John Gokongwei Jr. was a man who turned his personal dream into a mission to help others achieve their own. Rather than focusing solely on his own success, he dedicated himself to creating opportunities for education and growth through the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF). His legacy is one of giving back and inspiring others to reach their full potential.
In celebration of its 32nd anniversary, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation honored the legacy of John Gokongwei Jr. with the premiere of the documentary A Boy, a Bicycle, and a Legacy: Remembering John Gokongwei Jr. at Opus Mall, Pasig City, on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
To mark the foundation's 30th anniversary in 2023, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, the third child of John Gokongwei Jr. and general manager of the foundation, enlisted journalist Lala Rimando and filmmaker Troy Bernardo to create the documentary, which they produced and directed, respectively.
The documentary offers insights from those who worked with Gokongwei Jr. and those who benefited from the foundation's projects. It is the first part of a tri-platform project on his legacy, which will also include a book and podcasts on his life and business in the coming years.
Before the documentary screening, Lance Gokongwei, president of JG Summit Holdings, shared his father’s commitment to empowering Filipino youth through quality education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“He wanted to give young people, especially those without the privilege of a college education, the chance to benefit from something he himself never had,” Lance said. “His vision was to educate the next generation, and those that follow, to ensure they continue driving our country forward.”
The pride of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation
Not everyone has the opportunity to pursue their dreams, but with the right support and resources, hard work can lead to success. The GBF is behind many inspiring stories of teachers and students who have been given the chance to excel. This anniversary celebration aims to inspire and reaffirm the foundation’s mission of building the future through education.
The GBF has significantly impacted education in the Philippines, reaching over 50,000 teachers and benefiting more than 1.5 million students nationwide. Initially focused on scholarships, institutional endowments, and building a technical training center for underprivileged youth, GBF has since expanded to include educators’ development programs, believing that investing in teachers enhances student outcomes. The foundation is also leveraging education technology solutions to improve teaching and learning experiences.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Iskolar ni Juan program, which has successfully placed graduates in Universal Robina Corp. (URC) plants nationwide, GBF now supports over 1,000 scholars, particularly in STEM fields, which the foundation views as key to innovation and economic growth. Additionally, GBF alumni Mark Neal Asturias, Karl Angelo Lorenzo, John Marvin Javier, Camille Anne Madarang, and Anne Corinne Sagun appeared as special guests in the documentary, sharing how the foundation has impacted their lives.
“GBF’s mission is to build the future of our country through education,” said Grace Colet, executive director of Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. “We started with scholarship programs, institutional endowments, and building a technical training center to provide access to quality education for underprivileged youth.”