The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) marked its 34th anniversary with the donation of 10 new classrooms to three public schools in Pangasinan and one in Bacolod City. The celebration culminated in the GBF Classroom Donation Groundbreaking Ceremony, held in Calasiao, Pangasinan, on September 2, 2026.
A Partnership Between GBF, DepEd, and Robinsons Land Corporation
The classroom donation project is a partnership between GBF, the Department of Education (DepEd), and Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC). GBF Chairman Lance Gokongwei attended the groundbreaking ceremony and thanked both partners for their roles in the initiative.
“We would like to thank the Department of Education for its guidance and collaboration in identifying schools where support is most needed and ensuring that this initiative contributes to our shared goal of giving more Filipino learners access to quality education,” Lance said.
“We are equally grateful to our partners at Robinsons Land Corporation. Their expertise in planning, engineering, and construction is helping turn this commitment into classrooms that are safe, durable, and built to serve generations of students,” he added.
Lance formally turned over the classroom donation blueprint to DepEd Human Resource and Organizational Development Assistant Secretary Aurelio Paulo “AP” Bartolome, who said in Filipino: “Nagpapasalamat ang DepEd sa patuloy na suporta ng mga private partners tulad ng Gokongwei Brothers Foundation upang mapunuan ang ating kakulangan sa classrooms” (DepEd is grateful for the continued support of private partners like the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation in helping address our classroom shortage).
Who Attended the Groundbreaking
Aside from Lance Gokongwei and Asec Bartolome, the ceremony was attended by:
- Calasiao Vice Mayor Kevin Macanlalay
- Faraday Go, Executive Vice President, Robinsons Land Corporation
- Grace Colet, GBF Executive Director
- Dr. Estela Cariño, DepEd Region 1 Director
- Dr. Fatima Boado, Schools Division Superintendent of Pangasinan I
- Honor Mendoza, President, SPES Construction
- The three school principals of the beneficiary schools in Calasiao
34 Years of Championing Philippine Education
GBF was established in 1992 by brothers John Gokongwei Jr., Henry, Johnson, and James Go, founded on the belief that education is essential to individual opportunity, economic progress, and nation-building. Over the past 34 years, the foundation has grown from supporting educational institutions to running programs that directly support learners, educators, communities, and institutions.
Some of GBF’s notable contributions include:
- Higher education infrastructure, including the Ateneo John Gokongwei School of Management, De La Salle University’s Gokongwei College of Engineering, the John Gokongwei Innovation Center, and the Ateneo Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design.
- Scholarships, which remain a cornerstone of GBF’s work. Through programs such as the GBF STEM College Scholarship, TeachSTEM, and other scholarship initiatives, the foundation has supported more than 3,400 scholars to date.
- Iskolar ni Juan, a technical-vocational scholarship program that equips beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills in fields such as mechatronics servicing.
- Teacher-development initiatives, including the GBF TeachSTEM College Scholarship, GBF STEM Collab, and GBF Class Builder.
- Juan Community, which mobilizes volunteers from across the Gokongwei Group to assist public schools through Brigada Eskwela clean-up drives, reading and storytelling activities, and donations of school equipment.
The classroom donation project marking GBF’s 34th anniversary builds on this legacy, extending the foundation’s investment beyond programs and people into the physical learning environments where students and teachers spend their time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many classrooms did GBF donate for its 34th anniversary?
GBF donated 10 new classrooms to three public schools in Pangasinan and one public school in Bacolod City.
Who partnered with GBF on the classroom donation project?
The project is a partnership between GBF, the Department of Education (DepEd), and Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC).
When and where was the groundbreaking ceremony held?
The GBF Classroom Donation Groundbreaking Ceremony was held in Calasiao, Pangasinan, on September 2, 2026.
When was the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation established?
GBF was established in 1992 by brothers John Gokongwei Jr., Henry, Johnson, and James Go.
How many scholars has GBF supported over the years?
GBF has supported more than 3,400 scholars to date through programs such as the GBF STEM College Scholarship, TeachSTEM, and other scholarship initiatives.
What is Iskolar ni Juan?
Iskolar ni Juan is a GBF technical-vocational scholarship program that equips beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills, such as mechatronics servicing.
Get more updates on scholarships, education, and opportunities for Filipino students on CollegesPH.com
