Since its founding in 1992, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation has helped more than 500 scholars complete their college education. This year, with the announcement of a new partnership, that number can only grow.
On August 7, 2019, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation and the Liong Tek Go Family Association launched a new scholarship, the GBF-Go Family Association Scholarship Program.
From left: Jyian Supelana, Rachel Ng, Marianne Fabre, Alexandra Lee, Marjorie Marcelino, and Kayne Co are the latest additions to the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation's community of scholars.
Established as a social organization to help the various branches of the Go family maintain contact, the Liong Tek Go Family Association has evolved into a charitable institution providing educational, medical, and financial assistance to its disadvantaged members and to other individuals and organizations. Not too long ago, it donated a generous amount to fund the rehabilitation of several destroyed school buildings in the war-torn city of Marawi.
The GBF-Go Family Association Scholarship Program provides assistance to bright and promising Go family members in need of financial support to continue their education. It was developed through the initiative of Mrs. Elizabeth Y. Gokongwei, member of the GBF Board of Trustees and wife of Mr. John Gokongwei Jr., chairman emeritus of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and founder of GBF.
Six students make up the initial batch of the GBF-Go Family Association scholars. Under the program, each student will receive a fixed grant that will cover their tuition and other school-related expenses annually until they graduate. In keeping with GBF’s vision to promote excellence among Filipino youth, scholars are required to maintain a General Weighted Average of 80% with no failed, dropped, or incomplete subjects to keep the scholarship.
“Gokongwei Brothers Foundation is happy to welcome these new members to our community of scholars who exhibit excellence in their chosen courses, majority in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field, which is our foundation’s focus. On behalf of Mrs. Elizabeth Gokongwei and GBF’s Board of Trustees, we look forward to strengthening this partnership with the Liong Tek Go Family Association to help more deserving students gain access to quality education. We look forward to seeing these bright students contribute to their families and to nation-building after graduation,” said Grace Colet, GBF executive director.
Meanwhile, Tiong Rosario, president of the Liong Tek Go Family Association, reminded the scholars of their responsibility to make the most out of this opportunity and serve as examples for the succeeding batches of scholars.
“You are the future of the Go Family Association,” he told the students, before thanking Mrs. Gokongwei for partnering with the association to provide scholarships for bright but financially challenged children.
One of the scholars, Jyian Supelaña, 18, shared how the scholarship motivated him to study harder. “The scholarship is a big help for me and the other scholars because it can really boost our motivation to really work harder on our studies and finish it,” he said.
A freshman student of BS Management Information Systems at Ateneo de Manila University, Supelaña intends to become a tech entrepreneur when he graduates. Through this, he wants to be able to give back to society.
On his plans, he says, “I think the online-based businesses will expand in the future. Once the younger generation discovers that, they can also set up a business even at a young age. They will be entrepreneurs who can help provide employment to the people. As a GBF scholar, I want to inspire others to help everyone.”
For more information about GBF’s various scholarship programs, visit their website at www.gokongweibrothersfoundation.org
