KCFI president Rina LopezThe challenges may have been daunting this 2021, but a few personalities have emerged from this global pandemic to heed the call to serve their people.

One of them is Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) president and executive director Rina Lopez, who was recognized as one of Forbes Asia’s 2021 Heroes of Philanthropy. Along with 14 other entrepreneurs and business tycoons, Lopez proved that something can be done to address the global learning crisis using media and technology.

“Having cofounded the KCFI 22 years ago has opened my eyes and my heart to the plight of disadvantaged Filipinos. Improving the education of Filipino children to provide them with opportunities for a better life has become my passion,” said Lopez. “I started off as a reluctant leader but later realized the legacy of my family in philanthropy and the social capital I was blessed to have. These and many experiences led me to deepen the commitment I have for the work I do in the world.”

Selected alongside Lopez in the Asia-Pacific Region were Joseph Tsai of Alibaba and Clara Wu Tsai of The Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation; Phamnhat Vuong of Vingroup; Lin Chen-Hai of Pau Jar Group; Teresita Sy-Coson of SM Investments Corporation; Anil Agarwal of Vedanta Resources; Takemitsu Takizaki of Keyence; Michael Kim of MBK Partners; Jeffrey Cheah of Sunway Group; Azim Premji of Wipro; Wee Weiling of Pan Pacific Hotels Groups; Ronnie Chan of Hang Lung Group and Gerard Chan of Morningside Group; Cho Tak Wong of Fuyao Glass Industry Group; Mike Cannon-Brookes of Atlassian; and Kim Jung-Ju of Nexon.

Former Lopez Group chairman emeritus Oscar M. Lopez, Rina Lopez’s father, was included in the inaugural Forbes Asia Heroes of Philanthropy list in 2008.