Photo from Manila Standard

JOURNALIST AND former ambassador Alejandro "Andy" del Rosario passed away on December 8. He was 78.

Del Rosario was the Manila Standard's first Editor-in-Chief when the newspaper was launched in 1987 ,before later becoming its publisher and chief operating officer. In his later years, he wrote a thrice-weekly column for the Standard called "Back Channel".

In his early years he trained at the Chicago Daily News before joining the now defunct Daily Mirror as a sportswriter, and then the Manila Chronicle as an assistant sports editor. Del Rosario was the managing editor of the Chronicle when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. The event forced his move to the diplomatic corps. After the 1986 EDSA revolt, he was tapped by then Standard publisher Rodolfo Reyes to become the newspaper's editor.

The veteran newsman was also the only non-sports editor to become president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA). The PSA recognized his career achievements in journalism and government service during its Annual Awards in 2002.

Del Rosario also served as treasurer of the Philippine Press Institute.

As a diplomat, del Rosario was assigned to a host of countries, such as Hungary in 2002, and Poland and Slovakia in 2009. He was also press counsellor of the Philippine mission to the United Nations from 1978 to 1981 and from 1992 to 1996. He took on the same role in the Philippine Embassy in London from 1982 to 1986, then in Brussels from 1989 to 1992.

He is survived by his wife Mary and their children.