Berjaya Group founder donates P100 million to Gawad Kalinga
MANILA, Philippines - The founder of Berjaya Group, Sri Tan Dato Seri Vincent Tan, recently paid a visit to the Philippines with a generous donation to Gawad Kalinga (GK) Foundation for the construction of houses for those displaced by Typhoon Sendong as part of his philanthropic activities, and praised the country for its vibrant economy and the Filipino people’s efforts to help their countrymen rise from poverty.
“The Philippines is undoubtedly now realizing its economic potential as a result of its positive economic and investment climate,” he said in a speech delivered at the GK Bayanihan Expo event held at the SMX Arena last Oct. 6, with the Berjaya Group’s turnover of a check worth P100 million to GK founder and chairman Tony Meloto, as witnessed by Tan and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. Berjaya Philippines’ head Paul Soo and GK’s executive director Jose Luis Oquiñena signed the deed of donation as thousands of GK volunteers and several government officials cheered and applauded the generous donation.
The donation is first of a three-part donation of the same amount for two more years, with a total of P300 million in three years, the biggest to be made by any company in the Philippines. The Berjaya Group is also one of the first companies to heed the call for donations to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong rebuild their lives, starting with a decent home to live in. He received a standing ovation from the event’s attendees.
The Malaysian billionaire and philanthropist also praised GK founder Meloto for his selfless initiative and noteworthy causes. “I find his efforts very admirable and I hope that we can also duplicate the same in Malaysia,” he said. “Having a roof on top of one’s head is an essential need and right to every person and family. Nothing can help a person or a family to achieve a better life without a home to begin with,” he later told the Philippine press.
When asked by reporters why he made such a big donation and why philanthropy is very much central to his actions, he said that he made a promise to himself to donate half of his charity the moment he stepped down as chairman of the Berjaya Group Berhad, the mother company of Berjaya Philippines, and turned it over to his son, Robin Tan. He also told them that Bill Gates, who started the Giving Pledge years ago, inspired him. “I told myself that I want to follow what he did. Nothing is more heartwarming than being given the chance to share time, effort and talent to help those who are in need,” he explained.
At the same time, he also revealed that he was increasing his company’s stake in the Philippines by opening up more opportunities for business — even the prospect of partnerships with the government and private sectors. “The Philippine economy is very vibrant and alive right now,” he said. “I say it is open for business, and it is more fun in the Philippines, and that the Filipinos are worth living and working with.”
Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan built the Berjaya Group to become one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates, with business interests spanning across Asia in the areas of real estate, hotel and tourism, food and beverage, education and technology, among others. In the Philippines, Berjaya holds majority control of several business outfits such as Papa John’s Pizza, E-Load Central, Friendster Philippines and Berjaya Hotel. It has also recently acquired the distributorship of Mazda vehicles in the Philippines. In terms of developing human resources, Berjaya Group recently sponsored 30 Filipino students, with full tuition and board, to the Berjaya University of Culinary Hospitality, an institution in Kuala Lumpur specializing in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism education. An earlier batch of 10 students who started in 2010 on full Berjaya scholarship graduated last August.
