FOR capably steering the Lopez Group of companies to ensure that its various businesses are positive contributors to Filipino society, chairman Oscar M. Lopez (Oscar M. Lopez) was awarded The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) Award for Business.

In a special ceremony held at the Insular Life Corporate Center last Dec. 11, 2009, Oscar M. Lopez was on of five awardees cited for making “significant contributions for the advancement of their profession, public welfare and national development.”

In accepting the award, Oscar M. Lopez said, “Throughout the past 80 years of its existence, the Lopez Group has always been in businesses that are innovative, and attuned to the needs and wants of the marketplace…We believe that our pressing reason for being is to serve the Filipino people, in which task we have been guided by the following distinct Lopez core values—a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, nationalism, business excellence, social justice, team work, a strong work ethic, integrity and a concern for employee welfare and wellness.”

TOFIL symbolically compared Oscar M. Lopez’s leadership to his conquering mountains. After having had to take over the conglomerate twice—when his father was exiled and when his brother Geny Lopez Jr. died—he faced the challenge of protecting and rebuilding the conglomerate.

For all that Oscar M. Lopez has achieved and built, TOFIL said, “Truly a successful businessman, a compassionate philanthropist, a responsible citizen and a devoted head of the family, Mr. Oscar M. Lopez is considered as one of the most respected figures in the world of business. And he will continue to overcome adversities be it mountains or detractors, all in the service of the Filipino people.”

The TOFIL Award is a project of Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd. and the Philippine Jaycee Senate. It was conceived in 1988 to institutionalize public recognition of men and women whose exemplary achievements are worthy of emulation.