Twenty extraordinary Filipinos whose selfless actions have transformed lives and uplifted communities took center stage at Hero For All 2026, an advocacy campaign celebrating everyday heroism held on October 25, 2026. Spearheaded by Casino Plus in partnership with the AR Foundation, the initiative pays tribute to individuals across the country who have made a lasting impact without seeking recognition or reward.
From saving lives amid disasters to championing education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, and animal welfare, this year’s honorees embody the enduring Filipino spirit of bayanihan through remarkable acts of service.
As the driving force behind the campaign, Casino Plus entrusted actor and philanthropist Alden Richards, who has been actively involved since its conceptualization. Beyond serving as one of the jurors who helped select the 20 honorees, Richards personally visited recipients and contributed to the creative development of a series of short vertical films produced in collaboration with Myriad Entertainment Corp.
Serving as the host of the series, Richards guides viewers through the personal journeys behind each honoree’s extraordinary contributions. Reflecting on the campaign’s core message during his speech, he shared inspiring words on what it truly means to be a hero today.
“Sabihin ninyo nang mayabang ako, pero alam ko, at the end of the day, I am a good person. No one can take that away and I’m sure ‘yan din ang gustong maging mindset ng mga heroes natin—na you can be proud to tell the world that you’re a good person. Please be proud of that fact,” Richards expressed. “Ang paggawa ng mabuti at pagpili sa paggawa ng mabuti ay libre.”
More than an awards ceremony, Hero For All 2026 serves as a tribute to generosity, resilience, and compassion. It reinforces the simple truth that heroes are not defined by fame, wealth, or position, but by the lives they touch and the difference they make.
As the memorable night came to a close, Richards delivered a powerful final charge to the crowd, bringing the event to an inspiring end:
“Let’s change the world with one act of kindness at a time.”
The 20 Unsung Heroes
1. Rhodora Tuñacao (Hong Kong)
Just a day into her job as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, Rhodora found herself fighting for survival during the devastating Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po in November 2025. For hours, she shielded the three-month-old infant under her care from intense heat and smoke until firefighters rescued them. Hailed by OWWA as a modern-day hero, she was welcomed home by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in December 2025.
2. Zacharias Mansing (Dumaguete)
A car accident in Abu Dhabi left Zacharias with impaired mobility, but it never diminished his determination to help others. From Dumaguete, he organizes book drives that provide reading materials to public school students with limited access to books, opening doors to learning despite his own physical challenges.
3. Tristan Limin (Guagua, Pampanga)
When rising fuel prices threatened jeepney drivers’ livelihoods in 2026, 21-year-old engineering student Tristan used his savings, with help from his mother, to distribute rice packs to struggling drivers. His viral TikTok video captioned “In a world where you can be anything, be kind” garnered over 1.1 million views, inspiring subsequent donations that allowed him to extend assistance to even more people in need.
4. Chef Jayson Maulit (Marikina)
When severe flooding struck Marikina and Pasig, Chef Jayson Gaspar Maulit transformed a restaurant kitchen into a full relief operation. Working alongside volunteers, he prepared hot meals for families displaced by storms and monsoon rains, demonstrating how food can offer both nourishment and dignity to communities facing repeated disasters.
5. Aris Villaester (Metro Manila)
As a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail warden, Aris recognized the need to prepare persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for life beyond incarceration. He introduced livelihood programs that equip inmates with practical skills and opportunities to earn, helping them rebuild their confidence and pursue productive lives upon release.
6. Dominga Cabiong (Tarlac)
Committed to improving the lives of underserved Aeta families in Tarlac, Dominga works to expand access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and education. Her efforts address basic needs in Indigenous communities where essential services remain difficult to obtain.
7. Eleanor Olegario (Pangasinan)
Eleanor developed Rain Fold, a system designed to collect rainwater and make it usable through filtration using zeolite stones discovered by her late father. Her innovation offers a practical solution to water accessibility challenges while carrying forward his legacy.
8. Marinelle de Guzman (Subic)
Every Monday, Marinelle travels by boat and treks across difficult terrain to teach children on a remote island in Subic, returning home only on Fridays. Her weekly journey reflects an unwavering commitment to ensuring that geographical isolation does not deprive children of an education.
9. Carla dela Cruz (Metro Manila)
A special education teacher living with a physical disability, Carla draws from personal experience to nurture learners with special needs. Beyond classroom instruction, she advocates inclusion, independence, and dignity for persons with disabilities, demonstrating that physical limitations need not define a person’s potential.
10. Gretchen West (Aklan)
After retiring from nursing in the United States, Gretchen returned to Aklan with medical supplies and a mission to strengthen local healthcare. She helped establish an operating room in a small hospital, shared her expertise with fellow nurses, and mobilized her network of doctors to conduct surgical missions for underserved patients.
11. Ed Castillo (Baguio)
Dedicated to helping individuals overcome substance dependence, Ed previously operated an addiction recovery and wellness facility in Tagaytay and now continues his work in Baguio. His approach emphasizes rehabilitation, personal healing, and the opportunity to rebuild lives and relationships free from stigma.
12. Romano Hurano (Laguna)
A University of the Philippines Los Baños alumnus from Santa Rosa, Romano developed AniNow, an initiative promoting household microgreen farming as a practical response to food insecurity. With crops that can be harvested in as little as ten days, he helps make nutritious, homegrown produce accessible to Filipino families.
13. Imelda Areola (Sorsogon)
In typhoon-prone Sorsogon, where severe weather regularly threatens agricultural livelihoods, Imelda helps farmers turn organic waste into fertilizer. Her initiative promotes sustainable farming practices, supports crop growth, and encourages resourcefulness in communities vulnerable to natural disasters.
14. Isagani Areola (Sorsogon)
Isagani developed solar-powered water filtration stations to address limited access to clean water in underserved Sorsogon communities. Combining deep-well technology with independent solar panels, his system pumps and filters water without relying on the electrical grid, offering a practical solution for remote areas.
15. Joy Barcelon (Parañaque)
Through Pamaypay ni Nanay, Joy provides livelihood opportunities for mothers in underserved communities across Parañaque and Muntinlupa. By transforming traditional hand fans into fashionable products, the initiative helps women earn income to support their families while developing their creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
16. Jona Viray (Rizal)
Acclaimed singer Jona Viray turned her compassion for animals into a growing rescue initiative. What began with helping a single stray cat has become a sanctuary on a converted farm property, now caring for more than 70 rescued dogs and cats to give them a chance to recover and find loving homes.
17. Angyl Ababat (Cebu)
In January 2023, then 21-year-old nursing student Angyl rushed to assist a fruit vendor whose throat had been slashed on a Cebu City street. Her swift intervention helped save the woman’s life, earning her a scholarship, police commendation, and recognition from the local government. Now a nurse, she continues to demonstrate the courage and compassion that defined that extraordinary moment.
18. Jason Cardente (Zamboanga)
Freelance photographer Jason uses his earnings to help sustain a student dormitory in Zamboanga, providing young people from remote communities with safe, affordable accommodation so they can pursue their education without prohibitive living expenses.
19. Renny Boy Takyawan (Sarangani)
A member of Sarangani’s Tagakaulo Indigenous community, Renny Boy is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in the uplands. By supporting local schools and learners, he helps ensure that young Tagakaulo students can pursue their studies while preserving their cultural heritage and identity.
20. Kenneth Coo (Dumaguete)
In Dumaguete, Kenneth leads an independent rescue team providing emergency medical assistance during accidents, disasters, and other critical situations. His dedication to preparedness and rapid response brings lifesaving support to communities when every second counts.
Watch how the Q&A with the 20 unsung heroes:
Honoring Community Organizations
Alongside the 20 individual heroes, Hero For All 2026 also recognized 20 community organizations for their collective efforts in addressing local needs and uplifting lives:
- Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc.
- Foundation for These-abled Persons
- Philippine FoodBank Foundation, Inc.
- Scholars of Sustenance Philippines
- Tagaytay City Jail
- Bridges of Hope Philippines
- Aeta Tribe Foundation
- Philippine Alliance for Sustainable Solutions
- Center for Human Research and Development Foundation
- Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc.
- Santos Planet Clean Up
- Citizen’s Disaster Response Center Foundation, Inc.
- Physicians for Peace
- Better with Water
- Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
- Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development
- iCanServe Foundation
- Farm Forward Initiatives
- A Better Chance Foundation
- Fire Emergency Paramedic Assistance Group (FEPAG)
About Hero For All
Hero For All is an initiative spearheaded by Casino Plus in partnership with the AR Foundation that recognizes Filipinos whose acts of service, compassion, and courage make a meaningful difference in their communities. The program underscores a timeless message: You don’t have to be extraordinary to become someone’s hero.