Forbes lists Angel Locsin, Hans Sy among Asia Pacific’s generous philanthropists

Actress Angel Locsin and SM Prime Holdings Inc. director Hans Sy are among Asia Pacific’s most generous philanthropists, according to this year’s list compiled by Forbes Asia.

Locsin was cited in Forbes Asia’s “2019 Heroes of Philanthropy: Catalysts For Change” list for a series of donations she made to charitable causes.

She donated P1 million and distributed truckloads of relief to residents affected by the quakes that hit Mindanao in October.

“Locsin, whose mother was adopted by a family from the island, has long helped the region, which has been riven by sectarian strife for decades,” it said.

She also joined the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in 2017, during the battle between the Philippine Army and Islamist rebels in Marawi, by donating and distributing food packets and school supplies to displaced victims.

“These are urgent times when we have to act as fast as we can to save lives and rebuild communities, and we don’t even have to think why,” Locsin was quoted as saying.

Also on the list is Sy, who was reported to have paid $400,000 for a property that houses the newly renovated and expanded center of Child Haus in Quezon City.

The center provides poor provincial families with temporary shelter, as well as programs and activities that promote healing.

In 2015, Sy bought the land for the first Child Haus location in Manila for $600,000, and paid another $1.4 million for the construction.

The center opened in 2017, and Sy continues to cover its operating expenses.

“Sy’s associates have become cosponsors and provide Child Haus with additional financial support and in-kind contributions,” Forbes noted.

According to Forbes, this year’s list considered dozens of candidates, and reviewed their monetary contributions, the depth of their involvement, and the reach of their philanthropic efforts.

Those who made it on the list are citizens of countries or territories in the Asia Pacific, or those who have long been a resident of the region.

“The focus is on individuals who provide the capital and are personally committed to achieving a long-term vision. As always, we have focused on new names, unless there was a significant development in a previous honoree’s philanthropy that justified relisting them,” said Forbes.

“The final selection is unranked—all are considered equally honored on this list,” it added.

This year's most generous philanthropist is Azim Premji of India. He donated$7.6 billion of Wipro shares to his education-centered foundation, raising his total lifetime giving to $21 billion. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News