The good, memorable era in amateur boxing are gone. And so is the man who helped the country achieve some of the great moments in this combat sport.
Former Manila mayor, Philippine Sports Commission chair and amateur boxing president Gemiliano Lopez, “Mel” to everyone, died at the age of 81 on New Year’s day after suffering a heart attack while confined at the St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City.
At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company’s Exploration Corporation, a position he held since being appointed by former president Noynoy Aquino in 2010.
In the world of local sports, he was best remembered for reviving amateur boxing’s program that eventually produced Onyok Velasco, who settled for the silver medal in the light-flyweight division during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics after losing to Bulgaria’s Daniel Pedrov Bujilov in the championship bout.
It was a championship that was met with angry response from the Filipinos, including then president Fidel Ramos, who watched the fight in the comfort of Malacanang Palace.
But the old man was gracious in the defeat of Velasco, saying the Filipino fighter lost the fight fair and square.
“Talo. Medyo may kaliitan siya (Velasco) kaya hirap tumama. Onyok lost to a good boxer,” Lopez once told a group of sportswriters over dinner after the highly-anticipated championship.
On his side when all his hard work in amateur boxing was bearing fruits was his son Manny, Manila’s first district congressman who inherited the sport’s top post from his father.
Before Velasco’s exploits, the father-son tandem, with elder Lopez as PSC chair and the son as boxing’s president, gave Philippine sports something to remember by producing three gold medalists in Onyok Velasco (light fly), Elias Recaido (fly) and Reynaldo Galido (light-welter) in 1996 in Hiroshima, Japan in one of the country’s greatest feats ever in the Asian Games.
Not only that, the partnership also saw the Philippines winning Olympic bronze medals courtesy of light-fly Leopoldo Serrantes in 1988 in Seoul and light-fly Roel Velasco in 1992 in Barcelona.
“Mel was a true patriot, sportsman and an ultimate gentleman,” said Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta, who spent a great deal of his time in sports with Lopez since being appointed as Gintong Alay boss by then president Corazon Aquino.
“I said he’s a patriot because he was a key figure in the fight for freedom during the dark days (of martial law),” said Romasanta.
According to Manny, the Christmas season could have taken its toll on his father, who traveled all the way to Bulacan to join relatives for the holidays.
“Napagod siguro,” said the younger Lopez.
The popular ‘Go for Gold’ program aimed at tapping aspiring and future members of the Philippine team was introduced under the older Lopez, who had to spend his own money and ask the help of some friends to make the venture a reality.
“He had a vision for Philippine sports and he attained that through the various medals we obtained in the Olympics, Asian Games, and other international events,” Manny was quoted as saying the Spin.ph.
Under Cory’s term, Lopez was appointed as PSC chair in 1993, the year he stepped down as ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippine president) and lost his bid for another term as Manila mayor. He would serve as PSC’s top man for three years.
Before spending time in sports, Lopez made a name in politics, serving as Manila councilor for many years and an assemblyman from 1984 to 1986 at a time when speaking against the establishment was a big no-no.
But the man was one who would not shy away from the fight against martial law, working as one of the pillars of the opposition party that included former senators Benigno Aquino, Jr., Jovito Salonga and Lorenzo Tanada.
Oh yes, Lopez patriarch, then a Manila councilor, was one of the opposition party members hurt during the infamous Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971.
Lopez was first appointed Manila mayor by Ms. Aquino shortly after the EDSA Revolution in 1986 and was later elected to the post, serving as the city’s chief executive until 1992.
According to his family, Lopez’s remains will be brought to Tondo, Manila, on Thursday before being buried at Heritage Park in Taguig City on Sunday.
