MANILA — Actress Angel Locsin responded on Wednesday to being listed by Forbes Asia as among the region’s “Heroes of Philanthropy” alongside billionaires, saying she hopes to inspire others to do similar acts of service for their countrymen.
Actress Angel Locsin. ABS-CBN
Sharing a tweet from Forbes Asia about her inclusion in the philanthropy feature, Locsin wrote: “I never thought @ForbesAsia would ever mention my name. Thank you! Filipinos have always been known for ‘bayanihan.’”
“I’m nowhere near from being a billionaire, but I try my best to do my part in my own little way. I hope this would inspire other people to help as well,” she said.
Locsin, 34, was cited as one of the “Catalysts for Change” for her active role in relief efforts for disaster-stricken areas in the Philippines.
The only other Filipino in the list is businessman Hans Sy of the SM Group, whose combined net worth with his siblings is at P878 billion.
According to Forbes Asia, Locsin donated P1 million to aid the recovery of earthquake-hit Mindanao in October, on top of personally distributing relief supplies as seen in viral photos at the time.
Over the last 10 years, Locsin’s donations have amounted to some P15 million, benefitting programs related to education, indigenous people, and anti-violence against women and children, aside from her relief drives during calamities.
“You don’t need to wear a costume to be a superhero,” she was quoted as saying in the piece, referring to her popular portrayal of the Filipino komiks icon Darna in 2005.
As one of the most followed Filipino celebrities on social media, Locsin said she hopes she can lead by example, when it comes to her advocacies.
“It’s like taking little steps towards substantive, holistic change for the future of the next generations,” Forbes Asia reported her as saying. “The only motivation we need is being part of humanity.”
Angel Locsin visits troops and evacuation centers during the Marawi siege in 2017. Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News