THREE FILIPINO philanthropists were included in Forbes Asia’s annual Heroes of Philanthropy list.
Fila Isport Life Chairman Jose Mari “Butch” T. Albert, Santa Elena Construction & Development Corp. President and CEO Alice Galang Eduardo, and Consuelo Chito Madrigal Group of Companies President Susana Abad Santos Madrigal were recognized for supporting charities in the Philippines.
In a statement, Forbes Asia said the list aims to recognize individual philanthropists, who made donations using personal funds, not through their businesses. If the company is substantially owned by the individual, then the corporate donations are considered part of his fortune.
Forbes Asia noted that Mr. Albert, 68, donated over $110,000 to his Operation Compassion’s iRebuild efforts in 2014, and $66,000 for iFoster, which helps abandoned children.
Ms. Eduardo, 53, has made a $277,000 donation to build an isolation ward at the Philippine General Hospital in 2014, as well as a $370,000 donation to build a dormitory for patients’ families. She also gave $370,000 for a non-profit organization Tuloy Foundation for orphaned children, $185,000 to build homes for victims of Typhoon Yolanda, and $184,000 to Habitat for Humanity.
Ms. Madrigal has given $93,000 to the Catholic Ministry for the Deaf, as well as supported the establishment of a Business & Accountancy building at a state university. She also made a $18,600-a-year pledge to the Cancer Samurai Scholar Fund.
The Forbes list includes not just entrepreneurs, but also executives and a celebrity. Indian tycoon Kochouseph Chittilappilly had donated his kidney in 2011 to a sick truck driver, while Australia’s Anthony Pratt vowed to give $700 million over his lifetime to charitable causes.
