Robinsons Land on Wednesday renamed the estate’s main boulevard after its founder as the Gokongwei family gathered to commemorate what would have been his 100th birth anniversary on Aug. 11 this year.
The roughly one-kilometer John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard serves as the main spine of the 33-hectare estate, crossing the bridge linking Bridgetowne’s Quezon City and Pasig sides before passing The Victor, its iconic 200-foot-tall steel sculpture.
Speaking to guests during the unveiling of new signposts on Wednesday, JG Summit president and CEO Lance Gokongwei said the family was deeply moved by the tribute.
“As we unveil the John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard today here in Bridgetowne, our family is deeply humbled,” he said.
“This boulevard is more than a tribute bearing his name. It is a reminder of the journey he inspired, the path he moved, and the values that continue to guide us today,” Gokongwei said.
Heavy monsoon rains on Wednesday forced last-minute adjustments to the event program but those failed to dampen the occasion.
“It’s been raining really hard and that’s supposed to be an omen of prosperity and good fortune,” Gokongwei said with a smile.
From humble beginnings
Born in Xiamen, Fujian, in 1926 and raised in Cebu, John Gokongwei Jr. was just 13 when his father’s death forced him to help support his family.
He went on to rebuild the family fortune and eventually established JG Summit into one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates with businesses spanning food and drinks, real estate, airlines, retail, energy and telecommunications.
During the event, Robinsons Land president and CEO Mybelle Aragon-GoBio said the company wanted the boulevard to serve as a lasting reminder of the founder’s values.
“By dedicating this boulevard in his honor, we ensure that Mr. John’s legacy remains a living, daily presence among us,” she said.
“May every person who passes through here be reminded that the path to progress is paved with the same grit, humility and vision that Mr. John showed us every single day,” she added.
Values that endure
Lance Gokongwei said many remember his father as a visionary entrepreneur, but those closest to him knew a man whose life was guided by hard work, integrity and an unwavering belief in the potential of the Philippines and its people.
“He did not simply talk about these values. He lived them every day through the way he worked, the way he treated people, and the way he made decisions,” he said.
“Through his example, he showed us that true vision is not just about dreaming, but about turning dreams into reality so that others may have better lives,” he added.
