Why We Should Celebrate The Season of Giving with Charity 

It’s the season of giving because we give gifts to our loved ones, friends, and even our workmates. But the deeper meaning of this festive celebration is to contribute to the community we belong to—a place where we are nurtured, loved, and grow into the people we are today.

Growing up in a Filipino-Chinese society, we’ve learned how tight-knit and supportive our community can be. We practice being family-oriented, cooperative, generous, and in solidarity for the betterment of everyone. This also translates to bayanihan, the Filipino communal value where we uplift one another regardless of our differences.

Nurtured by these intercultural values, our community has cultivated people with a heart for charity, such as the Sy Family of the SM Group, the Gokongwei Family of Robinsons Malls, the Yuchengco Family of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), and other independent charities that have given back to society.

To celebrate the spirit of Christmas, let’s focus on foundations, organizations and charities led by Filipino-Chinese communities and learn more about the advocacies they champion for a more compassionate world.

Get to know these Foundations to Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas

FFCCCII Foundation

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) is the largest organization of Filipino-Chinese businesses. The Federation brings together chambers of commerce and trade associations nationwide under one roof.

The organization’s vision is to support national economic and social development through charitable, educational, and welfare projects. One of their notable projects is Operation: Barrio Schools, where Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs donated and constructed 6,200 public schools all over the Philippines.

FFCCCII also leads humanitarian efforts as part of their relief operations when calamities strike the country, helping communities survive and thrive during challenging times.

What they champion: The foundation bridges commerce and civic responsibility, where they promote the growth of businesses while uplifting society. This also reflects the Chinoy culture of building a business as a livelihood. For business owners, supporting FFCCCII’s initiatives is one way to help make a change.

(Photo courtesy from FFCCCII Facebook page) 

SM Foundation

Surely, every Filipino has visited SM malls, but behind these shopping mall giants, there’s a deeper advocacy that everyone should participate in—SM Foundation. The foundation was established in 1983 by Henry Sy, Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy, with the mission to support and empower communities through their founding principle of “People Helping People.”

SM Foundation focuses on helping Filipinos improve their lives while promoting and protecting the Philippines’ unique and diverse ecological heritage. The foundation’s impact has echoed through many lives by providing scholarship programs, medical missions, relief operations, farmers’ training for sustainable agriculture, and employment opportunities.

What they champion: SM Foundation believes in grassroots change by providing direct support to communities all over the country. By spearheading programs for education, health, and agriculture, Filipinos can access equal opportunities to improve their lives.

(Photo courtesy from SM Foundation Facebook page) 

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation

When you hear the surname Gokongwei, most people know that it is one of the richest families in the country. But aside from wealth, the Gokongwei Family are also rich in charity and advocacy. They established the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation in 1992 with the goal of having a lasting impact on education in the Philippines.

The foundation has helped 1,000 to 3,000 graduates and scholars, while providing training for more than 20,000 teachers, staying true to their advocacy of shaping education in the Philippines.

They also established the GBF Technical Training Center in 1999 with the TechVoc program, Iskolar ni Juan, which provides scholarships for underprivileged youth.

What they champion: The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation focuses on education to provide long-term career growth and offer opportunities for underprivileged Filipinos. If this advocacy resonates with you, supporting their cause can amplify their efforts to help more deserving Filipinos.

(GBF scholars, Photo courtesy from Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Facebook page) 

Tzu Chi Philippines

Some charities exist because of someone’s genuine heart, like Dharma Master Cheng Yen, the founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation. It is a global humanitarian organization founded in Taiwan with missions to provide assistance in healthcare, education, environmental protection, and volunteerism.

The foundation’s headquarters in the Philippines has also established the first NGO-owned medical center to provide eye healthcare, and in 2024, they initiated a program called “Tzu Chi Charity Run for Education” to fund schooling across the country.

Nonetheless, their programs are driven by the pure intention of helping other people through volunteerism, which everyone can participate in, especially this time of the year.

What they champion: The foundation focuses on volunteering, where people can directly help those in need. They nurture a humanistic culture that helps people understand the power of charity and how it can change lives.

(Photo courtesy from Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines Facebook page) 

AY Foundations INC. (Yuchengco Family of RCBC) 

Done out of goodwill and pure intentions, AY Foundations INC. grew from funding the children of Grepalife employees and sales associates in 1970 to expanding their advocacy to the general public, covering education, healthcare, and social welfare.

As of today, they have projects such as the AYF Scholarship Program to assist deserving Filipino youth, medical missions, the National Discipline Awards program, the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award, and support for various projects and programs through grants and donations.

Through these flagship projects, the foundation has given the spotlight to deserving individuals who have contributed to the betterment of society and has helped the youth by giving them equal opportunities for their future.

What they champion: The foundation channels corporate resources to establish programs that help the community. For volunteers or donors interested in long-term impact, AY Foundation’s programs are a good fit for your assistance when it comes to health, education, and social welfare.

(26th National Discipline Awards, Photo courtesy from AY Foundations INC. website) 

As we highlight these organizations established by Filipino-Chinese individuals, may we also remind ourselves that we can extend our heartfelt support to other organizations as well such as Angat Buhay, Bantay Bata 163, Gawad Kalinga, and many others.

The Real Charity Begins in Your Heart

There’s only one true foundation of charity that focuses on volunteerism and advocacy—it’s the heart, with genuine intention for positive change. Our hearts are where real charity begins. It’s the place where we tell our souls to give back during this season of giving and carry the lessons forward throughout the year. 

As we enjoy the holidays, let’s always remind ourselves that starting our own charity can begin with small steps. Perhaps you can give back to the less fortunate by providing food, donating to the charities mentioned above, or giving gifts to those in need.

But the most important thing is to keep the generosity in our hearts even after the celebrations, so we can pay it back to the community that helped shape us into the people we are today.

 

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