President Marcos paid tribute to business leader John Gokongwei Jr. for his contributions to the country through his business ventures.
In his speech during the inauguration of expanded petrochemicals manufacturing complex of the JG Summit Olefins Corporation (JGSOC) in Batangas City, Marcos described the complex as more than “a cutting-edge technology” as it manifests the skills and confidence of Filipino workers.
“His (Gokongwei) is a story of guts and grit for the ages,” the President said.
Marcos recalled how Gokongwei rose from his humble beginnings to what he is now “as grand projects of national importance,” even during the time when he lost his father and their fortune early in life, where he rode a bicycle to peddle wares to support their family.
“From thereon, he never stopped venturing out to new frontiers, combining audacity with acumen to launch great products that capture Filipino hearts and, in the process, generated profit with honor,” Marcos said.
He said Gokongwei had started practicing “Build, Better and More” long before it came to action through JG Summit’s extensive portfolio from airplanes to chemicals, from housing to hotels and from fish to Naphtha crackers.
The Chief Executive further said the late Gokongwei chose to be challenged in everything that he did, similar to how he envisioned the petrochemicals manufacturing complex, which plays a significant role to the Filipino people.
“So, it gives me tremendous hope that Mr. John’s strong belief in the Filipino and his abiding faith in our country are the same forces that drive the worthy stewards of his legacy to never stop making the lives of the Filipino people better,” he said.
Marcos was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the inauguration of JGSOC's expanded petrochemicals manufacturing complex in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City on Friday, Jan. 19.
The JGSOC is a pioneer in the petrochemical industry in the Philippines, having two wholly-owned petrochemical investments operating in its fully integrated world-class manufacturing complex in Batangas City