President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. picked 50-year-old former news reporter Jay Ruiz as the new secretary of the Presidential Communications Office, replacing Cezar Chavez.
The week-long transition will begin on Monday, February 24, with Ruiz set to officially assume the role of secretary on March 1, Chavez said.
Ruiz has deep ties to Ilocos, much like Marcos. His father, Alfonso J. Ruiz, also a lawyer, served as long-time mayor of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte — the birthplace of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, the President’s father and namesake. Ruiz’s siblings are Dr. Michelle Alcaraz, Judge Alfonso Ruiz II, Sharon Sison, and Francie Calderon.
Ruiz attended high school in the United States before earning a degree in Speech and Drama from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Prior to entering journalism, he first explored a career in theater.
A veteran journalist, Ruiz spent over two decades at ABS-CBN, covering the police beat and later the Liberal Party during the 2016 presidential elections.
He left the media industry shortly after and worked for then-Senate president Koko Pimentel under the Duterte administration.
Ruiz returned to media on March 14, 2020, as a radio broadcaster. He co-hosted Kwentong Lokal on DZMM Teleradyo alongside then-Department of the Interior and Local Government undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.
In 2022, Ruiz co-founded Sentro Artista, an art gallery and cafe, with his wife, Marj. Their business partners include Quezon City 1st District Representative Arjo Atayde, Quezon City 1st District Councilor Dr. Geleen Lumbad, and her husband, Joseph Lumbad.
The gallery has collaborated with the government on various initiatives, including a nationwide art contest with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in 2023. In November 2024, Sentro Artista partnered with the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. for an art and fashion exhibit at the House of Representatives to support victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
In 2024, Ruiz launched a YouTube channel where he interviewed political figures, including Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and former Quezon City District Representative Bong Suntay — both of whom were then linked to the breakup of celebrity couple Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque.
Ruiz is Marcos’ fourth communications chief. The President’s first appointee, lawyer-turned-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles, held the post for less than three months.
Angeles was succeeded by Cheloy Garafil, who later became chairperson and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Manila’s de facto representation in Taiwan. Chavez then took over before Ruiz’s appointment. – with reports from Bea Cupin/Rappler.com