The Gokongweis' legacy: Investing in Filipino students

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

The recent midterm elections had many of us pleasantly surprised that young voters emerged as the game changers. They were thinking for themselves and their future, unswayed by surveys that predicted many celebrities in the Senate's Magic 12. This is critical thinking at its best.

Ultimately, helping our young and succeeding generations harness their critical thinking skills will help drive our country forward, as it would equip them with problem-solving skills and the capacity to engage in innovative pursuits—the skill sets needed in this dizzying and fast-changing tech-driven world.

This is why I salute the late retail magnate John Gokongwei, or JG, and his brothers for setting up the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), which has helped the Filipino youth by focusing on both students and teachers.

I, together with The STAR business reporters Richmond Mercurio and Elijah Rosales, recently sat down with tycoon Lance Gokongwei at the swanky and elegant boardroom of JG Summit, where he talked about the conglomerate's existing and new businesses and how it continues to uphold its founder JG's philanthropic work through GBF.

Betting on the Filipino youth

GBF is actually one of the biggest and most active philanthropic arms in the Philippines—which we need more of. Imagine if every company or conglomerate invested in the education of our youth.