Fernando Lopez

For other people named Fernando Lopez, see Fernando Lopez (disambiguation).

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Hofileña and the surname or paternal family name is Lopez.

Fernando "Nanding"^[1] Hofileña Lopez Sr. KGCR (April 13, 1904 – May 26, 1993) was a Filipino statesman. A member of the influential López family of Iloilo, he served as vice president of the Philippines under Presidents Elpidio Quirino from 1949 to 1953 under the Liberal Party and Ferdinand Marcos from 1965 to 1972, under the Nacionalista Party. He was also the chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation from 1986 to his death in 1993.

Fernando Lopez
3rd & 7th Vice President of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1965 – September 23, 1972
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Emmanuel Pelaez
Succeeded by	Office abolished (next held by Salvador Laurel, 1986)
In office December 30, 1949 – December 30, 1953
President	Elpidio Quirino
Preceded by	Elpidio Quirino
Succeeded by	Carlos P. Garcia
Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources
In office December 30, 1965 – 1971
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Jose Feliciano
Succeeded by	Arturo Tanco Jr.
In office December 14, 1950 – 1953
President	Elpidio Quirino
Preceded by	Plácido Mapa
Succeeded by	Plácido Mapa
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office January 27, 1958 – December 30, 1965
Preceded by	Manuel Briones
Succeeded by	Lorenzo Sumulong
Senator of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1953 – December 30, 1965
In office December 30, 1947 – December 30, 1949
Mayor of Iloilo City
Acting
In office September 26, 1945 – December 30, 1947
Appointed by	Sergio Osmeña
Preceded by	Mariano Benedicto
Succeeded by	Vicente Ybiernas
Chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation
In office February 28, 1986 – May 26, 1993
Preceded by	Eugenio López Sr.
Succeeded by	Eugenio Lopez Jr.
Personal details
Born	Fernando Hofileña Lopez (1904-04-13)April 13, 1904 Jaro, Iloilo, Philippine Islands
Died	May 26, 1993(1993-05-26) (aged 89) Iloilo City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Nacionalista (1945–1946, 1957–1993)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (1953–1957) Liberal (1946–1953)
Spouse	Maria Salvacion Javellana
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas (LL.B)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

Early life and career

Lopez was born on April 13, 1904, in Jaro, Iloilo City to Benito Villanueva Lopez and Presentacion Javelona Hofileña. He was the younger brother and only sibling of Eugenio Lopez Sr. The Lopez family was the richest and most influential family in the province.

Lopez studied high school at Colegio de San Juan de Letran, finishing in 1921. He studied law in the University of Santo Tomas, earning his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1925. After passing the bar examinations, he did not go into private practice, but helped his older brother manage the family business.

In 1945, with no prior political experience, Lopez was chosen by President Sergio Osmeña to be mayor of Iloilo City.^[2] In 1947, he ran for senator and won.

Lopez was one of the founders of University of Iloilo and the FEATI University in Manila.

The brothers Eugenio and Fernando owned the Iloilo-Negros Air Express Company (the first Filipino owned air service), the Iloilo Times (El Tiempo), the Manila Chronicle, and ABS-CBN Corporation.

Vice-presidency

First term (1949–1953)

In 1949, Lopez became vice-president under President Elpidio Quirino and concurrently worked as secretary of agriculture, serving until 1953. He was then elected once again as senator, and re-elected in 1959.

Second and third term (1965–1972)

Vice President Fernando H. Lopez Official Portrait

Vice President Fernando Lopez with President Ferdinand Marcos at the Presidential study.

In 1965, Lopez ran with Ferdinand Marcos and won as vice president. He was re-elected in 1969, making him to date the only vice president to serve two non-consecutive terms, with two different presidents and from different parties. By the time martial law was declared in 1972, the Lopez family fell out of Marcos' favor and was targeted by the regime because of their denunciations of Marcos. The office of vice president was abolished, and the Lopez family was stripped of most of its political and economic assets.

Later life and death

After the removal of Marcos from power as a result of the People Power Revolution of 1986, Lopez became chairman of FHL Investment Corporation and vice-chairman of First Philippine Holdings Corporation.

He died on May 26, 1993, a month after his 89th birthday, leaving behind his wife Mariquit Javellana with whom he had six children: Yolanda, Fernando Jr. (Junjie), Alberto (Albertito), Emmanuele, Benito and Mita. He was the longest living vice president until he was surpassed by Teofisto Guingona Jr. in 2017.

Honors and awards

• : The Order of the Knights of Rizal, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR).^[3]