Berjaya founder donates P100 M to GK

MANILA, Philippines - Founder of Berjaya Group Sri Tan Dato Seri Vincent Tan recently visited the Philippines with a generous donation to Gawad Kalinga (GK) Foundation for the construction of houses for those displaced by typhoon “Sendong.”

“The Philippines is undoubtedly now realizing its economic potentials as a result of its positive economic and investment climate,” he said at the GK Bayanihan Expo last Oct. 6.

The donation is the first of a three-part donation of the same amount, for a total of P300 million, the biggest to be made by any company in the Philippines. 

The Berjaya Group is one of the first companies to heed the call for donations to help the victims of Sendong rebuild their lives. 

The Malaysian billionaire and philanthropist also praised GK founder Tony Meloto for his selfless initiative for his 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 of every person and family. Nothing can help a person or a family to achieve a better life without a home to begin with,” he said.

Asked why he made such a big donation and why philanthropy is so central to his actions, Tan said that he made a promise to himself to donate half of his wealth to 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. 

He also told them he was inspired by Bill Gates who started the Giving Pledge years ago. “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 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. 

“The Philippine economy is very vibrant and alive right now. 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,” he said.

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 & beverage, education and technology, among others. 

In the Philippines, Berjaya holds majority control in several business outfits such as Papa John’s Pizza, E-Load Central, Friendster Philippines and Berjaya Hotel. It 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 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.