Manuel Villar named sole Filipino on Forbes Heroes of Philanthropy List

Real estate mogul Manuel Villar was named the sole Filipino on Forbes Asia's 2024 Heroes of Philanthropy List for his significant contributions to various causes, particularly the Catholic Church.

Villar, chairman of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., donated P615 million in October to construct a church and school near Provence, a flagship development in Bulacan province, with the groundbreaking for the 700-seat church already held last month.

In addition to the planned construction, Villar also gifted the Diocese of Malolos 1.2 hectares (ha) of land valued at P613 million and an additional P2 million in cash, complementing his previous donations of over two hectares worth around P8 billion to educational institutions such as St. Jude College in Manila and the University of the Philippines.

Villar stated that communities flourish when faith and education are at their center, underscoring his commitment to philanthropy.

Forbes also recognized Melanie Perkins, founder of Canva, for her contributions to fighting extreme poverty through donations to GiveDirectly and a pilot program in southern Africa and India.