Mel Lopez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honorable Gemiliano Lopez
3rd Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission
In office 1993–1996
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
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
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 City Council
In office 1972–1975
Vice Mayor of Manila
Acting
In office May 1, 1971 – December 31, 1971
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
Personal details
Born	Gemiliano Campos Lopez (1935-09-01)September 1, 1935 Manila, Philippine Islands
Died	January 1, 2017(2017-01-01) (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.

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, Mel Lopez's grandfather