Eugenio López Sr.
Filipino journalist and broadcaster (1901–1975) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eugenio "Eñing" Hofileña López Sr. (Tagalog: [juˈhɛnjo ˈlɔpɛs]; July 20, 1901 – July 5, 1975) was a leading business figure in the Philippines. He was the founder of López Group of Companies. He belonged to the prominent López family of Iloilo, one of the leading political families in the Philippines.
 |
Eugenio H. López Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Chairman, Chronicle Broadcasting Network (now ABS-CBN Corporation) | |
| In office September 24, 1956 – September 22, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Antonio Quirino (1952–1957; as Chairman of Alto Broadcasting System, later merged with Chronicle Broadcasting Network) James Lindenberg (Bolinao Electronics Corporation) |
| Succeeded by | Fernando López (reopened ABS-CBN) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eugenio Hofileña López July 20, 1901 Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippine Islands |
| Died | July 5, 1975 (aged 73) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Spouse | Pacita de Santos Moreno |
| Children | Eugenio López Jr. Oscar M. López Presentación M. López-Psinakis Manuel M. López Roberto M. López |
| Occupation | Journalist, broadcaster |
| Known for | Father of Philippine TV |
López was born on July 20, 1901, in Jaro, Iloilo City. His parents were Benito Villanueva López, a former governor of Iloilo, and Presentación Javelona Hofileña. He was the older brother and only sibling of former Philippine Vice President Fernando López. He received his education at the Ateneo de Manila where he graduated in 1919, and later the original campus of the University of the Philippines in Manila, where he took up law and graduated in 1923.[1] He earned his master of laws degree from Harvard University.[2]
He was the first president, or "charter president", of the Rotary Club of Iloilo, the third oldest Rotary Club in the Philippines.[3] His family residence in Iloilo City known as the Lopez Boat House, built in 1935, was declared a National Heritage House by the National Historical Commission in 2002.[4]
López began as a provincial bus operator, and eventually became chairman of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, the Philippine's largest media conglomerate, and president of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).[citation needed] In 1972 he accepted a Distinguished Service Award from the Harvard Business School, but several months later was compelled by President Ferdinand Marcos to sign over his shares in Meralco, was stripped of his holdings and forced into exile.[5]
His eldest child and heir apparent, Eugenio López Jr., or Geny, was jailed on charges of conspiring to assassinate Ferdinand Marcos. This was carried out by Marcos in order for Don Eñing, who was at that time was in exile in United States to sell his businesses to him, his family and relatives and to his cronies.[citation needed] At one time, Marcos would send the then-Philippine Ambassador to the US, Benjamin Romualdez, a brother of then-First Lady Imelda Marcos, to San Francisco, California, where the elder López was living along with his daughter, Precy and her Greek husband Steve Psinakis, to convince him to relinquish ownership of his businesses in his home country in order for it to sell to his entourage with a promise that his eldest child, Geny, would be released from jail.[citation needed] Don Eñing agreed, but his firstborn would remain in detention. As a result, he was double-crossed by the Marcos regime and his businesses were then completely in their hands. He was later diagnosed with cancer and died on July 5, 1975.
López was portrayed by Armando Goyena in the 1995 film Eskapo.
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