Six years after his father’s passing, businessman Lance Gokongwei shared a deeply personal tribute to John Gokongwei Jr., revealing the origins of the business titan’s powerful commitment to education.

The remembrance focused on how a young John Gokongwei Jr.’s life was dramatically altered. As Lance wrote, “Dad lost his father when he was 13 years old, and as the eldest, he had to work hard to support his mother, brothers, and sister. He never finished college.”

Despite eventually building the massive JG Summit empire, that lack of formal schooling always stayed with him. He had always believed in the importance of learning, and decades later, he acted on it.

“Dad had always believed in the power of education, and so years later, when he was already a father of six, he chose to fulfill his dream,” Lance shared.

Gokongwei Jr. enrolled in a Master’s degree in Business Administration at De La Salle University. Lance remembered the dedication it took: “I remember him coming home from the office and staying up late at night so he could read his schoolbooks and do his homework.”

His graduation day became a moment of shared pride for the family. “Mom, my sisters, and I were at Dad’s graduation when he received his diploma. It was one of the proudest moments of his life,” Lance recalled.

That personal journey became the foundation for their enduring philanthropy. For over 30 years, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), which he and his brothers started, has focused on improving the country's education system by providing access to quality education, helping educators grow professionally, and advancing STEM programs.

In closing, Lance affirmed that his father’s vision is still the driving force behind the foundation’s work today: “Dad’s belief in education as a building block in nation building continues.”