BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The prominent Lopez family of Iloilo has officially unveiled “The Patrimony of All – Ang Panublion sang Tanan”, an exhibit featuring 16 carefully selected masterpieces by renowned Filipino artists Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, Juan Arellano, and Fernando Amorsolo from the Lopez Museum and Library (LML) Collection.
The exhibit, which runs from Nov. 25, 2024 to April 2025, is being held at the UP Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage (MACH) here.
During the recent press briefing, Mercedes Lopez-Vargas, president of the Lopez Group Foundation, Inc. and executive director of the Lopez Museum and Library, expressed her enthusiasm for bringing these significant works to Iloilo, aiming to showcase Filipino artistic heritage and inspire cultural appreciation.
“We hope to show that these artists painted not just what they saw and felt around them but also conversed with what was imagined elsewhere in the world,” shared Lopez-Vargas.
Curated by Dr. Patrick Flores, “The Patrimony of All” also seeks to highlight the rich architectural heritage and cultural legacy of Iloilo, blending the visual arts with the historical identity of the city.
“The Patrimony of All” is part of the celebration of the 77th Year of the University of the Philippines’ Presence in Iloilo, marking a significant cultural milestone for the city.
The project was conceived by former senator Franklin Drilon in 2019 and realized through the support of Sen. Loren Legarda.
Although the Lopez family, its foundations, and corporations are based in Metro Manila, they remain deeply connected to Iloilo, their province of origin.
For over a century, the family has demonstrated a deep commitment to community welfare through their entrepreneurial, civic, and philanthropic initiatives.
During a devastating famine in Iloilo in 1878, Kapitan Eugenio Lopez and his brother Claudio organized relief operations funded from their own resources to aid the affected population.
During the Guimaras Oil Spill in 2006, the family donated 15 hectares of land to families impacted by the disaster, providing them with both shelter and livelihood programs to help rebuild their lives.
These acts of generosity reflect the Lopez family’s dedication to uplifting communities and supporting social development, a legacy they continue to honor through cultural initiatives like “The Patrimony of All” and their ongoing philanthropic efforts.
Beyond providing assistance during times of crisis, the Lopez family has long recognized that building a community requires long-term investment in both its people and the heritage they cherish.
In the 1950s, Kapitan Eugenio’s son and namesake, Eugenio Sr., initiated a program to improve educational facilities, laying the foundation for the Lopez family’s ongoing commitment to education and community development.
Eugenio Sr.’s children and grandchildren also have continued this legacy through various social development projects.
These include several initiatives focused on the town’s growth and welfare in Jaro; the Gawad Kalinga, which contributed to the empowerment of impoverished communities; the Bantay Kalusugan, a program aimed at reducing malnutrition in the region; and skills development and training to supporting weaving collectives and indigenous groups, empowering local artisans and communities to preserve and thrive in their traditional crafts.
Ingrained in the Lopez family and its institutions is an appreciation for the depth and breadth of Philippine cultural heritage, recognizing the importance of preserving and sharing the rich history and traditions of every part of the country.
This spirit of cultural appreciation has driven significant initiatives such when Oscar Lopez personally funded the restoration of the Jaro Cathedral, ensuring that this important historical and cultural landmark in Iloilo would be preserved for future generations./PN
