Xavier School’s Gokongwei Junior High School building was rededicated on August 3, 2019, with a ceremony that recognized the magnanimity of the Gokongwei family over the decades.
Exxon Yu, JHS Assistant Principal for Academics, hosted the day’s program, which was held at the San Juan school’s multipurpose hall. In the audience were San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; members of the Gokongwei family; members and officers of the school’s Board of Trustees, the Xavier School Educational & Trust Fund, XS Parents’ Auxiliary, and Alumni Association of Xavier School; school administrators, faculty, and staff; alumni from Batch ’83; and the HS Student Council Executive Board. Suiting the occasion, Yu read a Bible verse from Proverbs 22:1, which says that a good name is more desirable than great riches. “It is but fitting that the Junior High School Building be named after a family whose name is synonymous to courage, excellence, and service,” said the assistant principal.
JG Summit Holdings Founder and Chairman Emeritus John Gokongwei Jr. with his wife Elizabeth, and their children Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit, and Robina Gokongwei Pe, president and CEO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, at the rededication ceremony at Xavier School. With them are school officials led by Xavier School President Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J.; Jacinto Ng Jr., chairman of the Xavier School Educational Trust Fund; and Johnip Cua, chairman of Xavier School Inc.
These sentiments were repeated in the short speeches of the Xavier School president, Fr. Aristotle Dy, SJ, and the chairman of the Xavier School Educational & Trust Fund, Jacinto Ng Jr. In the latter’s remarks, he told the audience that they are “witness to a heart of magnanimity across three generations of the Gokongwei Family.” For those who may have forgotten, XSETF’s chairman gave a reminder that it was JG Summit’s founder, John Gokongwei Jr., and his wife Elizabeth who were the founding and anchor donors for the Xavier Junior High School Building, which was inaugurated in 1992. “Mr. John Gokongwei showed us the way of love and respect and honored his parents by dedicating the building to their name, Mr. John Sr. and Juanita Gokongwei,” said Ng.
On behalf of the Gokongwei family, Lance Y. Gokongwei, the president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, delivered the response. Three generations of the family were present at the ceremony: From the first, John Gokongwei Jr. and his wife Elizabeth, his sister Lily Ngochua, and his youngest brother James Go; the second generation included Lance Gokongwei’s sisters Robina Pe, Faith Lim, Hope Tang and their families, his cousins Patrick Go, Vincent Go, Howard Go, Gulliver Go, Faraday Go and their families, and his wife Jay; from the third were Lance and Jay Gokongwei’s children Hannah and Jacob.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora (third from left) attending the rededication ceremony beside Xavier School's Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J. PhD and Jacinto Ng Jr. Joining Mr. John in this photo are his wife Elizabeth, his youngest brother, JG Summit Holdings chairman James Go, and only sister Lily Ngochua. Also in the photo are Mr. John's children Robina Pe, Lance Gokongwei, Faith Lim, and Hope Tang with their spouses and children.
In his speech, Gokongwei, himself an alumnus of Xavier School (Batch ’83), paid tribute to his father, praising Mr. John’s efforts help raise the standards of education in the country, particularly his determination to provide a quality education to deserving but underprivileged children, achieved mainly through the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. “It is through the selfless generosity of my father John Gokongwei Jr., and his siblings (represented here today by Auntie Lily Ngochua and Uncle James Go), and their families, that we have this building today. Through the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, the family has donated to various schools and institutions because of our underlying belief that education is the key to a better future.
Mr. John with family members and Xavier School officials in front of the Gokongwei Junior High School building.
“GBF is fundamental to our family belief and family identity. We have all benefitted so much from the education we have received, and we want to make sure we pay it forward by focusing on education,” said JG Summit’s president and CEO.
The marker for the Gokongwei JHS Building and the donor board of the XSETF was formally unveiled soon after the speech. For the Gokongwei Family, the gift of education is the gift that gives on giving. For this one in particular, the timing was perfect as it provided the Xavier community an opportunity to surprise the founder and chairman emeritus of JG Summit with an advanced birthday greeting.
John Gokongwei Jr. turns 93 on August 11, 2019.
Happy birthday, Mr. John!
