A Gold Perfected by Time
March 3, 2017
Atty. Aristeo R. Cruz was born on June 18, 1966 to Mr. and Mrs. Antonio and Marietta Recio. He was the eldest among four siblings who are equally happy and successful. His younger brothers are Albert, Larry and Anthony. He is happily married to Ms. Evelyn Hermoso-Cruz. His family and friends fondly call him “Toots” while MCians lovingly call him “Dean Toots”.
The Vice-Chairman of Meycauayan College
Dean Toots attended San Beda College during his grade school and high school years wherein he was accelerated from grade six to first year high school. Awards that he attained were Gold Medal in Leadership in Home Room Organization and Bronze Medal in Academic Roll of Honor. He was also a part of the editorial board at The Cub Recorder as the Associate Editor. Dean Toots finished Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting at De La Salle University, belonging in the Dean’s Honor List and a bronze medalist in the Academic Roll of Honors. During his college years between 1982 and 1986, he was a member of de la sale University Honors’ Society. He became also the freshmen block class president and was the Editor-in-Chief of the school organ.
He had taken and passed the Certified Public Accountants examination that was administered on October 1986. Dean toots pursued Law in October 2001 and finished his Bachelor of Laws degree at New Era University. He graduated on October 2005 as Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian, and received the award of outstanding Law Graduate Awardee and subsequently passed the Bar Examination with flying colors.
He started his professional career at the Chain Supermarket Inc. as the Operations Manager in the year 1988. Then in October of the same year he worked as the Finance Manager at the Transunion Corporation. He handled various executive and directorate positions in different companies such as Wellex Group of Companies, Air Philippines Inc., Waterfront Philippines Inc., Davao Insular Hotel Company, Inc., Heritage Pacific Corporation, Grand Ilocandia Resort & Development Corporation, and Metro Alliance Corporation Holding & Equities Inc. , to name a few. He also served as the Senior Consultant to the City Mayor of Valenzuela and later became its City Administrator.
He started working as Consultant and Adviser to the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Meycauayan College Inc. in the year 2004 during the chairmanship of the late Dr. Jose R. Locsin. He was appointed as its College Dean on November 7, 2007 and as Corporate Secretary on November 2009.
Presently, Dean Toots is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Meycauayan College. Aside from this he is also busy working as General Corporate Counsel of ECH Realty and Development Corp., J.P. Hermoso Realty and Development Corporation, and Rica Emilia Development Corporation. He is a trustee of Liberty Bank Retirement Fund; He is one of the Founders and Managing Partners of Cruz, Altares & Associates Law Offices. He is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of Idealland Realty and Development Corporation and Stratosphere Realty and Development Corporation. He acts as Director and Corporate Secretary of Phil-Star innovation Realty Corporation; President and Trustee of Jose and Luz Locsin Foundation, Inc., and he is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Vessel of Mercy Foundation. He is also teaching law subjects at New Era University on week-ends.
For MCians, Dean Toots has a trademark – his genuine smile and laughter. He was quite the opposite of what a person thinks about the personality of a traditional College Dean and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. His voice echoes with so much happiness and his joyfulness is quite contagious. Though his stature demands respect, the respect he has been receiving is not just because of his position, but because of him, as a person. MCians jubilate with him, the “golden boy”, in celebrating his golden year! He is, indeed, a gold perfected by time…
Rietchel F. Oliva, MAEd.
College Secretary
Ms. Kathryn Shara L. Sanguir
Editor-In-Chief, The College Chronicle
Source: Salute to a Man of Big Heart and Warm Soul: 50 Years, June 2016
Design & Compiled by: Imelda DC. Reyes
