I am a Gokongwei Fan

I never thought in my life that I would be into e-commerce. It’s the kind of business that I can afford to start up and would love to do. As a young businessman, I need someone to look up to. Someone who’s good in business and has a vision of helping the nation. It’s rarely to find someone in the Philippines with those traits. But still, I was able to find one. That is in the person of John L. Gokongwei, Jr.. He’s a successful businessman in the Philippines and the most admired one.

The first time I heard about him was when I was in college. I’ve known him only as the owner of Robinson’s Place in Cebu, Philippines. And I never bothered to know more about him since I was an engineering student and I was so allergic to business terminologies.

It was in 2002, when I was teaching engineering at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), that I heard his name again. That’s because he donated a multi-million peso building for Ateneo’s school of management, which was then named John Gokongwei School of Management. At first, I thought he’s one of the Ateneo Alumni. But he’s not. He’s a just generous man with an Atenean blood — truly, a man for others.

I have read one of his speeches about his life and how he started some businesses that make services affordable to customers. Companies like Cebu Pacific Air and Sun Cellular are just examples of his successful companies that give great services to Filipinos at very affordable price. And that is what I want my business to achieve.

The story of his success made me realize that business is not just about profit. It’s also helping the customers save money and make their lives easier.

I know that I still have a lot of things to learn about businesses. But to be inspired by my idol John L. Gokonwei, Jr., I am assured that I am taking my business to the right road of success.