MANILA, Philippines – To those people or persons she touched in real life, “Darna” actress Angel Locsin could really be their real-life heroine and “angel” at the same time, ready to extend help with her generous donations to charity and advocacies for social change.

And that never went unnoticed along with similar philanthropic endeavors extended by second-generation tycoon Hans Sy of the SM Group as they found themselves in Forbes’ 13th annual Heroes of Philanthropy list featuring “30 outstanding altruists” in Asia-Pacific.

Illustrious as it is, the list acknowledges billionaires, businessmen, and celebrities who have made a difference in addressing social issues across the region.

“Our aim is to highlight those giving their own money, not their company’s (unless they are the majority owners of a privately-held firm),” Forbes said in releasing the new list, which reviewed the monetary value of contributions as well as the depth of their involvement in various causes.

The CNN Philippines also reported Forbes acknowledged the 34-year-old Locsin for her generous ₱1-million donation and her personal delivery of relief goods to residents affected by earthquakes in Mindanao last 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,” the global magazine said, noting that the multi-awarded actress previously extended aid to displaced victims of the 2017 Marawi siege.

Forbes said Locsin has donated about ₱15 million in the past decade through a mix of educational scholarships and aid to typhoon victims, while also pushing causes for the rights of indigenous peoples and combatting violence against women and children.

Locsin once portrayed the Filipina superhero “Darna” for a TV series, later on saying that one doesn’t need a costume to be a hero. She would visit communities and distribute aid in plain clothes and without media coverage.

Second-generation taipan Hans Sy of the SM Group also made it to the Forbes’ list. Sy, who sits as chairman and director of his family’s SM Prime Holdings, was recognized for funding the construction of Child Haus, which caters to cancer-stricken children and their caregivers.

Sy, together with his siblings from their late father Henry Sy, Sr., topped the latest list of Forbes’ richest Filipinos for a combined net worth of $17.2 billion (about ₱878 billion).

Sy reportedly paid $400,000 (about ₱20.4 million) to build the first Child Haus property in 2010, which has evolved into a temporary shelter for poor families coming from the provinces. Forbes reported that Sy’s associates have also stepped up as co-sponsors and poured additional funding into Child Haus.

Others personalities on the list are Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who now runs a foundation under his name; Korean actress and singer IU — the youngest on the list at 26; Azim Premji, founder and chairman of Indian tech firm Wipro; and Jeffrey Cheah, chairman of Malaysia’s Sunway Group.

Triputra Group founder Theodore Rachmat, JN Projects founder Judith Neilson, Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest, Minderoo Foundation cofounder Nicola Forrest, Nicola Forrest, Long Thanh Golf Investment and Trading Joint-Stock Company’s Le Van Kiem and Tran Cam Nhung, Amorepacific Group CEO Suh Kyung-bae, Hengyu Group founder Gong Junlong, Green City Group chairman Wu Yuanxi and Hanking Group chair Wu Yuangang, and Hexaware Technologies’ Atul Nishar formed part of the list of 30 philanthropists for the year.

The full list is available onine. (IAMIGO/CNS)