Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday recognized the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) as one of its 'DepEd Heroes' for its support to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and teacher development.
According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara lauded the 'visionary leadership' of the GBF for helping advance education reforms in the Philippines. He emphasized the significance of the DepEd Hero Award in recognizing those who go beyond the norm to support learners, teachers, and education reform. Angara noted that the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation has consistently demonstrated this commitment.
The 2026 DepEd Hero citations were awarded to several key figures within the GBF, including Chairperson Lance Gokongwei, President James Go, Trustee and Secretary Robina Gokongwei-Pe, General Manager Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Executive Director Grace Colet, and Head of Educator Programs Kristine Tinette De Asis.
GBF General Manager Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng expressed gratitude for the recognition and vowed to deepen their commitment to supporting the education sector, in partnership with the DepEd. She highlighted the importance of the personal stories behind their work, such as teachers gaining confidence and students understanding previously challenging concepts.
The foundation has supported more than 320,000 teachers nationwide through various educator programs. These programs include 26 webinars focused on strategies for reading and math remediation over the past two years. One learning series has benefited over 210,000 teachers in the country.
In collaboration with the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines, GBF's STEM Collab webinars have catered to over 103,000 educators, helping them earn Continuing Professional Development credits. Additionally, more than 3,500 scholars have been provided access to quality education and learning to employment opportunities.
GBF has also distributed lesson materials and coaching strategies, benefiting 41,000 teachers in 5,000 schools nationwide. For 2026, the foundation has pledged to further expand its program reach across the country.
