‘He had to give back to society’: Why John Gokongwei donated billions to education

MANILA, Philippines – When John Gokongwei Jr. decided to donate nearly half of his fortune to the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), it wasn’t just an act of philanthropy; it was his way of showing that his lifelong belief in education was more than just words.

The donation, the largest of its kind in Philippine history, left his family and friends in shock. But to those who knew him well, it was a testament to the values that had guided him from the very start — a man who, despite...