Mel Lopez
Gemiliano "Mel" Lopez Jr. (September 1, 1935 – January 1, 2017) was a Filipino politician who served as the 18th Mayor of Manila from 1986 to 1987 and 1988 to 1992 and an assemblyman of the Batasang Pambansa of the Philippines from 1984 to 1986. He was also a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission from 1993 to 1996 and the Philippine National Oil Corporation from 2010 until his death in 2017.
Gemiliano Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Philippine National Oil Corporation | |
| In office September 2010 – January 1, 2017 | |
| 3rd Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission | |
| In office 1993–1996 | |
| President | Fidel V. Ramos |
| Preceded by | Aparicio Mequi |
| Succeeded by | Philip Ella Juico |
| 18th Mayor of Manila | |
| In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1992 | |
| Vice Mayor | Danny Lacuna (1988-1992) Ernesto V.P. Maceda, Jr. (1992) |
| Preceded by | Gregorio Ejercito (Acting City Mayor) |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Lim |
| In office March 26, 1986 – December 1, 1987 | |
| Appointed by | Corazon Aquino |
| Vice Mayor | Bambi Ocampo (1986-1987) Ernesto Nieva (1987-1988) |
| Preceded by | Ramon Bagatsing |
| Succeeded by | Gregorio Ejercito (Acting Mayor) |
| Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Manila | |
| In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986 Serving with Lito Atienza, Eva Estrada-Kalaw, Carlos Fernando, Gonzalo Puyat II, and Arturo Tolentino | |
| President Pro-Tempore of the Manila Municipal Board | |
| In office 1972–1975 | |
| Vice Mayor of Manila | |
| In office May 1, 1971 – December 31, 1971 | |
| Mayor | Antonio Villegas |
| Preceded by | Danny Lacuna |
| Succeeded by | Martin Isidro Sr. |
| Member of the Manila Municipal Board from the 1st District | |
| In office December 30, 1967 – December 31, 1975 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gemiliano López-Campos September 1, 1935 Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Died | January 1, 2017 (aged 81)[1] Quezon City, Philippines |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | The Heritage Park, Taguig |
| Political party | Liberal (1967–1978, 2009–2017) |
| Other political affiliations | Lakas-CMD (1999–2009) PRP (1991–1999) LDP (1988–1991) PDP–Laban (1986–1988) |
| Spouse | Concepcion Tantoco |
| Children | 9, including Manny |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education edit
Mel Lopez was born in Manila on September 1, 1935 to Carmen Campos of Bulacan and Lt. Col. Gemiliano López Sr. of Manila. He is also the grandson of Honorio Lopez, writer and revolutionary during the Spanish Revolution. [1][2] He was raised in the district of Tondo.[2]
He graduated from the Jose Rizal University (formerly Jose Rizal College) with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commercial Science. He also played swimming, boxing and basketball in the NCAA for the JRU Heavy Bombers.
Personal life edit
He was married to Concepcion Tantoco, a Filipina businesswoman and entrepreneur. They were married for over fifty years and have nine children,[3] over thirty grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Political life edit
Councilor (1967–1975) edit
Lopez was elected municipal board member (city councilor) of Manila in 1967.
On August 21, 1971, the bombing at Plaza Miranda marred a Liberal Party rally, killing 9 persons and injuring 92 more, including Lopez, who was then a city councilor. President Ferdinand Marcos used the bombing incident as a basis to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.
When Marcos declared martial law, Lopez decided to organize active opposition to the regime that could eventually topple it and help restore democracy to the country. He held secret meetings with labor and student leaders, community and political leaders, exploring ideas on how to organize opposition to the martial law regime.
Laban edit
Lopez was among the founding signatories of Laban, a contraction of “Lakas ng Bayan” and a Tagalog translation of People's Power. When Marcos announced an election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa on April 7, 1978, he was the campaign manager in Manila, organizing sorties and meetings to attract more citizens to oppose Marcos' dictatorial rule.
Batasang Pambansa (1984–1986) edit
In recognition of his leadership in Manila, some 20 prospective candidates of United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO) for the 1984 Batasang Pambansa elections signed a resolution giving him authority to select the five other candidates for the six assembly seats assigned to Manila based on voting population.
Marcos' ticket, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), suffered a heavy blow and the UNIDO candidates including Lopez and four others won. While serving in the Batasang Pambansa, he filed bills aimed at proposing the compensation income of spouses who are both employees to be taxed separately, paying lower taxes, seeking to abolish the Metro Manila Commission, providing for the establishment of the Philippine National Language Commission, and providing for a synchronization of national and local elections in 1986.
Mayor of Manila (1986–1992) edit
After the People Power Revolution, Lopez was appointed as Mayor of Manila. During his early years, his administration was faced with ₱700 million pesos worth of debt and inherited an empty treasury. In the first eleven months, however, the debt was reduced to ₱365 million and the city's income rose by around 70%. Revenues from movie theaters rose by 180%, from public markets 170%, and the Manila Zoo began to have profits. Manila had an annual income of over ₱700 million due to these increase in tax revenues. Within the same eleven months, 21 schools were built. Squatters were relocated, with an average of 12,700 families a year.[4]
During the 1988 elections, he ran for a full term under the PDP-LABAN and won, defeating Lito Atienza and Eva Estrada-Kalaw, both his fellow former delegates at the Batasang Pambansa.
Lopez closed down numerous illegal gambling joints and jueteng. He also blocked the re-opening of jai-alai despite pressure from powerful groups.
In January 1990, Lopez padlocked two Manila casinos operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), saying the billions it gained cannot make up for the negative effects gambling inflicts upon the people, particularly the youth. As a result of this, he was charged with graft in the Sandiganbayan in the same year. The case remained unresolved until it was finally dropped in June 2002.[5]
He also worked for the revival of the Boys’ Town Haven (now referred to as “Boys Town”), rehabilitating its facilities to accommodate underprivileged children and provide them with livelihood and education.
During the 1992 elections, he lost reelection to former National Bureau of Investigation director Alfredo Lim.
Post-mayoralty (1992–2017) edit
In 1993, he was appointed by President Fidel Ramos as Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, serving until 1996. During his term as PSC Chairman, he helped Onyok Velasco to captured the silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA, together with his son Manny Lopez, then-president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (renamed as Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines or ABAP).[6]
In 1995, he sought a rematch against Lim but was unsuccessful. Nine years later, in 2004, he ran again for mayor against then incumbent Mayor Lito Atienza under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) but lost.[7] He last served as chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company and Pacific Concrete Products Inc.[8]
Lopez died on New Year's Day, January 1, 2017, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City due to a heart attack at the age of 81.[9] His wake was held at The Aeternum at Heritage Park in Taguig and later at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Tondo.[3] A necrological service for him was held at the Manila City Hall on January 5.[2] His remains were interred at The Heritage Park in Taguig.[10]
Legacy edit
In April 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11280 to officially rename a portion of Radial Road 10 to Mel Lopez Boulevard, which runs from Anda Circle in Manila up north to Estero de Marala at the city's border with Navotas.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Ex-Manila mayor Mel Lopez, 81". The Philippine Star. January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ a b Roxas, Joseph Tristan (January 4, 2017). "Former Mayor Mel Lopez's remains brought to Sto Niño de Tondo Church". GMA News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Macapagal, Tony (January 4, 2017). "'Manila on the Go' now at full stop after Mel Lopez death". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Joaquin, Nick (1990). Manila,My Manila. Vera-Reyes, Inc.
- ^ Sandigan clears former Mayor Lopez
- ^ Navarro, June (January 2, 2017). "Ex-Manila mayor, PSC chair Mel Lopez; 81". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ Sison, Bebot Jr.; Felipe, Cecille Suerte (May 18, 2004). "Atienza triumphs in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "Mel Lopez passes away". Manila Standard. January 2, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "Former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez dies at age 81". GMA News Online. January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ "Ex-Manila mayor Mel Lopez dies". Rappler. January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ^ Balinbin, Arjay (May 20, 2019). "Road in Manila renamed to honor late sportsman and politician Mel Lopez". BusinessWorld. Retrieved March 29, 2020.