Hero For All 2026 Honors 20 Unsung Filipino Heroes

With Alden Richards helping bring their inspiring stories to life, the initiative celebrates extraordinary acts of kindness, courage, and compassion.

MANILA, Philippines — October 25, 2026 — Twenty extraordinary Filipinos whose selfless actions have transformed lives and uplifted communities take center stage at Hero For All 2026, a celebration of everyday heroism spearheaded by Casino Plus in partnership with the AR Foundation.

The initiative pays tribute to individuals who have made a lasting impact without seeking recognition. From saving lives and responding to disasters to championing education, healthcare, livelihood, and animal welfare, this year’s honorees embody the Filipino spirit of bayanihan through their remarkable acts of service.

As a driving force behind the campaign, actor and philanthropist Alden Richards has been actively involved since its conceptualization. Beyond serving as one of the jurors who helped select the 20 honorees, Richards personally visited some of the recipients and contributed to the creative development of a series of short vertical films highlighting their inspiring journeys.

The AR Foundation joins the initiative in celebrating everyday heroes who bring the Filipino spirit of bayanihan to life through selfless service and the enduring power of paying it forward.

Produced with the involvement of Myriad Entertainment Corp., the films feature Richards as host, guiding viewers through the personal stories behind each honoree’s extraordinary contributions. His involvement reflects a commitment to ensuring that these often-overlooked acts of heroism reach and inspire a wider audience.

More than an awards ceremony, Hero For All 2026 is a tribute to the enduring Filipino spirit of generosity, resilience, and compassion. It reminds us that heroes are not defined by fame, wealth, or position, but by the lives they touch and the difference they make.

The event also recognizes 20 community organizations, acknowledging the collective efforts that help address community needs and support people from different walks of life.

Ultimately, its message is simple: You don’t have to be extraordinary to become someone’s hero.

The 20 Heroes of Hero For All 2026

From an overseas Filipino worker who risked her life to protect an infant to community advocates championing education, healthcare, sustainable farming, and animal welfare, these 20 individuals demonstrate how compassion and courage can create lasting change.

1. Rhodora Tuñacao — Hong Kong

An OFW’s Courage Amid Tragedy

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 baby under her care from intense heat and smoke until firefighters rescued them. While the infant survived in stable condition, Rhodora required intensive care and ventilator support. Hailed by OWWA as a modern-day hero, she was welcomed home by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in December 2025.

2. Zacharias Mansing — Dumaguete

Turning Personal Adversity Into Opportunity for Others

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

A Young Man’s Simple Act of Kindness

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 TikTok video, captioned “In a world where you can be anything, be kind,” garnered more than 1.1 million views. Inspired by the response, he used subsequent donations to extend his assistance to more people in need.

4. Chef Jayson Maulit — Marikina

Serving Hope, One Hot Meal at a Time

When severe flooding struck Marikina and Pasig, Chef Jayson Gaspar Maulit transformed a restaurant kitchen into a relief operation. Working alongside volunteers, he prepared hot meals for families displaced by storms and monsoon rains. His continuing efforts demonstrate how food can offer both nourishment and dignity to communities facing repeated disasters.

5. Aris Villaester — Metro Manila

Restoring Dignity Behind Bars

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

Bringing Essential Services to Aeta Communities

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

An Innovation Inspired by Her Father’s Legacy

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 seeks to offer a practical solution to water accessibility challenges while carrying forward his legacy.

8. Marinelle de Guzman — Subic

Going the Distance for Education

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

Championing Inclusion Through Education

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

Bringing Healthcare Expertise Back Home

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

Offering a Path Toward Recovery

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

Fighting Hunger Through Urban Farming

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 hopes to make nutritious, homegrown produce more accessible to Filipino families.

13. Imelda Areola — Sorsogon

Helping Farmers Grow Through Sustainable Solutions

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

Harnessing Solar Power for Cleaner Water

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

Empowering Mothers Through Livelihood

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

Giving Rescued Animals a Second Chance

Singer Jona Viray turned her compassion for animals into a growing rescue initiative. What began with helping a single stray cat has become a shelter on a converted farm property, now caring for more than 70 rescued dogs and cats. Through rehabilitation and shelter, she gives abandoned animals a chance to recover and eventually find loving homes.

17. Angyl Ababat — Cebu

The Nursing Student Who Answered a Call for Help

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

Creating a Home Away From Home for Students

Freelance photographer Jason uses his earnings to help sustain a student dormitory in Zamboanga, providing young people from remote communities with safe, affordable accommodation. His initiative helps students pursue their education without the burden of long-distance travel or prohibitive living expenses.

19. Renny Boy Takyawan — Sarangani

Preserving Indigenous Identity Through Education

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

Ready to Respond When Every Second Counts

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 helps bring lifesaving support to communities where immediate assistance can make all the difference.

The 20 Community Organizations

Alongside the individual honorees, Hero For All 2026 recognizes 20 community organizations whose work contributes to addressing social challenges and supporting communities across the Philippines.

1. Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc.
2. Foundation for These-abled Persons
3. Philippine FoodBank Foundation, Inc.
4. Scholars of Sustenance Philippines
5. Tagaytay City Jail
6. Bridges of Hope Philippines
7. Aeta Tribe Foundation
8. Philippine Alliance for Sustainable Solutions
9. Center for Human Research and Development Foundation
10. Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc.
11. Santos Planet Clean Up
12. Citizen’s Disaster Response Center Foundation, Inc.
13. Physicians for Peace
14. Better with Water
15. Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
16. Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development
17. iCanServe Foundation
18. Farm Forward Initiatives
19. A Better Chance Foundation
20. Fire Emergency Paramedic Assistance Group (FEPAG)

Through the recognition of these individuals and organizations, Hero For All 2026 underscores the importance of compassion, community involvement, and collective action in creating meaningful change.

At its heart, the initiative celebrates a powerful truth: heroism does not require fame or extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes, it begins with a simple decision to help someone in need.

You don’t have to be extraordinary to become someone’s hero.