1-Obituary: Geny Lopez dies at 70
Balita News
MANILA, June 29 (PNA) - - Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr., who headed the
Lopez Group of Companies, died in San Francisco, California June 28
after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 70.
The eldest son of Don Eugenio Lopez, Geny led the family's media
ventures. Starting with the Manila Chronicle shortly after returning
in 1957.
By mid-60s, Geny had made ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. the country's
number one network, bigger than all its competitors combined.
During the Marcos regime, Geny languished in prison for five years,
along with his cell mate, Sergio Osmena III. Their ordeal ended with
their dramatic escape from the Fort Bonifacio military prison.
The two made their way to the United States, where they were very
active as leaders of the anti-Marcos opposition.
Don Eugenio was waylaid by cancer and passed away in 1975.
When Geny returned to the Philippines after the EDSA revolt in
1986, the family enterprises were in ruins. Together with brothers
Oscar and Manuel, Geny rebuilt the Lopez businesses. He started
reclaiming ABS-CBN and led it from last place among five local networks
to the number one position by the end of 1987.
In 1993, he led the creation of Benpress Holdings Corp. as the new
family flagship.
In the past six years, Benpress has ventured into strategic new
areas, such as water, telecommunications, toll roads, land development
and power generation and distribution.
Four of the Lopez-managed companies --ABS-CBN, First Philippine
Holdings Corp., Meralco and Benpress --are publicly-owned through the
stock market and are considered blue chips due to their record of
profitability.
Geny served as president and chief executive officer of Benpress,
chairman emeritus of ABS-CBN and chairman of, among others, Bayan
Telecommunications Holdings Corp., Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila
North Tollways Corp., and Sky Vision Corp.
Geny was born on Nov. 4, 1928. He was blessed with seven children
--Eugenio III, Regina Paz, Ma. Rosario, Rafael, Roberta, Ernesto and
Ramon. (PNA) rgc /SS/LBV/ aav
PNA 06291718