Mel Lopez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gemiliano Lopez
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| 3rd Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission | |
| In office 1993–1996 |
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| President | Fidel Ramos |
| Preceded by | Aparicio Mequi |
| Succeeded by | Philip Ella Juico |
| 20th and 22nd Mayor of Manila | |
| In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1992 |
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| Vice Mayor | Danny Lacuna (1988-1992) Ernesto V.P. Maceda, Jr. (1992) |
| Preceded by | Gregorio Ejercito (Acting City Mayor) |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo S. Lim |
| In office March 26, 1986 – December 1, 1987 |
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| 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
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| President Pro-Tempore of the Manila City Council | |
| In office 1972–1975 |
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| Vice Mayor of Manila | |
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Acting
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| In office May 1, 1971 – December 31, 1971 |
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| Mayor | Antonio Villegas |
| Preceded by | Danny Lacuna |
| Succeeded by | Martin Isidro Sr. |
| Member of the Manila City Council from the 1st District | |
| In office December 30, 1967 – December 31, 1975 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gemiliano Campos Lopez
September 1, 1935 Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Died | January 1, 2017 (aged 81) 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 |
Gemiliano "Mel" Campos Lopez Jr. (born September 1, 1935 – died January 1, 2017) was a Filipino politician. He served as the Mayor of Manila twice. He was also an assemblyman in the Batasang Pambansa (a type of parliament) and led the Philippine Sports Commission.
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Early Life and Education
Mel Lopez was born in Manila on September 1, 1935. His mother was Carmen Campos from Bulacan, and his father was Lt. Col. Gemiliano López Sr. from Manila. His grandfather, Honorio Lopez, was a writer and a revolutionary during the Spanish Revolution.
He studied at Jose Rizal University. He earned a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commercial Science. During his college years, he was also a talented athlete. He played swimming, boxing, and basketball for the JRU Heavy Bombers in the NCAA.
Personal Life
Mel Lopez was married to Concepcion Tantoco, a businesswoman. They were together for over fifty years. They had nine children, more than thirty grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Political Career
Serving as a City Councilor (1967–1975)
Mel Lopez started his political journey as a city councilor. On August 21, 1971, he was injured in the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing. This happened during a political rally.
After President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, Lopez became a strong opponent. He held secret meetings with different leaders. He wanted to organize people to bring back democracy.
Joining the Laban Movement
Lopez was one of the first people to join "Laban." This word means "fight" or "struggle" in Tagalog. It was short for "Lakas ng Bayan," which means "People's Power." This group aimed to oppose Marcos's rule.
When elections were announced in 1978, Lopez managed the campaign in Manila. He organized events to encourage citizens to stand against the government.
Becoming an Assemblyman (1984–1986)
In 1984, Lopez was chosen to represent Manila in the Batasang Pambansa. This was a big win for his group, the United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO). They defeated Marcos's party.
As an assemblyman, Lopez worked on important laws. He proposed ideas to lower taxes for working couples. He also wanted to create a Philippine National Language Commission. He aimed to make elections happen at the same time.
Mayor of Manila (1986–1992)
After the People Power Revolution, Mel Lopez was appointed as the Mayor of Manila. The city faced many challenges, including a huge debt. However, Lopez worked hard to improve things.
In less than a year, he reduced the city's debt. Manila's income also increased a lot. Money from movie theaters and public markets grew significantly. Even the Manila Zoo started making a profit.
During his time, 21 new schools were built. He also helped many families living in informal settlements find new homes.
In the 1988 elections, he ran for a full term and won. He believed that gambling was harmful, especially to young people. He closed down many illegal gambling places. He also stopped casinos in Manila from operating.
Lopez also focused on helping children in need. He worked to improve the Boys' Town Haven. This place provided shelter, education, and skills for underprivileged children. In the 1992 elections, he lost his bid for reelection.
After Being Mayor (1992–2017)
In 1993, President Fidel Ramos appointed Lopez to lead the Philippine Sports Commission. He served in this role until 1996. During his time, he supported Filipino athletes. He helped Onyok Velasco win a silver medal in boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics. His son, Manny Lopez, also played a big part in boxing.
Mel Lopez ran for mayor again in 1995 and 2004 but was not successful.
He passed away on January 1, 2017, at the age of 81. He died in Quezon City from a heart attack.
In 2019, a part of Radial Road 10 in Manila was renamed Mel Lopez Boulevard. This was done to honor his contributions to the city.
Images for kids
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Honorio Lopez (1875 - 1958) Avenida.jpg
Honorio Lopez, Mel Lopez's grandfather
