung Kaya Mo! – Arnold (FLT Films, 1990)
* Hanggang Kailan Ka Papatay – Hector (Regal Films and Moviestars Production, 1990)
* Kidlat ng Maynila: Joe Pring 2 – Nur Adiloka (Four-N Films and Moviestars Production, 1991)
* Dinampot Ka Lang sa Putik – Ambet (Regal Films, 1991)
* Lt. Jack Moreno, Medal of Valor: Habang Nasasaktan, Lalong Tumatapang – Cpl. Alvarez (Four-N Films, 1991)
* Ganti ng Api – Andro (Vision Films, 1991)
* Contreras Gang – Tenyente Lazaro (Moviestars Production, 1991)
* Amang Capulong: Anak ng Tondo II – Amang Capulong (Four-N Films, 1992)
* Alyas Hunyango – Victor (Omega Releasing Organization Inc., 1992)
* Maricris Sioson Story (Regal Films, 1993)
* Magkasangga 2000 – Sword Narding (Harvest Productions, 1993)
* Lethal Panther 2 – Nestor (Harvest International Films, 1993)
* Kakambal Ko sa Tapang – Carding (Harvest International Films, 1993)
* Massacre Files – Dante (Regal Films, 1994)
* Chinatown 2: The Vigilantes – (Four N Films, 1994)
* Shake, Rattle & Roll V ("Maligno" segment) – Victor (Regal Films, 1994)
* Romano Sagrado: Talim sa Dilim – Romano Sagrado (Regal Films, 1995)
* Costales – Peter Cortez (Regal Films, 1995)
* Escobar: Walang Sasantuhin - Lt. Escudero (Regal Films, 1995)
* Bangis - Lt. Ariston Navarro (Regal Films, 1995)
* Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop – Santos (1995)
* Oki Doki Doc: The Movie – Taxi Driver (Star Cinema, 1996)
* Huling Sagupaan - Leo (Regal Films, 1996)
* Matang Aguila - Lt. Orlando Marquez (Regal Films, 1997)
* Harangan - Lt. Willy Vergara (MaQ Productions and Regal Films, 1997)
* Padre Kalibre - Marlon (Regal Films, 1997)
* Techno Warriors – Ken (Filmswell International Limited, 1998)
* Buhawi Jack - Buhawi Jack (Regal Films, 1998)
* Codename: Bomba - Bernardo (Regal Films, 1998)
* Kanang Kamay: Ituturo Mo, Itutumba Ko! - Paolo (MAQ Productions and Regal Films, 1999)
* Luksong Tinik – Ado (Regal Films, 1999)
* Pintado – Drigo (Regal Films, 1999)
* Dugo ng Birhen: El Kapitan (Regal Films and Good Harvest Productions, 1999)
* Lalaban Ako Hanggang sa Huling Hininga - Dario (Regal Films, 1999)
* When Eagles Strike (Premiere Films, 2003)
* Mano Mano 3: Ang Arnis Laban sa Kaaway – Dindo Aragon (Rocketts Films, 2004)
* Uno – Mike (Rocketts Films, 2005)
* The Hunt for Eagle One – Lt. Herman Reyes (2006)
* Super Noypi – Diego (Regal Films, 2006)
* Tatlong Baraha – Faustino (Lapid Films, 2006)
* Namets! – Babyboy Labayen (2008)
* Master – Philippine Senator (2016)
* Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids (2017)
* The Trigonal: Fight for Justice – Mike Vasquez (Viva Films, 2018)
* Bato (The General Ronald dela Rosa Story) – Police officer (2019)
* Fuchsia Libre – Supremo (Mavx Productions, 2024)

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1997 | O-Gag | | ABC 5 |
| 2002 | Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka | Mario | ABS-CBN |
| 2003 | Narito ang Puso Ko | Ernesto San Vicente | GMA Network |
| 2003 | Basta't Kasama Kita | Ramir | ABS-CBN |
| 2005 | Maynila | | GMA Network |
| 2006 | Panday | Kaupay | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Rounin | Draco | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan | Izcaruz | GMA Network |
| 2007–2009 | Fit and Fast.... | Host | Makisig Network |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Kids | Yuen | ABS-CBN |
| 2023 | Black Rider | Nolan Alvarez | GMA Network |