Forbes Asia names four Pinoys 'Heroes of Philanthropy'

Four Filipinos—a perfume maker, an architect, and two of the country's richest businessmen—made it on the latest Forbes Asia list of “most notable givers” in the region. 

 

The list includes people who have embarked on various social projects, Forbes noted on its website. 

 

Editor John Koppisch, who headed the team that put the list together, said they picked four “outstanding” personalities from each Asian country. 

 

In all, 48 were dubbed as “Heroes Of Philanthropy” and would be featured in the magazine’s June 10, 2013 issue.

 

Among the Filipinos who made it to the list is Joel Cruz, founder and chief executive officer of perfumery Central Affirmative Co.—maker of the country's leading mass-market perfume Aficionado Germany. 

 

Also known as the “Lord of Scents,” Cruz was cited by Forbes for “his donations on helping children and teenagers who are abandoned, troubled or sick, as well as the elderly and disabled.”

 

Central Affirmative marks its yearly anniversary by giving cash to charities and paying employees to volunteer work for a day. Cruz plans to launch the  Joel S. Cruz Aficionado Foundation next year. 

 

Founder and managing partner of Palafox Associates Felino Palafox Jr. in cited for “his internationally recognized architecture and urban design firm [that] donates its services for the design of low-income housing developments.”

 

One 12-hectare project was for Smokey Mountain, a dumpsite community in Manila that—during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos—became a symbol of poverty in the Philippines, a symbol that was carried over during the term of  Corazon Aquino, mother of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

 

A former Catholic seminary student, Palafox gives money to a program helping needy churches. His company has done pro bono architecture and interior design or master planning for six church-related projects.

 

Taipans John Gokongwei Jr. and Henry Sy Sr. also made it to the list. 

 

Gokongwei chairs one of the country’s most well-endowed foundations, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, launched in 1992 with his three brothers. 

 

The foundation was given half of Gokongwei Jr.'s shares in conglomerate JG Summit in 2006, a donation now worth more than $2 billion after a 4-year bull run of the stock market, making it the  conglomerate's largest shareholder with a 29.4 percent stake worth $2.3 billion. 

 

Funded out of company dividends are disbursements focusing on education, such as a $6 million gift over the past 2 years to De La Salle University’s College of Engineering—renamed the Gokongwei College of Engineering. 

 

The foundation also funds scholarships, faculty development, facilities and research.

 

SM Group founder Sy, also the country's richest man, “continues to disburse chunks of his fortune,” said Forbes. 

 

Last year, he gave $7 million to De La Salle University to help build the Henry Sy Sr. Hall as part of the school revamp for its 100th anniversary. 

 

In December, Sy donated $112 million to an unnamed foundation. — Siegfrid Alegado/VS, GMA News