Dr. Lucio C. Tan does not only have the heart of a  Filipino. He also  has a  big heart for his fellow Filipinos. As a top business tycoon,  he has made his mark  through his large businesses  that provide jobs to thousands of Filipinos as well as through his philanthropic works that benefit his less privileged countrymen.

Heads of Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. and other non-government organizations (NGOs) display their Certificates of Registration recently awarded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Order of the Friars Minor (OFM) Province of San Pedro Bautista awarded a religious image of San Pedro Bautista to Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) in grateful recognition of the foundation’s generous support to the province thru the Parish of “Our Mother of Perpetual Help” in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. The award was given last February 5 at the OFM Benefactors’ Night. Out of the 100 nominees, TYKFI was one of the chosen 8 recipients of the award. The other awardees were from Forbes Park (6 awardees), Santiago City (1 awardee), and Makati (TYKFI). 

TYKFI’s support to the Parish includes: employment for the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Legacy Forest Project, renovation of the multi-purpose hall of the Parish, and donation of religious images. In addition, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) joined Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI), in the “Pagtutulungan ng Bayan” project last holiday season. “Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family to create memories that will last forever,” as said by Joel Osteen. And yet, some of our fellow countrymen have less to celebrate during Christmas. Thus, TYKFI ensured that Christmas gift packages were distributed. The gift giving ceremony was held at the TYKFI office last December 19, 2014. PNB employees donated food packages and appliances to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, to be later on distributed to the less fortunate members of the community. Fr. Jerome Ponce, Parish Priest and Mr. Teodorico DP. Padilla, Jr. were present to receive the gifts from TYKFI’s Ms. Fe Chen-Urdaneta and Valerie Tan, as well as other officers from PNB and TYKFI. 

“A kind gesture can heal a wound, that only compassion can heal,” a quote by Steve Maraboli. The province of Leyte recognized the continuing support of Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) and requested Pope Francis to give his blessing to the foundation. TYKFI received a plaque from Pope Francis last January 15-19, indicating his Apostolic Blessing and “invoking abundant divine graces on the occasion of the Apostolic Journey to the Philippines.” The foundation was one of the pillar institutions which immensely reached out to the province after typhoon Yolanda. TYKFI held activities such as relief operation, food distribution project, school supplies distribution project, distribution of vegetable seeds to public schools, and construction of the following: 54 permanent housing project, 1 unit 5-classroom and 4-classroom school building, Barangay Hall with day care center and clinic, after typhoon Yolanda.  

In addition, TYKFI reached out to a Parish in Alangalang, Leyte. The gift giving ceremony coincided with the holidays last December 19, 2014 at the foundation office located in Makati. Most Holy Trinity Parish from Alangalang, Leyte, suffered damage in its ceiling and electrical connection during the typhoon, and little restoration has been done up until then. The Parish received financial assistance from the foundation in order to restore the church building. The ceremony was headed by Fe Chen-Urdaneta for TYKFI and co-pastor Rev. Fr. Manuel Isabelo C. Ocaña from Most Holy Trinity Parish. In turn, the foundation received a book entitled “Typhoon Haiyan: The Untold Story” from the Parish. 

Dr. Lucio C. Tan led the inauguration of a new edifice of the University of the East: the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Building, UE Manila Annex. The building’s inauguration and blessing was held in the morning of December 8, 2014. 

 The Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. was recently held at the Mall of Asia with no less  than Philippine President Hon. Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. delivering the keynote  address (shown in photo left). Seated (left to right) are Dr. John K. Tan, Admiral Robin Sy, Mr. Domingo Lee, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing, Dr. Lucio C. Tan and BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. The convention theme centered on Tuwid na Daan towards Peace, Unity, and  Prosperity. Shown in photo (inset) are FFCCCII Chairman Emeritus Dr. Lucio  C. Tan and  Tan Ching handing a plaque of appreciation to President  Aquino. Seated (left to right) are BIR Commisioner Kim Henares, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Alfonso Uy.

July 17, 2012 marked the birth anniversary of TYKFI Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan.  In a meaningful expression of celebrating with those whom he has supported over the years, Kapitan, as he is familiarly referred to, spent the day on July 22, 2012 at the Sisters of Mary Girls’ Town in Silang, Cavite.

The Sisters of Mary Schools, both in Cavite and in Cebu, educate high school boys and girls from materially-deprived families providing them as well with a place to live in during the school year.  Graduates from the secondary level are given the opportunity to become U.E.-Tan Yan Kee scholars, and a good number has earned college diplomas from the scholarship program. 

TYKFI Trustee Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J. celebrated Holy Mass and students performed dances and songs, including favourite pieces of Dr. Tan.  Joining the celebration were Trustees Marixi Prieto and Cesar E.A. Virata, Ms. Juanita Tan Lee, Joey de Guzman, and Tan Yan Kee Foundation officers and staff.

Legacy shares photos from the celebration.

The University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (UERMMMCI) recently inaugurated the Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (PSPO) at its campus in Quezon City.  PSPO is housed in the newly-constructed Tan Yan Kee Building which was designed for easier access and mobility for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).  Ramps, special elevators, extra wide door frames and accessible restrooms are incorporated in the overall layout of the four-storey building to ensure convenience and efficiency for staff, patients, and students.  Classrooms for specific expertise in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics, such as Assessment, Casting, Workshop, and Rectification are also strategically located in the building.

The University of the East Caloocan Campus opened School year 2012-2013 ready to take on advances in quality and progress in the field of education.  The opening coincided with the implementation of the debut of Department of Education’s  K-to-12  Basic Education program.  

Our very own Chairman, Dr. Lucio C. Tan received a special citation from The Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE) for being one of the very few icons in the business community who continues to inspire young entrepreneurs with his wisdom and passion. The awarding ceremony was the highlight of AYFCE’s 20th Anniversary Celebration held last March 16, 2012 at the Peninsula Hotel Grand Ballroom in Makati City. 

Forbes  Asia named tycoon Dr. Lucio Tan as one of four top philanthropists in the Philippines and among 48 in Asia. 

The magazine cited Dr. Tan for the Tan Yan Kee Foundation.  It noted that  he is a “longstanding supporter of teacher training, medical missions, the country’s first Chinese library and housing for the poor”, and since 2005 has been providing freshwater basins in North Luzon to improve water quality. It also noted that he sent 700,000 bottles of water to tsunami-hit Japan.

Now on its fourth year, the Magazine’s Heroes of Philanthropy chooses four per country annually.  To quote from Forbes Asia,

“We pick 48 givers, 4 from each of 12 countries. Some are big tycoons, even billionaires, who have a large vision of how best to help society and have donated millions of dollars to back up that vision. Others are little-known citizens who are extremely generous with their limited funds. Our goal is not to rank the biggest givers by dollar amounts or percentage of assets--those figures would be impossible to collect. Instead, the aim is to call attention to a mix of notable people and causes throughout the region—and to encourage more giving…”.

Aside from Dr. Tan, other philanthropists named by the financial magazine were RFM President and Chief Executive Jose Concepcion, Planters Development Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Jesus Tambunting, and Zuellig Group of Companies founder Stephen Zuellig. 

Lufthansa Technik, Phils (LTP). And MacroAsia Properties Development Corporation(MAPDC) inaugurated last January the Reclaimed Water System.

An initiative of MAPDC and supported by LTP, the system reclaims some 100 to 180 cubic meters of wastewater from aircraft wastewater and the compound’s sewage, after which water can be used in cleaning the facility, washing aircrafts, as well as for toilets and watering needs for plants.

Foremost Farms closed yearend 2010 by greening the environment to complement its long-standing business practice of organic hog raising and water recycling.  

In a two-day corporate social responsibility project last November 26 and 27, the company planted close to 2000 trees.  The first leg was done in the vicinity of the farm’s plant in Pantay, Teresa, Rizal with some 200 trees.  The second part was the planting of more trees along the streets leading to its head office in Pasig. About 1,500 were planted at the Marikina Watershed located in Kaysakat, Antipolo.

The CSR activity was made possible by the combined commitment and effort of the employees ofForemost Farms, Inc., Care Foundation, and the local government units of Pasig City, and Teresa and Antipolo both in Rizal.

DR. LUCIO C. TAN was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, by the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), one of the largest private universities in New Jersey, USA.

During the recent graduation rites held at the Izod Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, Tan was cited for keeping a high degree of professionalism in business, remaining committed to education, providing jobs to the unemployed and having a soft heart for the needy. 

Seven public hospitals in the Province of Palawan are now better equipped to address the needs of indigent patients. The Tan Yan Kee Foundation-Lufthansa Technik, Philippines partnership donated Ambulance Bag, Aneroid Blood Pressure Apparatus, Stethoscope,  Hanging Scale,  Physician Weight Scale, 1 unit Wheel Chair, Suturing Set, and Disposable Needles.

Tan Yan Kee foundation Chairman and president Dr. Lucio C. Tan provided support to the International Peace Foundation’s Bridges--a program of dialogues towards a culture of peace.

In a letter of appreciation to Dr. Tan, International Peace Foundation Chairman Uwe Morawetz expressed his gratitude for Dr. Tan’s “ important participation in the program and for helping … to make the visit of President Jose Ramos-Horta to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand a major success”.

Business tycoon and Tan Yan Kee chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan was recently honored as one of the most creative entrepreneurial leaders in Asia Pacific during the 2008 Asia Pacific Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum hosted by the Republic of Indonesia.

BUSINESS tycoon Lucio C. Tan (center) receives a plaque of appreciation from Lyceum Northwestern University (L-NU) President Dr. Gonzalo Duque (left) as the guest of honor and commencement speaker in Dagupan City. Recognizing his business skills and social contributions to the country, Tan, 73, was also conferred the honorary title Doctor of Humanities in Business and Entrepreneurship from L-NU and as an adopted son of the City of Dagupan. With them in photo is Dr. Tan’s wife Carmen (left).