Before his death in 2019, Chinese-Filipino billionaire Henry Sy Sr. was the richest man in the Philippines for 11 years. Six of his children are now among the richest people in the Philippines, keeping up the family tradition of being at the top of the annual Forbes rich list.
Henry's fourth child, Hans Sy, is currently the second-wealthiest of the six Sy brothers and sisters, tied with Herbert Sy, Henry's youngest son, at a net worth of US$2.6 billion as of the time of the press, according to Forbes' real-time ranking.
Hans is now the chairman of China Banking Corporation and Manila's National University. He used to be the president of SM Prime Holdings, which is the Philippines' largest integrated property developer and is in charge of more than 70 malls.
Aside from his business affairs, here are 5 things you don’t know yet about the 4th son of the Philippines’ Wealthiest Man.
(Photo from the wires)
1. He is an advocate for safer communities and cleaner environments
Hans Sy makes it a point to give back, both to those in need and to Earth. Consistently advocating for green initiatives in company stores, he oversaw the Philippines' largest solar installation ever in 2014. More than five thousand seven hundred solar panels were placed on the roof of the multilevel parking structure at SM City North Edsa.
He is the sole Filipino representative in the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction's (UNISDR) Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, also known as ARISE, the premier international organization of business leaders concerned with disaster risk reduction (DRRM).
Among Hans' DRRM initiatives for SM are building lifts to protect structures from flooding, large rainwater collection tanks to collect run-off that would otherwise flood streets, and concrete roof decks that can withstand even the strongest typhoons.
2. His friends perceive him as a real-life 'Superman'
In high school, Hans was known as "Superman," and his friends fondly recall him as a protective and brave friend. The young heir would always come to the aid of his fellow students at their Chinese school in Manila. As long as he wears a white polo and khakis, they will think of him as a hero.
3. He enjoys collecting artwork from the Philippines
What does Sy, the richest Sy, buy with his money? Some of it may be displayed in his opulent home. Since meeting Juvenal Sanso, a Spanish-born Filipino painter and family friend, Hans has been deeply moved by art. Hans has 165 works by famous artists in his collection.
4. Hans assisted a newborn baby who had been left alone
When a newborn baby was discovered in a trash can at one of the family's SM malls, Hans stepped up, once again demonstrating himself to be "Superman." They could have handed over the child to the officials, but instead, Hans is paying for his medical care. They left him at an orphanage in the United States, where he eventually found a loving family.
5. He despises nepotism
Hans did not want his children to inherit his fortune without first proving their worth, in contrast to the practices of other wealthy business tycoons. Rather than handing out positions like candy, he mentored a non-relative and threatened to hire someone from outside the family if the third generation of Sys didn't step up their game.
So, it's fair to say that Hans hasn't exactly been lounging around since he "stepped down," or, more accurately, since he "stepped up." Admittedly, Hans is trying to leave a legacy far above what he has already accomplished as the son of Henry Sy by dedicating his time to worthy causes like education, environmental protection, and the arts.
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