Fernando Lopez

For the Spanish footballer known as Fernando López, see Fernando López Fernández.

Fernando López
File:Fernando lopez2.jpg Fernando López
8th Vice President of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1965 – January 17, 1973
President	Elpidio Quirino
Preceded by	Emmanuel Pelaez
Succeeded by	Abolished Title next held by Arturo Tolentino
4th Vice President of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1949 – December 30, 1953
Preceded by	Vacant Title last held by Elpidio Quirino
Succeeded by	Carlos P. García
Senator of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1947 – December 30, 1949
Mayor of Iloilo City
In office 1945 – December 30, 1947
Personal details
Born	(1904-04-13)April 13, 1904 Iloilo City
Died	May 26, 1993(1993-05-26) (aged 89) Iloilo City
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Liberal (1945-53) Democratic (1953-59) Nacionalista (1959-71)
Spouse	Mariquit Javellana

Fernando López,Sr. (April 13, 1904 – May 26, 1993) was a Filipino statesman. A member of the influential López Family of Iloilo, Fernando López served as Vice President for three terms, under President Elpidio Quirino (1949—1953) for the Liberals and Ferdinand Marcos (1965—1969 and 1969—1972) for the Nacionalistas.

Early life and career

López was born on April 13, 1904 in Iloilo City, Iloilo to Benito López and Presentación Hofilena. The López family was the richest and influential family in the province.

López studied high school at San Juan de Letran College, finishing in 1921. He then 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.

López was one of the founders of Iloilo College and the FEATI University in Manila. The López family also owned the Iloilo-Negros Air Express Company (the first Filipino owned air service), the Iloilo Times (El Tiempo), the Manila Chronicle and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, LSC(Lopez Sugar Corporation), Bayantel(including Bayan DSL), SkyCable(including SkyBroadband),Meralco, MNTC(Manila North Tollways Corporation), RLC(Rockwell Land Corporation),Rockwell Center, First Balfour, Inc., Philippine Electric Corporation (Philec), First Electro Dynamics Corporation (Fedcor), First Sumiden Circuits, Inc. (FSCI), Securities Transfer Services, Inc. (STSI), The Medical City (TMC), BayanTrade DotCom, First Gas Holdings Corporation (Santa Rita), FGP. Corp. (San Lorenzo), FG Hydro Power Corporation (Pantabangan-Masiway), FG Bukidnon (Agusan mini-hydro), Bauang Private Power Corporation (Bauang), Panay Electric Company(PECO), First Philippine Industrial Corporation (the major fuel distributor of Shell and Chevron Caltex in the country), First Philippine Realty Corp, First Philippine Electric Corp. (First Philec), Maynilad Water Services Inc, First Philec Solar Corporation, First Sumiden Circuits, Inc. (FSCI), First Sumiden Realty, Inc, First Philippine Industrial Park, Griffin Sierra Travel Inc.

In 1945, with no prior political experience, López was picked by President Sergio Osmeña to be mayor of Iloilo City. In 1947, he ran for Senator and won the election.

Vice-Presidency

First Term

In 1949, he 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

In 1965, he ran with Ferdinand Marcos and won as vice-president. He was re-elected in 1969. By the time martial law was declared in 1972, the López family fell out of Marcos' favor and was targeted by the dictatorship because of their denunciations of Marcos' corruption. They were also targeted due to their family's political influence, being members of the entrenched oligarchy. The position of vice-president was dissolved, and the López family was stripped of most of its political and economic assets.

Later life and Death

From 1986 to 1993, he became Chairman of First Philippine Holdings and Honorary Chair of ABS-CBN and FHL Holdings.

He died on May 26, 1993 leaving his wife Mariquit Javellana with whom he had six children Yolanda, Fernando, Jr. "Junjie"., Albertito, Emmanuele, Benito and Mita. He has 24 grandchildren among them Arnel ,Dondi, Butch (MONTELIBANO), Fernando III "Henry", Adriana, Bettina, Alberto Jr., Loren, Melissa, Regine, Roxanne, Rolenda, Rowena, Raphaela, Rebecca, Benjamin all LÓPEZ, and Celine (LÓPEZ), and Panchito Puckett.