President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert F. Del Rosario as acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs to succeed Secretary Alberto G. Romulo. The new Secretary of Foreign Affairs took his oath of office before President Aquino on 24 February 2011 and assumed the post as the top diplomat of the Republic of the Philippines. With his extensive experience in the business sector, Philippine foreign policy under Secretary Del Rosario is widely expected to provide renewed focus on economic diplomacy. Secretary Del Rosario attended Xavier High School in New York City and graduated from New York University with an economics degree.