Manolo Lopez & his animal kingdom

They have made me a more patient person,’’ Manolo Lopez, president of Meralco, says of the pets in his life that have given him respite from work and the worries of city life.

Indeed, one early Sunday morning, we are greeted by the quiet, charming Mr. Lopez, who makes it a point to be at the Meralco Development Center in Antipolo whenever he finds the time. "I like it here because it is quiet and I can spend time with nature," he shares.

Mallard ducks, geese and swans paddle freely in the pond. Further in is the aviary, where one is greeted by the sight and sounds of several kinds of macaws: Green Winged, Scartlet, Buffon, Hyacinth and the Blue and Yellow. A peacock walks about in the grounds. The place is a perfect escape for anyone who loves to be around birds unique and colorful.

Lopez says he developed his love for animals when he was a little boy – breeding and caring for them in particular. "My mother had pigeons; we also had dogs which we would breed," he shares. Breeding pets was something that he seriously got into about 15 years ago. "My interest in raising fish started in the ’70s. I got involved in breeding birds much later – in the ’80s," Lopez reveals.

Birds, Fish And Dobermans

Last year, his lucky arowana fish which he kept at home died and he has not replaced him. He still has one special fish which he keeps at the lobby of his office in Ortigas. "I see him every morning when I go to work and in the afternoon before I go home," he says. "I believe that the fish brings me luck. He is a 12-year old Arapaima and he’s around 8 or 9 feet long."

Lopez also breeds Doberman champion dogs. "I have dogs in the yard in the compound of my office. I also have a number which I have bred," he proudly says. He began with three Dobermans which he imported from the States and then began to breed them locally until he got the best of the breed. "When I was younger, I used to breed dogs. But as I got older I was more concerned with producing a superior breed of Dobermans. I wanted to breed for excellence and my Dobermans are truly representative of the breed," Lopez says.

In contrast, birds and fish are a hobby for him. "It is exciting to breed birds because they have fantastic colors. What I appreciate most is seeing them hatch from tiny eggs and then watching them grow into beautiful birds," Lopez says.

In the past, he recalls that his wife would get on his case when the birds – majestic creatures in rich colors now relocated in Antipolo – were still in their home. "I clipped their wings so they could fly in the terrace. But my wife would get upset because the birds would pick on the furniture’s upholstery. She was also not very pleased about the Dobermans running in the garden. Because she was deathly scared of them, she couldn’t go to the garden," he shares, chuckling.

Aviary To The Rescue

He is happy now that he has the MML Development Center, which serves as shelter for the many animals of his life. He proudly owns over 100 birds and ducks which have all been bred locally. "I have a full-time vet and I personally approve the food which the birds and ducks eat," Lopez says.

"Breeding these animals has made me more patient. You cannot rush them to reproduce. I have had to wait for nature to take its course," he shares. "There are frustrations too, usually circumstances beyond my control, like when a mother bird drops her egg."

The process of breeding birds is not as simple as putting two birds in a cage and hoping they would mate. "Some birds have to be coaxed. The environment has to be created. The atmosphere should be closest to their natural habitat so they can breed well. I have noticed that in Antipolo the birds breed better because the climate is more conducive," he says.

Animal Rights?

On the subject of animal rights, Lopez believes that there are enough laws in place to protect animals. "It is the implementation of these laws where there might be problems," he laments. "Although the government is doing its best to protect our animals, it is no easy task."

He is also convinced that a lot has to do with the economic situation of the country. He recalls how he has heard stories from fishermen who have had to resort to illegal ways of catching fish. "How can we blame them? They need to survive. It is not that they want to do it but they are driven to do it," Lopez says.

Not one to lose hope in the future of the country, he says that if "we had a better economy and a better education system, there would be more respect for our environment and animals, too. It must start in school," he comments.

Even with the variety of pets in Antipolo, there are still more birds like flamingos, herons and storks, Lopez wishes he could breed if it were possible. "But it is not easy to get birds here because there are laws which prohibit the importation of some birds and they are not easy to source locally. I try to get whatever birds are available in the country. And if I can bring in birds which are not part of the endangered species list, I try to do that as well," he adds.

Lopez stops and looks around his animal kingdom: "What I have done is create a kind of mini-park where our employees and their families can appreciate nature. This is my small contribution in the appreciation of Philippine flora and fauna which are getting rare and harder to keep."