Four Filipino businessmen have been included in the list of Asia’s “Heroes of Philanthropy” by the business magazine Forbes Asia in its latest issue, ABS-CBN News reported Thursday.
The four Filipinos in the list are Lopez Group of Companies’ Oscar Lopez, Phinma Group’s Ramon Del Rosario, Ayala Corporation’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Summit Holdings’ John Gokongwei Jr.
The four Filipinos are part of a pioneering list of 48 Asians cited in the magazine’s March 10 issue for their acts of charity – four each from 12 countries in the continent.
“Great fortunes are being made in Asia, and those fortunes are increasingly earmarked for philanthropy,” Forbes, in their special report, said.
Forbes also said that the list “aimed to identify not only some of the largest donors but also some of the most interesting–generous folks who may not make one of our rich lists but who put a hefty share of their money into much-needed, and sometimes unusual, projects.”
Microfinance, education, environment and culture
The four Filipinos included in the list are patrons of a diverse list of advocacies.
Del Rosario was cited as a “longtime patron of De La Salle schools” and for “launching a campaign for the Philippine Business for Social Progress to raise $25 million for the Pinoy Micro-Enterprise Social Investment Fund, which aims to help microfinance institutions to extend loans to poorer customers.”
Zobel de Ayala, who sits as co-chairman of the Ayala Foundation, was cited for helping improve the education sector, as well as the foundation’s involvement in “developing young leaders, boosting environmental protection, increasing access to technology, and supporting arts and culture.”
Forbes said Zobel de Ayala “argues that businesses must work aggressively to solve the country’s immense problems of poverty.”
Gokongwei was cited for giving half of his shares in JG Summit Holdings to the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation back in August 2006, during his 80th birthday. The donation, worth $200 million then, is “the [Philippines'] largest ever” and is now funding scholarships for Filipino students to study Chinese language and culture in China.
Lopez ’surprised’ by citation
Lopez said he was “quite surprised” by the citation.
“I was quite surprised myself. I don’t think I really deserve the praise that [was] given me. But I represent a family that’s trying to do it’s share of corporate responsibility work,” Lopez said.
Lopez, meanwhile, was cited for donating 37 acres of the Lopez family land in Iloilo to fishermen affected by the Guimaras oil spill, where the Lopez Group Foundation is setting up a cooperative farming venture to help the former fishermen become farmers.
“This would be just a sample of what we can do to help on other areas that may need our help along these lines. I’m willing to donate… more land,” he said.
Lopez was also cited by Forbes for starting First Philippine Conservation in 1999, which works to protect the country’s largest remaining block of old-growth rain forest in Luzon’s Sierra Madre.
Recently, Lopez also raised P25 million to build a lecture hall for around 700 cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City.
And at age 77, Lopez said he wants to help more people.
Forbes said they hope that “by spotlighting these 48 and their achievements, we’ll encourage even more giving.”
“The money is certainly there, and so is the need,” the magazine added.
