COCOY LOPEZ: ZVCC’s Newly Inducted Member

Corinne Blanco asked our newly inducted member some interesting questions as we get to know more about Cocoy.

Please tell us about yourself: your family, your work, your hobbies and other interests.

I was named after the French revolutionist, Robespierre. During my school years—all the way to my masters—I was constantly asked by teachers, professors, and classmates how I pronounce my name. After I graduated I thought I could finally rest from this “how-to-pronounce” thing, but it became an annoyance whenever I had to call a helpdesk and had to do phonetics on all 11 letters of my name!

I am the eldest in a brood of 3 boys. My two younger brothers were former catholic seminarians — 2nd oldest didn’t finish, but is now happily married with 2 beautiful children. The youngest is now a priest under the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) assigned in Cotabato City, Maguindanao.

I am married, gifted with 4 beautiful children: My eldest is taking up medicine at the UP College of Medicine in Manila, now in his sophomore year. My 2nd recently graduated from Ateneo (Legal Management) and works with Manulife. My 3rd and 4th daughters are 7th and 9th graders in Assumption College, San Lorenzo. Sheila, my wife, works as the Vice President for Academics in Chair of St. Peter School (a K-12) and Chair of St. Peter Technical Institute in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

I work as an IT Finance and Application Portfolio Manager for Manulife Philippines handling the Asia region. I worked in the IT industry for the last 30 years with solid background in application development, project management, global deployments and release, and enterprise solution and startups in different management positions and roles. Through God’s grace, I’ve travelled the world for work and was able to build friendships with co-workers and acquaintances while learning different cultures.

I can’t say I’m athletic, but I’m passionate about sports. In my younger years, I played basketball, volleyball, bowling, table tennis, and billiards. As the saying goes, as your age progresses, the size of the ball you play shrinks in size! Indeed, I only play golf nowadays for exercise and with a personal goal: i.e. to bring my handicap to single digit or eventually become a scratch golfer (3 and below handicap).

Share with us some thoughts on your ZVCC Probee experience.

FUN, because I met new friends

EMBARRASSING, because I am the perennial “buzzer beater” in monthly photo contest submission!

PRIVILEGED, to be part of the Images of Hope team that set up the computers and network / internet at the Learning Hub in Sapang Palay and seeing how great this endeavor helped the young people in reaching after their dreams! I can’t thank Zone V enough for this huge opportunity that I got to share my God given skills.

Share with us three places you’d like to go visit for photography

Iceland, Chile and the Great Barrier Reef

What type of movies and music do you enjoy?

Movies: mind-boggling. Love those plots that twist and are unpredictable till the end. Music: I love listening to ballads, instrumentals and oldies.

If you were given a chance to spend one day with a famous personality (living or dead), who would that person be and why?

Michael Jordan. I want to understand his “sickness” of being the  best in everything he does.

What is the most memorable lesson you learned from your parents?

That I should not depend on others but rather learn to help myself.  It’s been my lifelong philosophy

What are you most grateful for?

That God gave me good parents, loving siblings, a loving and understanding wife, and wonderful children. They are the best things that ever happened to me!

Share 5 qualities that you appreciate most in people?

Honest, kind, respectful, understanding, fair and with integrity.