Ever heard that old cliché “Not all heroes wear capes?” Well, shopworn as it may be, that line seems more or less appropriate after business magazine Forbes Asia today released its 2019 list of the continent’s “Heroes of Philanthropy,” bestowing the distinction on Filipino TV and film actress Angel Locsin.
Locsin’s various philanthropic efforts, though not widely self-promoted, are still so often lauded by Filipino netizens on Twitter that Forbes Asia apparently got wind of it. The 13th edition of the business magazine’s annual list honors 30 individuals, mostly “billionaires, entrepreneurs and celebrities” from Asia who are “committed to solving some of the most pressing issues” facing the region.
The publication highlighted Locsin’s most recent goodwill tour, the one in which she donated PHP1 million (US$19,500) and distributed truckloads of relief supplies to affected Mindanao residents after a series of strong earthquakes rocked the southern island in October.
While others brag about their influence in social media. We have this one angel that always help us during calamities in Mindanao, she is Angel Locsin. THE REAL DEFINITION OF SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER.
we can’t force anyone to help but I challenge those influencer to do something. pic.twitter.com/949paPupDj
— Zeke (@zekemartinx) November 1, 2019
Prior to that, Forbes noted that “her donations have also helped roughly 500 families hit by some of the country’s largest disasters: Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, Typhoon Habagat in 2012 and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the deadliest storms on record, leaving 6,300 dead.”
Locsin told the publication: “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.”
A real angel (get it? get it?), Locsin has also donated as much as PHP15 million (US$294,000) to “causes such as educational scholarships for students, supporting the economic and political rights of indigenous people, and ending violence against women and children,” Forbes said.
Read: VIRAL: Angel Locsin does the ‘Darna pose’
The actress best known for her role as the superheroine Darna (the Filipino equivalent of Wonder-Woman) has also inspired her millions of followers to give back. She told Forbes, “It’s like taking little steps towards substantive, holistic change for the future of the next generations.”
Locsin added: “The only motivation we need is being part of humanity.”
Besides Locsin, the only other Filipino to make the list is property holdings businessman SM Prime CEO Hans Sy for providing care and shelter to cancer-stricken children through Child Haus, which opened in 2017.
Sy has spent millions of dollars since 2015 getting the facility up and running, and continues to pay for its operating expenses.
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