Why Gokongwei clan’s philanthropy focuses on education, STEM

Why is one of the Philippines’ biggest, most generous and efficient philanthropic foundations, the 30-year-old Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), so laser-focused on and passionate about helping education?

GBF Chairman and Gokongwei Group President Lance Y. Gokongwei said: “Our mission is building the future through education… GBF believes that quality education is the foundation in building a strong Philippine economy.”

Founded in 1992 by the late inspiring self-made, Fujian-born entrepreneurial genius and visionary industrialist John L. Gokongwei, Jr. with his younger brothers Johnson Go, Henry Go and now the only surviving sibling and GBF president James Go, the GBF has tapped the resources of the diversified and dynamic JG Summit Holdings, Inc. for educational charities.

Among the businesses of JG Summit Holdings that contribute to educational charities of GBF are Cebu Pacific Air, Robinsons malls and department stores, Universal Robina Corp., GoTyme Bank, Robinsons Bank, plus 26.4% of Meralco, 11.3% of PLDT, Inc., 37% of Singapore Land, JG Digital Equity Ventures, Robinsons Land, JG Summit Olefins Corp., etc.

What is even more inspiring is that John Gokongwei, Jr. himself was a high school dropout due to the death of his father when he was age 13. I once asked him if he was one of those successful dropout tycoons who didn’t really like academic studies, and Gokongwei said no, he loved studying and was, in fact, an honor student until his dad’s death ended his formal schooling. Gokongwei said he loved reading books, went back to school later in life at De La Salle University and even took a short course at Harvard University.

A foundation focused on education, an unforgettable last meeting

Years ago, in one of our Wednesday dinner conversations at his home with his late wife, culture and education patron Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei, Gokongwei, Jr. told me that his office regularly received many letters soliciting all kinds of donations but he explained their GBF has a charter that specifies its focus on and mission of helping education.

Gokongwei also recounted that a head of a museum heard this and suggested a way to go around this education focus, suggesting GBF donate a huge amount, then they would allow free entrance to students into their museum so that it would still technically be considered “education,” but Gokongwei said he had to politely decline that idea.

In 2007, the tycoon also invited me as the youngest member of the Board of Judges for the GBF China Scholars project. Other judges were former Bangko Sentral Governor Gabriel Singson, former Finance Secretary and former Asian Institute of Management president (now Philippine Veterans Bank president) Bobby de Ocampo, his wife Elizabeth Y. Gokongwei and top educators. I had told Gokongwei that his project could become like Asia’s version of the famous Rhodes scholars of post-graduate students studying in the UK.

A few months before he passed away in 2019, then 93-year-old Gokongwei met me at his home. He was wearing a coat and tie, and casually chatted with me in the presence of his wife for over half an hour. Gokongwei was an extraordinary visionary who exemplified remarkable discipline, wisdom, positive energy and education-focused philanthropy.

STEM, engineering scholars for Philippine progress

Over the past 30 years, GBF has dedicated itself to fulfilling its mission of helping build a better future through education, specifically in the crucial fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

On the afternoon of Aug. 17, at the GBF 30th anniversary celebration in Westin Manila, themed “Pathway to Possibilities,” among the guests at the hotel ballroom were leaders from 22 universities from all over the country led by their presidents, chancellors, deans and directors. Among the many educators present included Ateneo Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning dean Fr. Johnny C. Go, S.J., Ateneo John Gokongwei School of Management dean Dr. Roberto Martin N. Galang and Xavier School president Aristotle “Ari” C. Dy, S.J.

The speakers were led by the GBF president James Go, Gokongwei Group head and GBF chairman Lance Gokongwei, GBF secretary and also Gokongwei Group’s retail head Robina Gokongwei-Pe, who engaged in lighthearted and humor-filled banter onstage with Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto “Bobby” C. Yap, S.J. and De La Salle University (DLSU) president Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC. Robina commented with a half-joking smile: “It’s good to hear that all the universities are collaborating — but in basketball, that’s impossible.”

Other speakers were GBF executive director Grace Colet; Gokongwei brothers’ sons Patrick Go, Bobby Go, Brian Go who honored their respected fathers; Gokongwei daughter and GBF general manager Lisa Gokongwei Cheng.

Lisa Gokongwei Cheng launched the first Omnibus Partnership between GBF and the Department of Education (DepEd), signed a month earlier by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte and Lance Gokongwei. VP Sara was represented by DepEd External Partnership Service Director Maragarita Consolacion C. Ballesteros, who extolled the Gokongwei family’s support for STEM education and said that she herself was also a science teacher for 17 years.

Other attendees at the celebration were GBF’s partners from different sectors, such as many of the foundation’s beneficiaries, scholars, partners in various communities, in funding, in universities, in development sector and in government.

Lance Gokongwei said: “Through the years, we have been striving for the advancement of STEM education, believing this is the driving force behind sustainable national development.”

He added: “By equipping learners with quality STEM education, we prepare them to be digitally adept workers, critical thinkers, and innovative problem-solvers who can contribute to the growth of their communities.”

In three decades, GBF has had over 2,500 scholars and 1,300 graduates, and has supported over 30,000 educators through teacher communities. By the end of 2023, GBF will have 1,000 scholars enrolled in the current academic year.

In year 2022, it supported basic needs of over 10,000 students and teachers in over 100 schools. Since the pandemic, it also provided support to almost 2,000 communities.

Among the educational institutions that received GBF endowments to centers of excellence are the John Gokongwei School of Management at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), the ADMU Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design, and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Gokongwei College of Engineering.

Lisa Gokongwei Cheng closed the event saying: “Let us continue on the path of solidarity and commitment towards our shared mission of building the future through education.”

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