Men that matter

By Al S. Mendoza

ONE CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION of the world, the other the Philippines.

American billionaire Warren E. Buffett has made one stupendous move for mankind when he donated almost more than three-fourths of his fortune to charity.  That was some weeks ago.

Just very recently, our very own John Gokongwei did a Buffett and, in so doing, he became the country’s all-time biggest donor to charity.

The windfalls were staggering, to say the least.

Buffett shelled out $37 billion, Gokongwei P10.25 billion.

Gokongwei’s donation can be considered “a drop in the bucket, bird feed” when ranged against   Buffett’s handout. But be that as it may on the world stage, it is a huge one in Philippine setting.

Buffett’s donation, converted into pesos, would amount to two years of Philippine budget,     computing our 2005 budget at around P900 billion.

The beauty – if it can be called that – of Buffett’s action is, he is donating $31 billion of the amount to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is owned by the world’s richest man himself, Bill Gates.

I say it’s a beauty because by deciding to give it to Bill Gates, Buffett is more or less assured that his money is going to the right person.  Bill Gates’ reputation and stature is beyond question; unassailable.

Besides that, Buffett did it in obvious recognition of Gates’ superb business acumen (Microsoft) and impeccable managerial skills.

Before Buffett did it, his fortune was worth $44 billion, making him the world’s second richest man behind No. 1 Bill Gates ($50B).

Thus, what’s left of Buffett’s fortune now is “only” $7 billion.

In a way, what Buffett did was an oblique way of telling Gates and the rest of America’s other billionaires like the Fords, Rockefellers and Kennedys to duplicate his act.  That   it’s about time the world’s wealth must be shared with the needy, the poor, impoverished countries that are badly in need of aid to boost human development and improvement of education.

The  Buffett  fund will be a tremendous shot in the arm in the research for medicines in a world of almost utter helplessness against various diseases whose cause and cure still remain vastly unknown, such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Syndrome and, yes, the Kawasaki Disease.

Unlike many other wealthy men, Buffett’s billions has not blinded him andhis charitable move proved that one awash with cash is also capable of selfless act to uplift the lives of others.

Parenthetically, Gokongwei’s generosity is a veiled suggestion prodding his fellow Filipino billionaires like Lucio Tan, the Ayalas, the Lopezes, the Tys, and the Cojuangcos to replicate it.

What added drama to Gokongwei’s gargantuan move was, not even his wife and children knew about it. He revealed his charitable intentions during his birthday celebration in a stunning speech before thousands of guests who could only shake their heads in happy amazement – if not in monumental awe.

Like Buffett, I salute Gokongwei for what he has done. It is the most unselfish act I’ve ever seen by a Filipino billionaire hereabouts.

Both came from humble origins.

One thing I like in Buffett, he still lives in the first house he bought – that one in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Likewise, I bow to Gokongwei for keeping all these years the first bicycle that he used in earning his keep.

People who value, revere the very first tool in building a dream, keep the very symbol of  early stirrings of success, ought to be emulated.

Gokongwei told his guests during his 80th birthday, “When I turned 70, that was a blessing.  As I turn 80 today, I consider it a bonus.”

After donating P10.25 billion to charity to boost primarily education and the uplift of life for the downtrodden in the country, he joked, “I cannot bring my money to my grave.  My coffin does not even have compartments.”

Here’s a glass to two men who matter in this world of wrath, war and want.

 

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