Our friend and colleague, Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) chairman and The New Standard columnist Tony Lopez, was all smiles as the “who’s who” in business, society and government trooped to the Grand Ballroom of Hotel InterCon for his 66th birthday, which coincided with the 13th anniversary of BizNews Asia magazine with Tony as publisher and editor.
Leading the guests were Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos, who were both the picture of amiability and congeniality as they shook hands thrice and shared the same table.
The double celebration also became an occasion to recognize outstanding individuals in various areas of expertise via the 2014 BizNews Asia Awards, among them the CEO of the Year Award that went to San Miguel president Ramon Ang and the Broadcast Excellence award to GMA radio and TV news anchor Mike Enriquez.
Even at a young age, Tony already displayed his skill with the pen, obtaining his degree in Journalism (magna cum laude) from the University of Santo Tomas where he served as managing editor of The Varsitarian. He then took up masteral studies at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and went on to earn a global journalism certificate from the University of Stockholm.
Tony’s outstanding work as senior correspondent of the Hong Kong-based Asiaweek news magazine — a subsidiary of Time Inc. of New York — did not go unnoticed as he reaped several awards including the Ten Outstanding Young Men for International Journalism in 1985 and the Rotary Club of Manila award for distinguished foreign correspondence, among others.
When Asiaweek folded in 2001, the veteran journalist used all his savings to put up BizNews Asia magazine — and the publication has since distinguished itself for being the country’s biggest weekly business and news magazine.