Pedro Lopez

Pedro T. Lopez (January 16, 1906 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino Visayan lawyer, writer, and legislator from Cebu, Philippines. He founded the Cebuano periodical Nasud (Nation), elected as Congressman during the 1st Congress of the Commonwealth in 1945, and member of the 3rd Congress of the Republic for Cebu's 2nd district (1953 – 1957). In 1946, he was appointed to the Philippine Rehabilitation Commission, delegate to the first United Nations General Assembly, and associate prosecutor International Military Tribunal for the Far East.

Early life Pedro T. Lopez was born in the then-town of Cebu and cousin of congressman Paulino Gullas. He graduated from University of the Philippines and became a lawyer in 1929.

Career He first started his career in journalism, He was the founder, publisher, and editor of the magazine Nasud (Nation) which saw print for the first time on December 11, 1929. and continued its circulation until 1941. Its editors included Florentino D. Tecson, Eugeniano O. Perez, Tomas Violanda, Vicente C. Padriga, Ramon Abellanosa, and Leodegario Salazar. He was the president of the Cebu Press Association. Additionally, he practiced law and was a well-known corporate lawyer. He led the Cebu Lawyers' League as president. During World War II, he was commanded to serve the Japanese colonizers as mayor of Cebu City; instead, he escaped to Bohol and participated in the resistance movement. He testified to the atrocities committed by General Tomoyuxi Yamashita, claiming that a thousand Filipino civilians were murdered by the Japanese Imperial Army in November 1944.

Later years He was elected as member of the 3rd Congress of the Republic as an independent candidate on November 10, 1953. he supported the bill that would mandate Jose Rizal's novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as required reading in school, a legislation that was opposed by the Catholic clergy.

He died together with President Ramon Magsaysay when their plane, a Douglas C-47, crashed in Balamban, Cebu on March 17, 1957.

Historical commemoration Formerly known as Carmelo Street, the Pedro Lopez Street is named after him by virtue of City Ordinance No. 378.