Publisher Eugenio Lopez Sr.The prewar structure stands at the juncture of Ortiz and Rizal streets in the middle of Iloilo City. Now known as Sarrosa- Padernal building, the disused three-level edifice hides a storied past—it was the epicenter of the operations of El Tiempo, the newspaper publishing venture of Lopez Group founder Eugenio “Eñing” Lopez Sr. (EL Sr.)

Known as the leading periodical in Western Visayas during its heyday, El Tiempo was not entirely a new venture for the Lopezes. Under EL Sr., the Spanish-language daily newspaper was on its second life, having been originated by EL Sr.’s father Benito in 1901.

The paper shell collection is one of the sustainable community enterprises for the families in CalauanFor applying the Lopez Values in its work in a resettlement site in Laguna, BayaniJuan (BnJ) Calauan was hailed as the Top Awardee in the 2011 cycle of the Lopez Achievement Awards. The awards were given out at the Rockwell Tent on October 10, 2012.

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s BayaniJuan Calauan Team, which was one of 40 teams that made it to the finalist roster, also picked up one of the four trophies in the Public Responsibility category for the entry titled Rebuilding the Philippines… One Community at a Time.

LAA external judge Dr. Miflora Gatchalian, a fellow and councilor of the International Academy for Quality, said she was “very impressed” with the research and development that went into the three-year-old project.

BnJ manages the 107-hectare official resettlement site which was opened in 2009 for the informal settlers that used to live along the Pasig River and its waterways.

The estimated 200 families that currently occupy the site were allocated a 30-square meter house each. With some 900 houses built by private sector partners still vacant to date, relocatees continue to stream into the site; BnJ itself is allocating some of the homes for local settlers.

Backing up its promise that it “goes beyond housing. BnJ rebuilds homes,” the LAA Top Awardee employed the Lopez Values in coming up with a viable development plan and community projects for Calauan.

Taking off from the concept of bayanihan, the team works with various partners to “revitalize and strengthen marginalized communities.” These partners include the AFI programs Bantay Bata, E-Media (now Programa Genio), Bantay Kalikasan, Bayan Foundation and Sagip Kapamilya; the National Housing Authority; the local government unit of Calauan; and various public and private sector donors.

The team displayed its pioneering entrepreneurial spirit when it sought to spark a change in the quality of life of the community. As a pilot site for public-private partnerships for the poor, Calauan is an “a pool of limitless possibilities,” a model community that will be replicated in other relocation sites around the country.

Backed by the AFI management especially in terms of the required resources, BnJ is a dynamic program that brings out the best in its members and, in turn, allows them to deliver the best ser- vices to the Calauan residents.

Working as a team proved to be difficult at the start, but the group eventually hurdled this ob- stacle to develop strong bonds and solid relationships with one another. “One does not assume that he knows everything. What worked best for BayaniJuan is the recognition that strengths and weaknesses of one complement that of another,” they pointed out.

The BayaniJuan Public MarketThrough its work in the relocation site, BnJ seeks to promote social justice, wherein the upliftment of the residents’ quality of life is the main goal. To do this, the team started from the bottom: “development should be by the people, with the people, for the people.” To this end, BnJ solicits the participation and input of the residents in conceptualizing and implementing its projects.

As with many such undertakings, BnJ was initially met with skepticism particularly with regard to the way it made use of its funds. These were dispelled, the team said, when people started seeing concrete results. “BnJ regained the trust of the community and is now highly regarded for the extent of service it has offered,” they reported.

The Lopez value of employee welfare and wellness comes into play in BnJ’s working environment, which is conducive to personal and professional growth. It encourages continuous learning and skills development because of the dynamic nature of the company.

To ensure the project’s sustainability, the implementers have put up a vendors’ group to run the community market, a bakery and an outlet in Power Plant Mall that sells the farmers’ organic produce. BnJ is also in talks with the Department of Science and Technology to set up a facility that will make Calauan a center for food processing for nearby farm areas. Other priority projects include electrification and the provision of water and more livelihood sources.

During the INAEC first flight from Manila to Iloilo, February 1, 1933, Claro M. Recto and wife Aurora (7th and 6th from right) were among the passengersThe Lopez Group of today is known for its highly successful ventures in broadcasting, cable and telecommunications, and power and energy—industries that are “vital to nation building.” But 81 years ago, when it was still a start-up known as E&F Lopez Inc., Eugenio “Eñing” H. Lopez Sr.—also known as “EL Sr.” and the “E” in the company’s name—established a myriad of pioneering enterprises in his Iloilo hometown.

Possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit, EL Sr. had a knack for seeing a need and putting in place the infrastructure to meet that need. More often than not, these enterprises were ones that provided a service that helped improve people’s lives, such a crusading Spanish-language newspaper called El Tiempo. Some of his earliest ventures were in the transportation industry, where he and his brother Fernando established fast-ferry services and bus lines in their hometown.

In my years of working with the family, truth be told, I have often wondered how it would be if I carried a different name. As an employee and a family member, a weekend dinner with the family can feel like a performance appraisal. A casual conversation with a cousin, who also happens to be your boss, can feel like a pop quiz. In my previous job, my mobile number was like an extension of the Meralco call center, and now, it’s like a concierge line for Skycable and a ticketnet number for noontime shows like Showtime or ASAP. But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.