Oscar M. Lopez passes at 93

MANILA — Oscar Lopez, businessman and patriarch of the Lopez clan, has passed away at age 93.

“He was our North Star, the inspiration, and guide for succeeding generations of Lopez Group executives and employees who learned to treasure and practice with him the Group’s distinct core values: a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, business excellence, unity, nationalism, and social justice,” First Philippine Holdings, where Lopez sat as chairman emeritus, said in a statement on Sunday, April 23.

Lopez was the chairman emeritus of local conglomerate, Lopez Holdings Corp. The Lopez family incorporated the conglomerate in 1993 as the holding company for its major investments.

Lopez Holdings Corp. has stakes in various business sectors: power and energy through First Gen Corp. and Energy Development Corp., media via ABS-CBN and Sky Cable, the property sector through Rockwell Land Corp. and First Philippine Industrial Park, as well as in manufacturing via First Philec Corp. It was ABS-CBN that first reported on his death.

ABS-CBN News was first to report his passing on late Saturday night, April 22.

Apart from First Philippine Holdings and Lopez Holdings Corp., Lopez was also the chairman emeritus of First Gen, EDC, First Balfour, Rockwell Land, among others.

Forbes listed Lopez as 45th in its 2022 edition of Philippines 50 Richest, with a net worth of $245 million.

While he is known for his contributions across the business sector, First Philippine Holdings said his legacy will be being among the pioneers in putting into consideration the environmental and community impact of business dealings. He founded a climate think-tank, which is now named after him.

The Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. was created to look for solutions and technologies that develop climate risk information for use of communities.

Lopez studied at Harvard College and graduated cum laude in 1951 and finished his graduate degree – a Masters of Public Administration – in 1995.

He received a Doctor of Humanities honoris causa from De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University as well as a Doctor of Laws honoris cause from the Philippine Women’s University and the University of the Philippines. (Philstar.com)

by alexis RoMeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — He is just about to enter his second year in office, but President Marcos said he is already counting the remaining days of his administration, describing everything he does as “urgent.”

Marcos said being a president is a “real privilege” that allows him to help a lot of people, so he is trying to maximize his time.

“It’s like a countdown in six years. I do not count the years. I do not count the months. I count the days, how many days left before it ends so I want to ensure that I will finish everything I need to accomplish within those days,” the President said in an interview with state-run Radyo Pilipinas last Monday, April 24.

According to Marcos, he needs to set priorities and address concerns that require immediate action.

“Before you know it, your schedule is already full because you need to do all these things and you really need prioritization, you need to choose what to prioritize,” he said.

“That’s the way it is. You cannot do anything. You need to do it. As I said, you cannot just postpone. One thing I learned since I assumed office is that everything is important, everything is urgent.”

Marcos said he needs to be aware of new developments both here and abroad in the morning so he would know the issues to ponder on as well as matters to discuss at meetings.

“That’s what we are doing now. So far, we have been efficient somehow,” the Chief Executive said, adding that some work cannot be rushed.

The presidency requires a lot of planning and things can get complicated, Marcos stressed, adding that such scenarios are expected.

“I am lucky because I have been watching the events and activities of the president because of my father,” Marcos said. n

Fil-Am skater, partner make history for...

PAGE 3 but could not compete since he still represented Russia and had to wait for the ISU’s go signal. He is also currently applying for a Filipino citizenship.

“Together, we both had different techniques coming from that he has a very strong European-Russian technique, and I had a very bold North American technique which we had to find a common ground,” Gamez told Rappler.

“We really took the time for those two years to meet in the middle for our skating and we really wanted, we really had to be patient for our techniques so that is where we are standing,” she continued. We still have a lot to learn from each other especially that this was our first competition competing together and we had to understand each other’s nerves and emotions and what we’re like, she added.

In October 2022, the skating pair gave the Philippines its first medal in international figure skating — a second place finish at the 2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur in France.

Born to Gerardo Gamez and Marivic Ramirez, who were both born and raised in the Philippines, Gamez was not shortchanged of Filipino culture and heritage. Her mother is also related to Filipino sports icon

Freddie Webb.

Philippine mall developer, SM Supermalls, is one of the pair’s sponsors. The pair aims to qualify for the Winter Olympics happening in 2026 in Milano, Cortina.

“We would like to congratulate our homegrown talents who have all glided their way to the world championships. These two major wins are definitely one for the books as once again, we will be able to show the world how talented Filipino skaters are. And we at SM Supermalls will always be proud that you have brought pride to the country,” said Joseph V. Silva, AVP for Operations for SM Lifestyle Inc. Sports & Leisure Centers, when the pair won inthe Challenge Cup held in Tilburg, Netherlands on February 26, 2023. n