BIZ BUZZ: Happy birthday, Mr. John
John Gokongwei Jr., founder of the Gokongwei Group, would have turned 99 yesterday, Aug. 11.
Two of his children marked the special occasion by paying tribute to their late father, deemed one of the country’s most consequential tycoons. He laid down the foundation of a conglomerate with interests in such fields as manufacturing, retail, property development and air transportation.
Eldest daughter Robina Gokongwei-Pe said her father taught them to “work hard, dream big, laugh often and never forget where we came from.”
“Here’s to you—the boy in short pants who grew into a man who dared to dream. I hope wherever you are, there’s birthday cake, lechon and all the humba your Bisdak heart desires,” Gokongwei-Pe said in a Facebook post.
Only son Lance Gokongwei, meanwhile, described his father as someone who loved to read and learn and one who believed strongly in how education can change lives and help build a strong nation.
“He would’ve been very happy to know that the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation he co-founded 33 years ago has been transforming the lives of educators and learners all across the Philippines,” he said.
Lance pointed out that over the weekend, close to 210,000 teachers—the highest attendance so far—took part in the GBF STEM Collab ARAL Series: Masterclass on Reading Remediation Strategies in partnership with the Department of Education–National Educators Academy of the Philippines.
The program equips educators with strategies in identifying reading difficulties and implementing effective remediation, a needed intervention in the Philippines where students are lagging behind in reading as well as mathematics.
The GBF is just one of the many corporate social responsibility arms of the Gokongwei group and family, and all help preserve Mr. John’s legacy.
“Thank you, Dad, for your lasting gift of education,” said Lance.
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