The University of San Jose-Recoletos Alumni Association Inc. has welcomed a new set of officers and trustees who will lead efforts to strengthen ties among alumni and expand the organization’s service to the university and the wider community.
Lawyer Tomas Riveral, CPA, REB, assumed the presidency during the association’s leadership transition and governance onboarding held on August 8, 2026.
University president Rev. Fr. Eduardo Celiz Jr., OAR, administered the oath of office, while immediate past president Jonathan Capanas led the leadership turnover.
Riveral will work with Dr. Antonio Esmero as executive vice president, Dr. Norman Blanco as vice president for internal affairs, and Glenn Tenefrancia as vice president for external affairs.
Other officers include Marites Patiño as secretary, Dr. Elisa Estenzo-Torres as assistant secretary, lawyer Margarito Montecillo, CPA, as treasurer, Silverio Tapanan as assistant treasurer, Norman Ongco as auditor, and Dr. Joseph Elvir Tubilan as public relations officer.
The new board of trustees is composed of Roderick Bandalan, engineer Alan Dinampo, Arlyn Gochan, Bibi Doll “Zee” Pono and Princess Grace Toledo.
The new leadership later held a strategic planning session on August 30 and 31 at Tagboanan Beach Resort in Borbon, Cebu, where the board assessed the association’s current situation and mapped out priorities for its new term.
Riveral said the association should go beyond maintaining connections among graduates, identifying the university, students and alumni, the community and the environment as key areas where the organization can make a greater contribution.
The association plans to create more opportunities for alumni to share their experience, resources and expertise through programs supporting the university and surrounding communities.
The planning session also focused on turning the board’s priorities into concrete programs, with Esmero emphasizing the importance of working together to implement the plans developed during the two-day activity.
