GBF strengthens commitment to education

MANILA, Philippines — In 1992, businessman and philanthropist John Gokongwei Jr., and his brothers, Johnson, Henry, and James, established the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF). Its goal was to make a lasting impact on education in the Philippines. The brothers believed education could be the foundation of a strong Philippine economy.

Over the next 30 years, GBF dedicated itself to fulfilling its mission of building the future through education, specifically in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This year, GBF wrapped up its 30th anniversary celebration with an event titled “Pathway to Possibilities” at the Westin Manila. The event commemorated three decades of commitment to education, community empowerment, and nation-building.

Attendees were GBF’s partners from different sectors, including many of the foundation’s beneficiaries, as well as its partners in various communities, in funding, in different universities, in the development sector, and in government.

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

In 2022, during its 30th anniversary kick-off celebration, GBF declared its commitment to support more teachers, recognizing educators as heroes of change who play a crucial role in nurturing Filipino learners, our future leaders, and the workforce.

During the event, GBF launched its flagship program for educators – the “GBF Class Builder”– that’s positioned to be STEM teachers’ partner in delivering great lessons while they master their craft. The GBF Class Builder provides training and coaching STEM teachers in crafting their lesson plans. GBF worked with IDEO, a global innovation company and leading proponent of design thinking, to develop the program.

“Through The GBF Class Builder, we envision our teachers to be more confident and effective in class, more ready to face the challenges of the future, while enjoying every class – feeling proud to be a teacher,” GBF executive director Grace Colet said.

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

In 2022 alone, it supported basic needs of over 10,000 students and teachers in over 100 schools.