On Saturday, March 19, 2022, the Ateneo de Manila University and the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) celebrated the dedication of the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD). The in-person event had been postponed several times due to the pandemic, but the delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it was finally held was significant: Not only was it the 20th anniversary of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), but 2022 is also the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation.

Held at the Ubuntu Space of the Areté building of the university, “A Celebration of Generosity”–as the event was called–was a triple celebration, where Ateneo de Manila and GBF celebrated their partnershp to transform the educational landscape in the Philippines.

Fr. Bobby Yap SJ welcomes our partners and special guests at the event. (Photo courtesy of GBF)

“I am truly glad to be here today for this triple celebration – an anniversary, a dedication, and a launch, all borne out of a shared vision to become a force of good in education,” Fr Bobby Yap SJ, AdMU President, said of the event.

Chairman Lance Gokongwei reiterates GBF’s commitment to the partnership with AdMU (Photo courtesy of GBF)

GBF Chairman Lance Gokongwei stated, “Our partnership with Ateneo is a big step towards GBF’s goal of building our country’s future through education, providing much hope for Filipino students who dream of becoming our future work force and leaders, for Filipino teachers who relentlessly aspire to empower our learners to the challenges of coping with the new normal of education, and for Filipino families who rely on the education of their children as their only hope out of poverty.”

Left to Right: Dr Maria Luz C Vilches, VP for the Loyola Schools; Fr. Johnny Go SJ, Dean of GBSEALD; Ms Bernadine T Siy, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo; Atty. Wilfrido E Sanchez, GBF Board of Trustee; Mr Patrick Henry C Go, GBF Board of Trustee; Mr Lance Gokongwei, Chairman of GBF; Mr James Go, President of GBF; Ms Robina Y Gokongwei-Pe, GBF Board of Trustee; Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, GBF General Manager; Fr Roberto C Yap, President of Ateneo; Dr Luis Dumlao, Dean of JGSOM and Ms. Grace R Colet, GBF Executive Director (Photo from Gokongwei Brothers Foundation)

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, GBF and Ateneo launched the 5th Loyola School, GBSEALD, in 2021. It was a deliberate statement–that more than ever, education mattered.

Fr Johnny Go SJ, founding dean of the new school, said, “This new School of Education and Learning Design exemplifies Ateneo de Manila’s commitment to Philippine education. Our motto puts it best: ‘Bago ang lahat, edukasyon!’ We are committed to the priority of our educational mission, as well as the need to reimagine what needs to be new in education.”

Some of the GBSEALD Team members led by Fr. Go (Photo and caption from Linya Linya)

The establishment of GBSEALD aims to help elevate education through the formation of educators, educational leaders, policy makers and other learning professionals. Envisioned to be a center of excellence and leadership in education, especially in Science, Math, Reading and Writing, it seeks to be able to contribute in improving educational policy and practice through its graduates.

The school was named in recognition of GBF’s significant donation to establish the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Endowment for Educational Innovation. The endowment is established in honor of the brothers John, Henry, Johnson, and James, the founders of the GBF.

The celebration was attended by heads of GBF and Ateneo, among them were Lance Gokongwei, Chairman of GBF; James Go, President of GBF; and the members of the GBF Board of Trustees: Robina Y Gokongwei-Pe, Patrick Henry C Go, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng and Wilfrido E Sanchez; Bernadine T Siy, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo; Fr Roberto C Yap, President of Ateneo; Dr Maria Luz C Vilches, VP for the Loyola Schools of Ateneo; the Deans of JGSOM and GBSEALD, Dr Luis Dumlao, PhD and Fr. Johnny Go SJ respectively.

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