Tessie Sy-Coson, Rina Lopez Bautista among Forbes Asia's 2021 Heroes of Philanthropy

Two Filipinos were included in Forbes’ “Asia’s 2021 Heroes of Philanthropy,” which focuses on individuals across the Asia-Pacific region who donate “significant” amounts from their personal fortunes.

In its writeup, Forbes said majority of those in the list of 15 were new entrants, while some were past "heroes" who were included anew due to “major new altruistic milestones.”

Among the local listees are SM Investments Corporation vice chairman Teresita Sy-Coson, and Knowledge Channel Foundation founder and president Rina Lopez Bautista.

Below are their write-ups as published by Forbes:

Teresita Sy-Coson

As soon as Covid-19 vaccines became available this year, SM Group acquired 560,000 doses to inoculate the group’s more than 120,000 employees. SM also donated 150,000 doses to the government and marginalized communities.

Through the SM Foundation, it has so far donated over 1.5 billion pesos ($30 million) in vaccines, hospital equipment and protective gear for healthcare workers.

Sy-Coson—the eldest daughter of the late Henry Sy—spearheads the group’s philanthropy as vice chairman of the foundation established by her parents in 1983.

Over the past three decades, SM Foundation has supported the treatment of 1.2 million underprivileged patients, helped over 8,000 students attend college and technical-vocational institutions and funded the building of over 100 schools across the country. The Philippines’ richest family also established the Henry Sy Foundation in 2008 to build school facilities for major educational institutions.

Rina Lopez Bautista

Daughter of Filipino tycoon Oscar Lopez, Lopez Bautista in 1999 founded and now runs the edtech nonprofit Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI). Its content is designed to meet the educational standards set by the Philippine Department of Education for K-12 students and teachers in the country.

Funded by Lopez group companies and others, KCFI last March launched the Stay at Home, Learn at Home campaign for students during Covid-19 lockdowns. In its first few months, the campaign produced 1,500 educational videos. At present, KCFI has over 150,000 followers on Facebook and more than 200,000 subscribers on YouTube.

In September, KFCI partnered with theAsianparent Philippines app, reaching around 500,000 users. KFCI estimates it is now reaching over 10 million Filipino households. Over 7,000 Filipino principals, teachers and parents have also attended KFC’s webinars and online training programs on Facebook, the company says.

According to Forbes, the unranked list focuses on individual philanthropists and how they are giving their time and personal attention to their selected cause.  Corporate philanthropy is not considered unless companies are privately held by a majority owner.—LDF, GMA News