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Feature Article
FEATURE
THE “Pinggoy” STORY
THE “Pinggoy” STORY
Mar 05, 2010
ANGELO “PINGGOY” LOPEZ still keeps a copy of a line oft quoted by the elders of the Lopez household: “Whereever you go, always remember where you came from.”
About 15 years ago, he had it filed in a tiny organizer he had carried around when he left for Manila to take his college education, just in case he ever needed to be reminded of the “bilins” of the family who had fuzzed over his decision to set out on his own for the big city.
The Lopez family had reason to be concerned. Pinggoy, then still a frail teenager, had wanted to save his parents from the high cost of college by trying out for an athletic scholarship.
At 16, his body only starting to fill up on the right places, he hardly earned notice as a potential sports luminary.
But what he lacked in physique, he made up with remarkable agility, speed and do-or-die spirit, enough for officials of the prestigious University of Sto. Tomas to qualify him as a varsity taekwondo player.
Son to former Angeles First Councilor Angelo “Sonny” Lopez, Jr. and progeny of a family of educators and public servants, Pinggoy early on knew first-class education was his passport to the achievement of his goals.
With a hefty string of medals he had won in both academics and sports in Angeles City, Pinggoy dared battle it out with Manila’s best, that old family admonition he had put to heart goading him to success.
At a tender age, he underwent a gruelling regimen: working out daily at the university gym and burning the night candle to cope up with his academics.
He was a consistent honor student, at the same time winning distinctions such as UAAP “Most Valuable Player,” carting away a haul of medals in national and regional taekwondo tournaments.
Pinggoy would later become a member of Team “B” of the Philippine Olympic delegation, putting Angeles, “where he came from,” in the map of international martial arts competitions.
Having maintained high grades in his studies, Pinggoy breezed through his degree, Bachelor of Science in Economics. To his parents’ surprise, he did not stop there.
He took another difficult course, this time a Law Degree at the same University of Sto. Tomas. He passed the bar immediately after graduation, in his first try.
With impeccable credentials, Pinggoy fast climbed the the leadership ladder, hired by major offices, companies and organizations.
The high-profile positions he handled included:
Chief of Staff (chief political affairs officer). Office of Hon. Roilo Golez, House of Representatives;
Consultant on Economic Affairs, City of Angeles;
Chairman, Aksyon Kaataan Youth Movement, Region III (youth arm of the late Education Secretary and Senator Raul S. Roco);
Director, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP, Pampanga Chapter;
Director, Holy Family Academy Alumni Association;
Legal Counsel, Angeles City Water District;
Legal Consultant to a number of business and communications offices;
As expected it was in Economics and Law where Pinggoy shone the brightest.
Aside from his deep marination in legislative research and crafting of legislative measures during his stint in Congress, Pinggoy had excellent experience in jurisprudence, having been a one-time Associate Lawyer at the famous Luis & Yangco Law Offices. He has also founded the Lopez Law Office.
Through it all, however, even with big business beckoning for a young and brilliant economist and lawyer of his caliber, Pinggoy, began to gravitate back to his roots. It had helped to realize that the words his family had held dearly are, in fact, not nearly as important to him as his elders: his dad, an uncle and an aunt had been public servants before his time, right in Angeles “where they came from.”
Pinggoy has returned to stay, likely for keeps, for he is happiest when in the company of cabalens.
He knew where he’s going, and it was no accident that his knowledge in economics and law has come in handy in seizing new opportunities opened up by the so-called burgeoning global landscape because of Clark.
He re-entered academe to get closer to the young at the Angeles University where students rated him among its top professors.
He provides free legal services to impoverished litigants, sharing his views through treatises and opinion pieces carried by local publications. One of his pet projects is strengthening barangay justice system.
“Angelo for Angeleños,” has become the keynote of his personal philosophy as he ventures into public life -- hopefully as a councilor of the city he adores.
About 15 years ago, he had it filed in a tiny organizer he had carried around when he left for Manila to take his college education, just in case he ever needed to be reminded of the “bilins” of the family who had fuzzed over his decision to set out on his own for the big city.
The Lopez family had reason to be concerned. Pinggoy, then still a frail teenager, had wanted to save his parents from the high cost of college by trying out for an athletic scholarship.
At 16, his body only starting to fill up on the right places, he hardly earned notice as a potential sports luminary.
But what he lacked in physique, he made up with remarkable agility, speed and do-or-die spirit, enough for officials of the prestigious University of Sto. Tomas to qualify him as a varsity taekwondo player.
Son to former Angeles First Councilor Angelo “Sonny” Lopez, Jr. and progeny of a family of educators and public servants, Pinggoy early on knew first-class education was his passport to the achievement of his goals.
With a hefty string of medals he had won in both academics and sports in Angeles City, Pinggoy dared battle it out with Manila’s best, that old family admonition he had put to heart goading him to success.
At a tender age, he underwent a gruelling regimen: working out daily at the university gym and burning the night candle to cope up with his academics.
He was a consistent honor student, at the same time winning distinctions such as UAAP “Most Valuable Player,” carting away a haul of medals in national and regional taekwondo tournaments.
Pinggoy would later become a member of Team “B” of the Philippine Olympic delegation, putting Angeles, “where he came from,” in the map of international martial arts competitions.
Having maintained high grades in his studies, Pinggoy breezed through his degree, Bachelor of Science in Economics. To his parents’ surprise, he did not stop there.
He took another difficult course, this time a Law Degree at the same University of Sto. Tomas. He passed the bar immediately after graduation, in his first try.
With impeccable credentials, Pinggoy fast climbed the the leadership ladder, hired by major offices, companies and organizations.
The high-profile positions he handled included:
Chief of Staff (chief political affairs officer). Office of Hon. Roilo Golez, House of Representatives;
Consultant on Economic Affairs, City of Angeles;
Chairman, Aksyon Kaataan Youth Movement, Region III (youth arm of the late Education Secretary and Senator Raul S. Roco);
Director, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP, Pampanga Chapter;
Director, Holy Family Academy Alumni Association;
Legal Counsel, Angeles City Water District;
Legal Consultant to a number of business and communications offices;
As expected it was in Economics and Law where Pinggoy shone the brightest.
Aside from his deep marination in legislative research and crafting of legislative measures during his stint in Congress, Pinggoy had excellent experience in jurisprudence, having been a one-time Associate Lawyer at the famous Luis & Yangco Law Offices. He has also founded the Lopez Law Office.
Through it all, however, even with big business beckoning for a young and brilliant economist and lawyer of his caliber, Pinggoy, began to gravitate back to his roots. It had helped to realize that the words his family had held dearly are, in fact, not nearly as important to him as his elders: his dad, an uncle and an aunt had been public servants before his time, right in Angeles “where they came from.”
Pinggoy has returned to stay, likely for keeps, for he is happiest when in the company of cabalens.
He knew where he’s going, and it was no accident that his knowledge in economics and law has come in handy in seizing new opportunities opened up by the so-called burgeoning global landscape because of Clark.
He re-entered academe to get closer to the young at the Angeles University where students rated him among its top professors.
He provides free legal services to impoverished litigants, sharing his views through treatises and opinion pieces carried by local publications. One of his pet projects is strengthening barangay justice system.
“Angelo for Angeleños,” has become the keynote of his personal philosophy as he ventures into public life -- hopefully as a councilor of the city he adores.
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