Manuel Monsour del Rosario III (born May 11, 1965) 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.
Early life and education Manuel Monsour T. del Rosario III was born in Manila on May 11, 1965. His mother is of Filipino-Arab descent. He was raised in his family's hometown of Bacolod. Del Rosario has cited Bruce Lee as one of his idols and recalled being bullied as a skinny nine-year-old boy. He attributed some of the bullying to his inability to speak Illongo, as he spoke only English and Spanish at the time, as well as to his mestizo background. He later attended the De La Salle University in Manila.
Taekwondo career Del Rosario began his martial arts training under Joe Lopez-Vito, a practitioner of Tang Soo Do in the Moo Duk Kwan system. After returning to Manila for high school, he switched to taekwondo in 1977, training under Hong Sung-chon. Under Hong's instruction, del Rosario eventually earned a Korean 6th Dan black belt in taekwondo.
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. He competed in several international competitions, including the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, 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 1987 and 1989 SEA Games, a bronze medal in the 1986 Asian Games, and reached the quarterfinal round during the 1988 Olympics.
Along with Stephen Fernandez, del Rosario established the Olympians Taekwondo Training Center, a taekwondo dojang (school) in Taguig.
Del Rosario was recognized by the Kukkiwon for his promotion of taekwondo, when the body conferred him the Award for a Proud Taekwondo in 2017 becoming the first non-Korea to receive the honor.
Acting career Del Rosario was convinced by his taekwondo instructor Hong, to enter the entertainment industry to help popularize the martial arts in the Philippines. His preference in speaking English and lack of fluency in Tagalog affected his early career. He joined workshops of Bibsy Carballo to improve on his skill as an actor.
He later became known for his portrayals in action films in the 1990s. 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). His recent films were Super Noypi (2005) and Tatlong Baraha (2006).
Del Rosario was offered to play a role in the action television series twice, Ang Probinsyano that of a congressman and a police official. He declined both after learning the characters are protectors of drug lords taking into account its effect on his reputation as a politician in real life.
The English-language 2018 martial arts film, The Trigonal marked as del Rosario's return to film. Although, he also featured in the Blood Hunters which was originally intended to premier a year prior.
Del Rosario appeared in the 2023 TV series, Black Rider.
Political career Del Rosario's exposure to politics came in 1998 when his former batchmate and Vice Mayor of Makati at the time Toro Yabut tried to convince him to run for councilor of Makati. He declined, still focusing on his career as a film actor. Edu Manzano, who was a vice mayor candidate at the time, tried to convince del Rosario to run as councilor. Again he declined, wanting to focus on his taekwondo business. In 2004, del Rosario declined another offer by Manzano due to his recent marriage.
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. While he had friends who are politicians, del Rosario was not part of a political family only able to cite his uncle Albert del Rosario as someone who is involved in government.
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 councillor instead, and he was 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 under the ruling PDP–Laban as the running mate of Junjun Binay, who ran under Una Ang Makati; however, they both lost. He ran for senator in 2022 under Reporma but lost, placing 29th overall.
He ran for vice mayor of Makati for the second time in 2025, this time as the running mate of Senator Nancy Binay and under UNA. However, he lost again, placing second to Kid Peña.
Personal life Del Rosario dated actress Dawn Zulueta. They ended their relation and Zulueta started a family of her own. Two of Zulueta's children enrolled at the del Rosario's Olympians Taekwondo Training Center.
Del Rosario himself went on to marry 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 grew up to be a taekwondo athlete.
Electoral history + Electoral history of Monsour del RosarioYearOfficePartyVotes receivedResultTotal %.Swing2007Councilor (Makati–1st)Lakas35,790 10th 2010Nacionalista48,7535.68%6th 2013UNA75,79610.32%3rd +4.64 2016Representative (Makati–1st)76,72860.27%1st 2019Vice Mayor of MakatiPDP–Laban105,15335.01%2nd 2025UNA54,29027.00%2nd -8.01 2022Senator of the PhilippinesReporma3,810,0966.86%29th
Filmography Film Year Title Role Pruduction1986Gabi Na, Kumander Viva Films1986Iisa Lang ang Dapat Mamatay Imus Productions1988Enteng the Dragon RVQ Productions1989Eagle Squad Mon Rivera Viva Films and Falcon Productions1989Hindi Pahuhuli Nang Buhay Viva Films1990Demonstone Pablo1990Bloodfist II Tobo Castanerra1990Legend of Lost Dragon Archer Films1990Dadaan Ka sa Ibabaw ng Aking Bangkay Arnold Red Horse Production and Seiko Films1990Subukan Kita Kung Kaya Mo! Arnold FLT Films1990Hanggang Kailan Ka Papatay Hector Regal Films and Moviestars Production1991Kidlat ng Maynila: Joe Pring 2 Nur Adiloka Four-N Films and Moviestars Production1991Dinampot Ka Lang sa Putik Ambet Regal Films1991Lt. Jack Moreno, Medal of Valor: Habang Nasasaktan, Lalong Tumatapang Cpl. Alvarez Four-N Films1991Ganti ng Api Andro Vision Films1991Contreras Gang Tenyente Lazaro Moviestars Production1992Amang Capulong: Anak ng Tondo II Amang Capulong Four-N Films1992Alyas Hunyango Victor Omega Releasing Organization Inc.1993Maricris Sioson Story Regal Films1993Magkasangga 2000 Sword Narding Harvest Productions1993Lethal Panther 2 Nestor Harvest International Films1993Kakambal Ko sa Tapang Carding Harvest International Films1994Massacre Files Dante Regal Films1994Chinatown 2: The Vigilantes Four N Films1994Shake, Rattle & Roll V ("Maligno" segment) Victor Regal Films1995Romano Sagrado: Talim sa Dilim Romano Sagrado Regal Films1995Costales Peter Cortez Regal Films1995Escobar: Walang Sasantuhin - Lt. Escudero Regal Films1995Bangis - Lt. Ariston Navarro Regal Films1995Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop Santos1996Oki Doki Doc: The Movie Taxi Driver Star Cinema1996Huling Sagupaan - Leo Regal Films1997Matang Aguila - Lt. Orlando Marquez Regal Films1997Harangan - Lt. Willy Vergara MaQ Productions and Regal Films1997Padre Kalibre - Marlon Regal Films1998Techno Warriors Ken Filmswell International Limited1998Buhawi Jack - Buhawi Jack Regal Films1998Codename: Bomba - Bernardo Regal Films1999Kanang Kamay: Ituturo Mo, Itutumba Ko! Paolo MAQ Productions and Regal Films1999Luksong Tinik Ado Regal Films1999Pintado Drigo Regal Films1999Dugo ng Birhen: El Kapitan Regal Films and Good Harvest Productions1999Lalaban Ako Hanggang sa Huling Hininga Dario Regal Films2003When Eagles Strike Premiere Films2004Mano Mano 3: Ang Arnis Laban sa Kaaway Dindo Aragon Rocketts Films2005Uno Mike Rocketts Films2006The Hunt for Eagle One Lt. Herman Reyes2006Super Noypi Diego Regal Films2006Tatlong Baraha Faustino Lapid Films2008Namets! Babyboy Labayen 2016Master Philippine Senator 2018The Trigonal: Fight for Justice Mike Vasquez Viva Films2019Bato (The General Ronald dela Rosa Story) Police officer2020Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids 2024Fuchsia Libre Supremo Mavx Productions
Television Year Title Role 1997 O-Gag 2002 Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka Mario 2003 Narito ang Puso Ko Ernesto San Vicente 2003 Basta't Kasama Kita Ramir 2004 Spirits Eric 2005 Maynila 2006 Panday Kaupay 2007 Rounin Draco 2007 Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan Izcaruz 2007–2009 Fit and Fast.... Host 2008 Kung Fu Kids Yuen 2023 Black Rider Nolan Alvarez
See also Taekwondo in the Philippines
References
External links (archived)