Alfred Sison Romualdez is a Filipino politician and businessman who has served multiple terms as the Mayor of Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines.
As a member of the distinguished and politically powerful Romualdez family one of the most influential political dynasties in Philippine history Alfred has dedicated his public life to the development and governance of Tacloban, a city he has steered through periods of both remarkable growth and devastating crisis, most notably the catastrophic aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) in 2013.
He is a first cousin of Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Profile Details
| Full Name | Alfred Sison Romualdez |
| Born | January 14, 1962 |
| Age | 63 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | San Juan, Rizal, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Politician, Businessman, Lawyer |
| Parents | Dean Vicente Orestes Romualdez y Lopez (Father) |
| Spouse | Cristina Gonzales (married 1998) |
| Children | 3 (Raymund, Sofia, and Diana Romualdez) |
| Political Party | Nacionalista Party |
Early Life
Alfred Sison Romualdez was born on January 14, 1962, in San Juan, Rizal (now San Juan City, Metro Manila), into one of the most storied political families in the Philippines. His father was Dean Vicente Orestes Romualdez y Lopez, whose sister was none other than Imelda Romualdez Marcos the celebrated and controversial former First Lady of the Philippines during the era of President Ferdinand Marcos. This family connection places Alfred squarely within the heart of Philippine political history.
The Romualdez name has dominated politics in Leyte Province for generations, with deep roots in the Eastern Visayas region. Growing up surrounded by the political culture of one of the Philippines’ most prominent dynasties, Alfred was immersed from childhood in the responsibilities and expectations of public life. The Tacloban City Airport the main air gateway to Leyte is named after one of the family’s forebears, the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, a daily reminder of the clan’s deep ties to the region.
Education
Alfred Romualdez received a distinguished academic education at top Philippine institutions. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila University, one of the Philippines’ most prestigious private universities. He then pursued his legal education at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Law, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree making him a licensed attorney. This legal background has been foundational to his approach to governance and political leadership.
Career
Alfred Romualdez began his political career in earnest in 1998, when he was elected to represent the 1st District of Leyte in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serving from 1998 to 2001. Notably, his term as congressman coincided with his father’s service as mayor of Tacloban City a reflection of the family’s sustained grip on political leadership in the region.
Following his congressional term, Romualdez transitioned back to local politics. In 2007, he was elected Mayor of Tacloban City the position to which he has returned repeatedly and which has defined the arc of his public career. His first term as mayor (2007–2016) was a period of significant activity for the city, including its upgrade from a component city to a highly urbanized city a major administrative achievement he counts among his most satisfying accomplishments.
The defining challenge of his mayoral career came on November 8, 2013, when Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded made landfall directly over Tacloban, devastating the city and killing thousands. The storm surge that accompanied the typhoon was catastrophic, and Tacloban became the global face of the disaster. Mayor Alfred Romualdez was at the center of the city’s emergency response and recovery efforts, working to mobilize international and domestic aid, rebuild destroyed infrastructure, and restore normal life to a traumatized population. The experience tested his leadership in the most demanding possible circumstances, drawing both praise for his dedication and criticism for the initial pace of the government response.
After being term-limited out of the mayoral position in 2016, Romualdez was succeeded by his wife Cristina Gonzales, a former actress and beauty queen who served as mayor from 2016 to 2019. In the May 2019 elections, Alfred ran again for mayor and won unopposed under the Nacionalista Party banner, returning to the office for what became his third mayoral term. He won a fourth term in the May 2022 elections, defeating incumbent Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin. As of 2025, he continues to serve as Mayor of Tacloban City.
In the arena of party politics, Alfred Romualdez is a member of the Nacionalista Party. His family’s political connections extend to the highest levels of national government, with his first cousin Bongbong Marcos serving as the 17th President of the Philippines (elected 2022) and another first cousin, Martin Romualdez, having served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Personal Life
Alfred Romualdez is married to Cristina Gonzales, a former Filipino actress and beauty queen who has also served as Mayor of Tacloban City (2016–2019). Together they have three children: Raymund, Sofia, and Diana Romualdez. Raymund has followed his father into politics, having run for vice mayor of Tacloban City in 2022. The family represents a continuation of the Romualdez dynasty’s engagement with Tacloban’s political life across generations.
Alfred is known as a hands-on local executive who has remained deeply engaged with Tacloban’s development, including promoting educational initiatives, supporting scholarships for underprivileged students, and advocating for disaster preparedness and resilient urban development following Typhoon Haiyan.
Awards & Recognition
Alfred Romualdez’s recognition stems primarily from his service to Tacloban City and the Eastern Visayas region.
His leadership during and after Typhoon Haiyan, while not without controversy, demonstrated a sustained commitment to his constituents during the worst natural disaster in the region’s history.
His upgrading of Tacloban to highly urbanized city status is considered a landmark administrative achievement.
FAQs
Who is Alfred Romualdez?
Alfred Romualdez is a Filipino politician serving as Mayor of Tacloban City, Leyte. He is a member of the Romualdez family and a first cousin of President Bongbong Marcos.
Is Alfred Romualdez related to Imelda Marcos?
Yes. His father was the brother of Imelda Romualdez Marcos, making Imelda his aunt.
What role did Alfred Romualdez play during Typhoon Haiyan?
As Mayor of Tacloban, he was central to the city’s emergency response and long-term recovery from Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the most destructive natural disasters in Philippine history.
Who is Alfred Romualdez married to?
He is married to Cristina Gonzales, a former actress who also served as Mayor of Tacloban City from 2016 to 2019.
How is Alfred Romualdez related to Martin Romualdez?
Alfred and Martin Romualdez are first cousins. Martin served as Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives from 2022 to 2025.
Conclusion
Alfred Romualdez occupies a unique place in Philippine political life a man who carries the weight and privilege of one of the country’s most powerful political names, while serving as the frontline mayor of a city that has faced extraordinary challenges.
His career is defined by long service to Tacloban, the stewardship of the city through unprecedented natural disaster, and a commitment to the Romualdez family’s legacy of political engagement in Leyte.
As he continues his mayoral tenure, Alfred Romualdez remains a central figure in the ongoing story of Tacloban’s growth, recovery, and resilience.
