Board of Directors

SERGIO ORTIZ-LUIS, JR.
Chairman of the Board

He has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from De La Salle University; a PhD in Humanities from Central Luzon State University, and a PhD in 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 the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, as well as of 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 the Philippine Foundation, Inc., a Founding Director of the International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and a 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 the National Competitiveness Council, and a Private Sector Representative of the Bamboo Council. He is also the Chairman of the Rotary Club of Green Meadows Foundation and the Chairman of the Council of Advisers for the 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 the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, and a member of the League of Corporate Foundation. He is the Honorary Consul General of the Consulate of Romania in the Philippines, a Treasurer of the Consular Corps of the Philippines, and an Honorary Adviser of the International Association of Education for World Peace. Some awards that he received were the International Peace Award for Economic Development in 2005, Most Outstanding Citizen of Nueva Ecija in the Field of Business in 2005, Most Outstanding Pasigueno in 2006, Ulirang Ama also in 2006, and the Presidential Merit Award Medal in 2007. He became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. in August 2006-2020. 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 63rd Annual Convention, and lastly, Bringing the Buy Pinoy Campaign to the Next Level.

ARTHUR M. LOPEZ
Director / Vice Chairman

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 of 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. Mr. Lopez became an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. in August 2011-2020.

DEE HUA T. GATCHALIAN
Treasurer

Mrs. Gatchalian was elected director of the Company from 24 June 2004 to the present. She is the Executive Vice-President of The Wellex Group, Inc., and 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 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.

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 on 24 June 2004. He is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. Atty. Mercado is a certified public accountant. Before 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 Phils. Inc., Wellex Industries, Inc., Forum Pacific, Inc., Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp., Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corporation and Pacific Wide Realty & Development Corp. In addition, he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Construction Corporation.

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, to August 20, 2018. An Ateneo De Manila University graduate with a 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. Before that, he was also 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. Mr. Francisco has been an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since August 2014 to the 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 the BPO Workers Association of the Philippines and Senior Partner of Torres Caparas Torres Law Office. He is also the Secretary General of Katipunan ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka ng Pilipinas. He is associated with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the 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, and Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. Mr. Torres has been an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since August 2006-2020.

ELVIRA A. TING
President

Ms. Elvira A. Ting 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 also the President/Director of Philippine Estates Corp., a Director of Wellex Industries, Inc., The Wellex Group, Inc., and Forum Pacific, Inc., and the Director/CFO of Acesite Phils., Inc. since 2004.

ATTY. ARISTEO R. CRUZ
Independent Director

Atty. Cruz graduated from De La Salle University with a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a major in accounting in 1986. He was also a graduate of Bachelor 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 has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of Idealand Realty and Development Corp. since 2009 and Statosphere Realty and Development Corp. since 2011. He has been 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 has been the President of the Jose and Luz Locsin Foundation since 2012. He has been the Vice Chairman and Director of Dean of Meycauayan College, Inc. since 2011 and 2007, respectively. Mr. Cruz has been an Independent Director of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. since July 2021 to the present.

JOSAIAS T. DELA CRUZ
Independent Director

A holder of a Master’s degree in Organizational Development from Ateneo de Manila University, and is the Manager of My Messiah Publishing House, a former Psychology faculty member of Miriam College, and Educational Programs Manager in the Asian Institute of Management. Currently serving as Treasurer and Vice President for Investor Relations and Financial Planning at Wegen Distributed Energy Philippines Holding Corporation. Also, the sole proprietor of JTDC Spinmeister Laundry Service, operating under the Quicklean Laundry service franchise. Formerly a National Director at World Vision Development Foundation, Inc., where I managed operations for the largest international NGO in the Philippines. Previously held several executive roles within The Wellex Group of Companies, including Chief Executive Officer, Vice President for Credit Cycle, and Compliance Officer.