MANILA: Two Filipinos — an 80-year-old businessman who provides scholarships and support faculty development and research as well as a 50-year-old veterinarian who builds boats for children living in a mangrove village — have made it to Forbes Asia’s annual Heroes of Philanthropy list.
Gateway Property Holdings Chairman Emeritus Geronimo De Los Reyes Jr. and veterinarian Anton Mari Lim were the only Filipinos included in the 40 billionaires and businessmen on the list of notable givers, reported Rappler.
“The list not only features philanthropists who have made the news with their donations in the past year, but also recognizes people who have compiled a long record of supporting worthy causes,” Forbes Asia reportedly said.
De Los Reyes started his namesake foundation in 1995 to provide scholarships and support faculty development and research, the report said.
The 80-year-old businessman had also reportedly built a museum that exhibits photographs of the Philippine Revolution, the Filipino-American War and the country at the turn of the last century.
Meanwhile, Lim in 2010, started helping the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation to build boats for children from the mangrove village of Layag-Layag, who had to swim to school, said the news portal.
“So far it has built 1,045 boats, 5 schools and 2 dormitories, and 11,942 children have gained better access to school,” Forbes Asia reported.
The list also included China’s richest man, Pony Ma, who is the chief of Tencent Holdings.
Lui Che Woo, founder of K.Wah Group and Galaxy Entertainment, and Taiwanese mogul Terry Gou also made it to the list.
In 2015, Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, technology entrepreneur Diosdado Banatao, and P.J. Lhullier Group Chairman Philippe Jones Lhuillier were included in the Forbes Asia list, reported Rappler.
