Apart from music, Jose Mari Chan continues to serve his community

Jose Mari Chan during the press conference for “Going Home to Christmas.” Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.net

While many remember Jose Mari Chan during Christmas, he didn’t stop serving his community through numerous relief efforts, particularly during the recent typhoons that swept the country.

Chan and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) go way back when it comes to helping others, according to its president Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, with the latter sharing they both came from the same university.

“Jose Mari Chan has been supportive of our initiatives. His dedication to helping others resonates deeply within our community. Galing siya sa Ateneo [de Manila University], mas matanda lang siya sa’kin for a few years. We’re both serving in the Ateneo Scholarship Foundation,” Pedro told reporters at a gathering in Quezon City.

READ: What Jose Mari Chan wishes for this Christmas

“Maraming may gustong mag-aral sa Ateneo kaya lang, mahal ang tuition. 20% of [its] population are part of the scholarship foundation of the Ateneo. We’ve been serving for many years. Sama-sama kami,” he continued while sharing that the singer has been working with the Filipino-Chinese community for four decades.

(Jose Mari Chan comes from Ateneo de Manila University, he’s older than me for a few years. We’re both serving in the Ateneo Scholarship Foundation. Many students want to study in the Ateneo but its tuition is expensive. 20% of its population is part of its scholarship foundation. We’ve been serving for many years together.)

The FFCCCII is a group made up of 170 Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs and industry workers joining forces to put up charities and other socio-civic efforts in the country.

Touching on Chan’s roots, the FFCCCII president shared that he and the singer worked together to create donation-centered initiatives through the years. These efforts include building classrooms, putting together a group of volunteers for calamities, and donating rice to the victims of recent typhoons, to name a few.

“I know that Jose Mari Chan is a very good singer. Pero mayaman din si Jose Mari Chan. Ang tatay niya has been part of the sugar business for many years. And they also given so much to build classrooms [for students] for the past 30 years. We built 6,500 classrooms as of now sa mga barrio school. On top of that, we have a volunteer fire brigade,” he said. “

(I know that Jose Mari Chan is a very good singer. But he’s rich. His father has been part of the sugar business for many years. They have given so much to build classrooms for students for the past 30 years. As of now, we built 6,500 classrooms in barrio schools. We also have a volunteer fire brigade.)

Chan has made a name for himself as one of the most popular figures in the Philippines, especially during Christmas. His popular song “Christmas in our Hearts” is usually played in several holiday-themed events, with netizens posting photos of his face as soon as Ber months begin.

In a November 2024 interview with INQUIRER.net, the singer-songwriter shared that his Christmas wish is for “peace in the world.”