MANILA - The world's governing body in taekwondo recently feted Filipino Olympian, politician and actor Monsour del Rosario for his contribution to the sport, becoming the first non-Korean to earn the accolade.

The Makati City lawmaker was conferred the 2017 "Award for a Proud Taekwondo" by Kukkiwon, the sport’s governing body.

“I’m proud to share this honor with my fellow Filipinos. I hope this award will inspire them to strive hard and to never give up on their dreams," he said upon receiving the award in an elaborate ceremony at the Kukkiwon headquarters in Seoul, Korea.

“As one of the pioneers of Taekwondo in the Philippines, I’m proud to have witnessed the development of the sport in the country,” he added.

Since the award’s creation in 2005, it has been traditionally handed to Koreans as taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea.

He is one of just 11 individuals chosen out of hundreds of nominees this year.

Del Rosario, who won bronze medals in the 1985 World Championships and the 1986 Asian Games, is currently Secretary-General of the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

He is also a legislator, representing the first district of Makati City at the House of Representatives.

Del Rosario is also the Philippine Chef de Mission for the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

Del Rosario said he is proud to set his legacy for Philippine taekwondo.

"I told my kids this is what I was doing in my 20s way before I met their mother. They can show this to their children one day even when I'm gone," he said.

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