Manuel M. Lopez, a former Philippine envoy to Japan and former chairman of Manila Electric Co., passed away on Thursday. He was 80.
He was chairman emeritus of the Lopez Holdings Inc., the conglomerate that held the Lopez Group’s interest in broadcasting, infrastructure development, real estate and power generation, since October 2020.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of the East and attended the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School.
Lopez served Meralco, the country’s largest power distributor, in various capacities—as president from 1986 to June 2001, as chairman and CEO from July 2001 to June 2010, as chairman from July 2010 to June 2012, and as director until May 2018.
He is survived by his wife Maritess and their children Maita Lichauco, Beaver, Mike and Mark.
In an interview with the Philippine Star’s Wilson Flores several years ago, Lopez’s children described him as a wonderful father who taught them humility, gratefulness, respect for elders, compassion, and integrity. They said Lopez loved orchids and antiques, relished time with his family, and enjoys burgers and pizza.
For wife Maritess, according to an article written by Pat Daza on the Philippine Star, shortly after Lopez’s 80th birthday last May, the Order of Sikatuna awardee “will always be the carefree and happy-go-lucky guy that I met that afternoon in San Francisco, who possessed a natural leadership and the passion of a true man of the world, who thrived in the company of family and friends — the boy who will always be our Manolo, and my beloved.”
Lopez is the youngest of Eugenio Lopez Sr.’s four children, and nephew of former Vice President Fernando Lopez.
