Mario Crespo Filipino Businessman

Donation to the Liga ng Mga Barangay

On Oct. 12, 2006, some 5,000 barangay chairmen from all over the country gathered at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City to participate in the Liga ng Mga Barangay sa Pilipinas national convention. Mark Jimenez shelled out P1 million to assist various grassroots projects of the organization.

Donation to PEP Coalition

Mark Jimenez firmly believes that education is the key to the future prosperity and progressive growth of the country. Consequently, when a number of pre-need educational plan companies led by Pacific Plans, Inc. and College Educational Plan (CAP) reneged on their obligation to pay maturing policies, he donated P50 million to the PEP Coalition to enable some 40,000 students to enroll during the June 2006 semester.

Later on, other pre-need companies — Platinum Plans, TPG, Legac, GEI, Asian Diamond, Prudential, Pet and Pryce Plans — joined the first two renegade companies.

Jimenez promised more help and said the money would be placed in a trust fund, but his initial donation should be used to pay for the tuition of the poorest among the PPI and CAP plan holders.

P15M Relief Goods Distributed By MJ

Controversial businessman Mark Jimenez recently visited devastated areas in Bicol and distributed some 50,000 packs of foodstuffs and roofing materials worth P15 million to the victims of supertyphoon Reming.More than 800 people were feared to have died in Legaspi City and Albay when flash flood, mud and boulders from the slopes of Mayon volcano came roaring down to the surrounding towns below at the height of supertyphoon Reming, burying and destroying almost everything on their path.Over 28,000 houses were totally destroyed, while more than 91,000 were partially damaged. Some 201,927 families had been adversely affected by the disaster. Deeply touched by the plight of the Bicolanos, Jimenez immediately organized his own private relief effort and visited devastated areas in Legaspi City, Daraga and Guinobatan in Albay province.Without fanfare, he ordered the distribution of packs of rice, sardines, noodles, T-shirts, and candles to the victims. Truckloads of roofing materials were also given to help people rebuild their homes.

Jimenez said it was his own way of sharing whatever blessings God has given him. He categorically denied he had political ambitions. “Please don’t ask me why I’m doing this,” he told reporters who covered his activities in Daraga and Guinobatan. “What I’m doing should be done by all normal people who love God. If they have the resources and they don’t, they are the abnormal ones. Not me.”

He said he would also be sending some 30,000 packs of foodstuffs to the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon province. Help would also be coming for residents of Casiguran and Marinduque.

Aside from food packs, Jimenez was also giving away thousands of rosaries, vials of holy water, and posters of the Divine Mercy.

He deplored politicians who were in Manila debating how to change the Constitution while their constituents were dying and starving in Bicol and other areas. “What destroyed our country is dirty politics,” he said. “And don’t expect me to take part in it. How many politicians have visited this place?” he asked.

Jimenez said he had already visited 37 provinces since he returned to the country in December 2005, and he planned to visit all provinces to share his blessings to those who need them.