Board of Directors

SERGIO ORTIZ-LUIS, JR.
Chairman of the Board

He has degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from De La Salle University; PhD Humanities from Central Luzon State University, and PhD Business Technology from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. He is the President and CEO of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. An Honorary Chairman of Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines as well as Integrated Concepts  & Solutions, Inc. He is the Vice Chairman of Alliance Global, Inc., Export Development Council. He is a Director of Manila Exposition Complex, Inc., Lasaltech Academy, Philippine Estate Corporation, BA Securities, Rural Bank of Baguio, PILAK Foundation, and Universal Access Center for Trade and Philippine International Training Corporation. He is a Council Adviser Member of Philippine Foundation, Inc., a Founding Director of International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and GS1. He is also a member of the Board of Advisers of Southville International School and Colleges. He is a commissioner of Patrol 117, a Financing Champion of National Competitiveness Council and a Private Sector Representative of Bamboo Council. He is also a Chairman of Rotary Club of Green Meadows Foundation and also a Chairman of Council of Advisers Eastern Police District. He is the Past President of Rotary Club of Green Meadows Quezon City RI District 3780; a Board of Advisers Member of Council of Advisers Philippine National Police, a senator of Philippine Jaycee Senate, Captain of Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary and a member of the League of Corporate Foundation. He is the Honorary Consul General of Consulate of Romania in the Philippines, a Treasurer of Consular Corps of the Philippines and an Honorary Adviser of International Association of Education for World Peace. Some awards that he received were International Peace Award for Economic Development in 2005, Most Outstanding Citizen of Nueva Ecija in the Field of Business in 2005 also, Most Outstanding Pasigueno in 2006, Ulirang Ama also in 2006 and Presidential Merit Award Medal in 2007. He became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since August 2006-present. In 2014, he attended Exporter’s Partner in Gearing the Country for the AEC Markets of the World 2, Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Competitive Strategies PHILAAS 63^rd Annual Convention and lastly, Bringing the Buy Pinoy Campaign to the Next Level.

KENNETH T. GATCHALIAN
President

Mr. Kenneth T. Gatchalian is a President of the Company.  He is a member of the Board of Forum Pacific, Inc. and Wellex Industries, Inc.,  and The Wellex Group, Inc.  Holds a Degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture from University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas, USA. He’s been the Director of Waterfront since February 2001.

ELVIRA A. TING
Treasurer

Ms. Elvira A. Ting earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration major in Management from the Philippine School of Business Administration. Has been the Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc., since October 2000-present. She is also the President/Director of Philippine Estates Corp., a director Wellex Industries, Inc., The Wellex Group, Inc., and Forum Pacific, Inc. She is also a Director/CFO of Acesite Phils. Inc. since 2004-present.

DEE HUA T. GATCHALIAN
Director

Mrs. Gatchalian was elected director of the Company since 24 June 2004-present. She is the Executive Vice-President of The Wellex Group, Inc., and also the Executive Vice-President of Plastic City Corporation.  She is a board of director of Philippine Estates Corporation, and Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corp. She graduated with a degree in Medical Technology from the Far Eastern University in 1970.  In addition to her numerous positions in business firms, she is the Chairperson of Jesus Our Life Ministries, Inc., a non-profit, non-stock organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ARTHUR M. LOPEZ
Independent Director

Hotel management consultant specializing in general hotel management consultancy services, marketing, hotel design development/technical services, gaming, hotel feasibility study, pre and post hotel opening management services, asset management/owner’s representative, food and beverage concept and service, mergers and acquisitions, travel and tours, theme parks and third party management and branding. The Owner and Principal Consultant of AML Hotel Consultants. Hotel Management and Development Consultant – Double Dragon Properties Corporation (PSE listed) – Hotel of Asia Inc. – Jin Jiang Ortigas, Jin Jiang Inn Makati, Injap Tower Iloilo, Hotel 101 Manila (500 rooms), Hotel 101 Fort project (600 rooms, under construction); Hotel 101 Bohol (250 rooms, under construction); Hotel Management and Development Consultant – Bellevue Bohol Resort, The Bellevue Hotel Manila, The B Hotel Manila, B Hotel Quezon City; Bellevue Baguio (under construction) opening in 2018; Bellevue Bohol Resort extension (140 rooms) opening 2019. Hotel Management and Development Consultant – Wydham Garden (Wellworth Properties and Development Corporation) Quezon City (200 rooms) opening in 2020 and in a resort hotel in Mactan, Cebu City (300 rooms) opening in 2021. The Chairman – Philippine Estates Corporation (PSE listed) and Acesite Philippines Hotel Corporation, owner of Manila Pavilion Hotel (PSE listed). Director – Waterfront Hotels and Casinos (PSE listed) – Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Manila Pavilion Hotel & Casino, Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino and Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. President – Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc. (PHOAI) – the largest group of hotel owners and developers in the Philippines. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, major in Management, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), both from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. He completed a Tourism Management course at the East-West Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii and Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

RUBEN D. TORRES
Independent Director

Mr. Ruben Torres graduated in the University of the Philippines with a degree of Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) after-which he finished the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the same university. He is 69 years old. Presently he is also the President of RUBENORI, Inc., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Universal Matrix Corporation, Senior Partner of Torres Clemencio Cabochan and Torres Law Offices, and Chairman of EACOMM Corporation. He is associated with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Philippine Academy of Professional Arbitrators. His former positions include being a Member of the House of Representatives of the 2nd District of Zambales, E xecutive Secretary of the Office of the President in Malacañang, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, Managing Partner of Yulo, Torres, Tarrieta and Bello, Director of the Philippine Long Distance Company, Director of Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club, Director of Center for Research and Special Studies, Commissioner of Social Security System, Director of Land Bank of the Philippines, Board Member of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, Board Member of Population Commission, Board Member of National Housing Authority, Trustee of Home Development Mutual Fund, Member of Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, Member of President’s Committee on Bases, Vice Chairman of Public Sector Labor-Management Council, Chairman of National Manpower and Youth Council, Chairman of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Chairman of National Maritime Polytechnic, Chairman of Employees Compensation Commission and Publisher of DIWALIWAN. Mr. Torres, became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, In. since August 2006.

LAMBERTO B. MERCADO, JR
Director

Atty. Mercado is the Vice-President for Legal of the Wellex Group, Inc. He was elected as one of the Directors of the Company since 24 June 2004. He is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. Atty. Mercado is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to his post in Wellex Group, he was connected with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). From November 1993 to July 1997, he was the Chief of Staff of SBMA. He also served as president of the Freeport Service Corporation in SBMA from August 1996 to January 1998. He was appointed Deputy Administrator for Administration in February 1997, a post he held until August 1998. Currently a Director of the following publicly listed companies: Waterfront Philippines Inc., Wellex Industries, Inc., Forum Pacific, Inc., Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. and Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corporation.

ATTY. ARISTEO R. CRUZ
Director

Atty. Cruz graduated from De La Salle University with a Bachelor in Commerce major in Accounting on 1986. He was also a graduate of Bachelors of Laws from New era University in 2005 as Cum Laude, Outstanding Student Awardee, and Class valedictorian. He is a certified Public Accountant and a member of the Philippine Bar. He is the Founding and Managing Partner of Cruz Altares & Associates Law Office. He is the President and Chief operating Officer of Idealand Realty and Development Corp. since 2009 and Statosphere Realty and Development Corp. since 2011. He is the President of Waterstreet Realty Corp.since 2012, Director of Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp. since 2015, Director and Corporate Secretary of Philstar Innovation Realty Corp. since 2011 and Justino Emilia Realty and Management & Development Corp since 20018, and Vice President of Liberty bank since 2018. He is the President of Jose and Luz Locsin Foundation since 2012. He is the Vice Chairman and Director of Dean of Meycauayan College, Inc. since 2011 and 2007, respectively.

RENATO C. FRANCISCO
Independent Director

A veteran legal professional, Justice Renato C. Francisco has been serving as an Associate Justice for the Court of Appeals from May 31, 2012 – August 20, 2018. An Ateneo De Manila University graduate for his Bachelor of Laws, Justice Francisco has served in the judiciary as a Presiding/Executive Judge for the Regional Trial Court – Branch 19 of Malolos, Bulacan. Prior to that, he has also been the Assistant City Prosecutor for Makati City from 1992 to 1996. His extensive knowledge about the judiciary and legislations was further improved by the training programs that he has been a part of including The Harvard Negotiation Intensive, The Seminar-Workshop on Substantive Law and Jurisprudence on Intellectual Property for Court of Appeals Justices.

ARTHUR R. PONSARAN
Corporate Secretary

Atty. Ponsaran, he is the Corporate Secretary of Waterfront Philippines, Inc., since September 2000, he is also the Director and Corporate Secretary of Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corp. from June 2004-present.. He earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. He is the managing partner of Corporate Counsels, Philippines, and he is currently the Corporate Secretary of Producers Rural Banking Corporation, The Wellex Group Inc. MRL Gold Phil., Inc. Village Foundation, Platinum Group Mining Corporation, Schuykill Assets Strategies AMC-SVP, Inc. Petrolift Inc.

ARTHUR M. LOPEZ
Chairman

Arthur M. Lopez is the Principal Consultant of AML Hotel Consultants. He is the Management Consultant of the Bellevue Bohol Resort in Panglao, the Bellevue Hotel Manila, and The B Hotel Manila. He is a Director of Asia Pacific Top Management International Resources Corporation (Federal Land), Estates Corporation, Waterfront Hotels and Casinos, and Chairman of Acesite Philippines Hotel Corporation. He was the Management Consultant of Federal Land’s Grand Hyatt Project at the Fort Bonifacio; Owner’s Representative and Advisor of Four Points by Sheraton Kuching, Sheraton Beach Resort, Helang Airport Hote, Santubong Resort, and Four points by Sheraton all in Langkawi, Malaysia. He was the Pre-Opening Hotel Management and Technical Services Consultant of Bloomberry Casino Hotels & Resorts/Solaire Hotel and Casino; Regional Director/Asia Pacific of Palmerston Hotels & Resorts; Senior Adviser of Department of Tourism, Philippines; General Manager of Sheraton Hotels in Melbourne, Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock in Australia, Sheraton Auckland, New Zealand and Westin Philippine Plaza. Resident Manager of Century Park Sharaton Manila, Vice President and Area Manager of ITT Sheraton Australia; Country Manager Philippines of Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Philippine Representative of Caesar’s Palace; Management Consultant at the Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa and the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa in Cook Islands. He was the Asia Pacific and Country Manager of CCA International Ltd., Managers of 45 clubs worldwide including the Tower Club Manila. Mr. Lopez has also completed hotel and business club consultancy work in Japan, Palau, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Management, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), both from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and Tourism Management at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

KENNETH T. GATCHALIAN
President

Mr. Kenneth Gatchalian holds a degree in bachelor of science in Architecture from the University of Texas. He has been a director of the Company since 24 June 2004 and was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on 20 June 2007. He has been a director of WPI since February 2001. He is concurrently a director of Forum Pacific, Inc., Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation and Wellex Industries, Inc. Mr. Gatchalian is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Phil. Estates.

ELVIRA A. TING
Treasurer

Ms. Ting was elected director and Treasurer of the Company since 24 June 2004. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Major in Management, from the Philippine School of Business Administration. She has been a director of Waterfront Philippines Inc. since October 2000. She is concurrently the Vice-Chairperson and a director of Forum Pacific Inc. She is the President of Philippine Estates and Vice President of Wellex Industries, Inc. She is a director of Orient Pacific Corporation, Crisanta Realty Development Corporation, Recovery Development Corporation and the Wellex Group, Inc. She is the Corporate Treasurer of Pacific Rehouse Corp and the Chairman and President of Rexlon Realty Group Inc and Heritage Pacific Corp.

DEE HUA T. GATCHALIAN
Director

Mrs. Gatchalian was elected director of the Company since 19 July 2005. Mrs Gatchalian is the Executive Vice-President of the Wellex Group, Inc., and also the Executive Vice-President of Plastic City Corporation. She is concurrently a director in Philippine Estates Corporation and Waterfront Philippines, Inc. Mrs. Gatchalian graduated with a degree in Medical Technology from the Far Eastern University in 1970. In addition to her numerous positions in business firms, she is the Chairperson of Jesus Our Life Ministries, Inc., a non-profit, non-stock organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a Chairperson of Dakilang Handog Foundation, a nonprofit, non-stock organization.

LAMBERTO B. MERCADO, JR
Director

Atty. Mercado is the Vice-President for Legal of the Wellex Group, Inc. He was elected as one of the Directors of the Company since 24 June 2004. He is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. Atty. Mercado is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to his post in Wellex Group, he was connected with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). From November 1993 to July 1997, he was the Chief of Staff of SBMA. He also served as president of the Freeport Service Corporation in SBMA from August 1996 to January 1998. He was appointed Deputy Administrator for Administration in February 1997, a post he held until August 1998. Currently a Director of the following publicly listed companies: Waterfront Philippines Inc., Wellex Industries, Inc., Forum Pacific, Inc., Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. and Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corporation.

SERGIO R. ORTIZ-LUIS, JR.
Director

Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., has degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from De La Salle University; PhD Humanities from Central Luzon State University, and PhD Business Technology from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. He is the President of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. An Honorary Chairman of Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines as well as Integrated Concepts & Solutions, Inc. He is the Chairman of the National Center for Mediation. He is the Vice Chairman of the Alliance Global, Inc., Export Development Council and JARDELI Club Foundation. He is a Director of Manila Exposition Complex, Inc. Lasaltech Academy, Philippine Estate Corporation, BA Securities, Rural Bank of Baguio, PILAK Foundation, Universal Access Center Trade, Philippine International Training Corporation, Philippine Foundation, Inc. (Team Philippines), Forum Pacific, Inc., Calapan Ventures, Inc., and Jolliville Holdings Corporation. A Founding Director of International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and GSI, he is also a member of the Board of Advisers of Southville International School and Colleges. He was a President of Rotary Club Green Meadows Quezon City RI District 3780; Private sector representative of the Philippine Bamboo Council, a senator of Philippine Jaycee Senate, and Captain of Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary. He is the Honorary Consul General of Consulate of Romania in the Philippines, a Treasurer of Consular Corps of the Philippines, an Honorary Adviser of International Association of Education for World Peace and a BPLS Champion in National Competitiveness Council. Some Awards that he received were International Peace Award for Economic Development in 2005, Most Outstanding Citizen of Nueva Ecija in the field of business in 2005 also, Most Outstanding Pasigueno in 2006, Ulirang Ama also in 2006, Presidential Merit Award Medal in 2007 and ORAS Award in 2011. He became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since August 2009 to present and an Independent Director of Acesite (Phils) Hotel Corp since February 2013 to present.

RUBEN D. TORRES
Director

Mr. Ruben Torres graduated in the University of the Philippines with a degree of Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) after which, he finished the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the same university. Presently he is also the President of BPO Workers Association of the Philippines and Senior Partner of Torres Caparas Torres Law Office. He is associated with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Philippine Academy of Professional Arbitrators. His former positions include being a Member of the House of Representatives of the 2nd District of Zambales, Executive Secretary of the Office of the President in Malacañang, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. Mr. Torres became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since August 2006-present. He is a Member of Board of Advisers of TYTANA Colleges, Owner of Kitsie’s Farms, Iba Zambales and CEO of Optimus Medical Care and Trading Corporation.

ARTHUR R. PONSARAN
Corporate Secretary

Arthur R. Ponsaran, a Director and Corporate Secretary of the Company since 24 June 2004. He earned his Bachelor of Law from the University of the Philippines. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. He is the Managing Partner of Corporate Counsels, Philippines Law Office. He is also the Corporate Secretary of, among others, Waterfront Philippines, Inc., Chemrez Technologies, Inc. and director of D&L Industries and MRL Nickel Philippines, Inc. Mr. Ponsaran is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the New York Bar as well as the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

PABLO M. GANCAYCO
Director

Atty. Gancayco, a director of the Company since 24 June 2004, is a senior partner of the Gancayco, Balasbas & Associates Law Offices. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Law from the University of the Philippines. He took a masteral level intensive course on industrial property from the University Robert Schuman in Strasbourg, France. His expertise is in Intellectual Property Law and holds the posts of president and director of the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (the association of all intellectual property law practitioners in the Philippines) council member and country head of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association and councilor of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association. He is the Philippine group head to the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriete Industrielle. He is also adept in litigation and corporate law practice. At present, Atty. Pablo M. Gancayco is a director of the Freeport at Bataan, a Past District Governor of Rotary International District 3780, the past Chairman of the Board of Philippine College of Rotary Governors and the Philippine Rotary Magazine Foundation, an officer and member of other corporations, foundations and organizations. He was a representative of RI District 3780 to the 2016 Council on Legislation.

JUSTICE RENATO C. FRANCISCO
Director

Justice Renato Francisco graduated Bachelor of Laws at Ateneo de Manila University. From 1974 to 1987, he was involved in the private practice. In 1987, he started working as Assistant Provincial Prosecutor at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor – Rizal and, later became Assistant City Prosecutor in Makati City. He became Executive Judge at the Regional Trial Court – Branch 19 in Malolos, Bulacan. On May 31, 2012, he was appointed as Associate Justice of Court of Appeal. He retired as Associate Justice on August 20, 2018.

ATTY. ARISTEO R. CRUZ
Independent Director

Atty. Cruz graduated from De La Salle University with a Bachelor in Commerce major in Accounting on 1986. He was also a graduate of Bachelors of Laws from New era University in 2005 as Cum Laude, Outstanding Student Awardee, and Class valedictorian. He is a certified Public Accountant and a member of the Philippine Bar. He is the Founding and Managing Partner of Cruz Altares & Associates Law Office. He is the President and Chief operating Officer of Idealand Realty and Development Corp. since 2009 and Statosphere Realty and Development Corp. since 2011. He is the President of Waterstreet Realty Corp.since 2012, Director of Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp. since 2015, Director and Corporate Secretary of Philstar Innovation Realty Corp. since 2011 and Justino Emilia Realty and Management & Development Corp since 20018, and Vice President of Liberty bank since 2018. He is the President of Jose and Luz Locsin Foundation since 2012. He is the Vice Chairman and Director of Dean of Meycauayan College, Inc. since 2011 and 2007, respectively.

NOEL M. CARINO
Independent Director

Noel “Toti” M. Cariño was the Founder and President of Fil-Estate Realty Corporation from 1981 to 1996 and War Against Poverty Foundation since 1992 until present. He is the owner of Carino Development and Management Corporation and Carinos Leon Philippe Industries, Inc. He is the founder of Kilusan at Ugnayan ng Maralitang Pasigueno, Inc (KUMPAS), Lakas Pilipino, The Philippine Chronicles Media Corp, and Good Morning, Philippines. He is currently the National President of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Associations, Inc., Chairman and Founder of Sun Asia Energy Inc., and a Member/ Commissioner of Presidential Consultative Commission last 2008. He was a publisher of Punto last 2006-2008 and a Chairman of the Board of The Manila Time on October 2005-2006. He studied BS-AB Philosophy at the University of Sto. Tomas.