Our longest serving awardees: Rod Enano, 35 years, ELFITwenty-three Kapamilya were feted on September 18 at the 2023-2024 Lopez Service Awards jointly organized by Eugenio Lopez Foundation Inc. (ELFI), Lopez Inc. (LI), Lopez Holdings Corporation, INAEC Aviation Corporation and Lopez Group Foundation Inc. ELFI administers the Lopez Museum and Library.

Longest serving among awardees was Rodrigo Enano, who had logged 35 years of service at ELFI as a conservator and collections handler. Aside from Enano, ELFI also recognized Margarita Eugenia Villanueva for 10 years of service. INAEC had 17 awardees, LI had two and Lopez Holdings also had two.

Himself a 35-year service awardee of First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Lopez Holdings chairman and chief executive officer and LI president Federico R. Lopez (FRL) looked back on the last 35 years, noting how much has changed globally and how the next 35 years are going to be “starkly different.”

“The multipolar world today is complicated even more by polarization and populism within countries like the US, European Community, and of course US-China tensions which cast a dark shadow over the Indo-Pacific in which we are a key chess piece because of geography,” FRL said.

“As we move forward, we will need to define our ability to create collaborative pathways of resilience and of course regeneration. My own personal journey couldn’t have been a regenerative one nor even a resilient one without the help of so many people I worked with whose abilities often even surpassed mine. But we’ve always made the choice to run the race as one and through the trials we know we will always have,” he said.

The celebration began with Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Tudd Belandres. Jonathan Uy, a licensed commercial pilot currently working at the quality and safety department of INAEC, and Manna Vargas, programs director of Oscar M. Lopez Center, emceed while Helen Mae Wiebus, occupational health nurse of INAEC, wowed the audience with her singing prowess. INAEC staff members also performed a dance medley that spanned generations, capping a night of fun and camaraderie.

Cay Marbella, 30 years, Lopez Inc

Carla Paras-Sison, 25 years, Lopez Holdings

Lanie Caimol, 25 years, Lopez Holdings

The Lopez family in support of the 2023-2024 Lopez Service Awards Night

The INAEC family

The hosts for the night, Manna Vargas and Jonathan Uy

Homegrown talents gracing the event

Employees from Lopez Holdings, Lopez Inc., ELFI and Lopez Group Foundation Inc. sharing the festivities with our awardees

(Story By Carla Paras-Sison)

(Photos By: Lester Johan Photography)