Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — As the Gokongwei Group commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of founder and family patriarch John Gokongwei Jr., JG Summit President and CEO Lance Gokongwei on Wednesday said the conglomerate remains optimistic about the Philippine economy and continues to look for new avenues of growth despite global uncertainties. </p><p>Gokongwei acknowledged that the group has faced a challenging year, citing elevated oil prices as among the biggest headwinds for both the company and the broader economy. </p><p>He expressed hope that easing tensions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, would help stabilize energy prices. </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re quite optimistic. A lot of the issues we&#x27;re facing, we believe, are temporary. The Philippines is a very resilient country and we do believe that things will move forward,&quot; Gokongwei said. </p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2084907714455781574&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-08-05T10%3A25%3A14.541096%3A43591bba-ba3c-49e3-8d90-180120bfac36%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=24b2fe15ef8d41945020410fc5192d900155cfeb&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:697px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2084907714455781574"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>&quot;The most imminent good news, hopefully, is that the issues in the Strait of Hormuz... will be resolved. One of the key issues we&#x27;re facing is the oil shock or the rapid rise of energy prices, which are affecting the economy very much,&quot; he added. </p><p>Gokongwei said that, true to his father’s grit and entrepreneurial spirit, the conglomerate will continue to innovate and pursue new opportunities in the years ahead. </p><p>“As a whole, we&#x27;re fortunate to be diversified. We have very strong balance sheets. We still continue to look for avenues of growth,” he said. </p><p>He said among the businesses seeing strong momentum are tourism and aviation, digital banking and discount retail. </p><p>&quot;Some businesses are experiencing faster growth than certain more mature businesses,&quot; he said, noting that Cebu Pacific continues to expand despite higher fuel costs, while discount retailer O!Save recently opened its 1,000th store </p><p>Asked about the next generation of the Gokongwei family, Lance said future leadership of the business would depend on both interest and merit. </p><p>&quot;The kids of the next generation have so many choices and aspirations. Many of them want to prove themselves outside, in their own independent capacity,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s our job as the second generation to make it attractive for them to join the business in the future—if they&#x27;re interested and if they&#x27;re qualified.&quot; </p><p>He added that the qualities expected of future leaders remain the same values espoused by John Gokongwei Jr.: integrity, hard work, prudence, entrepreneurship and &quot;the boldness to dream.&quot; </p><p>&quot;We have to continue to find solutions for customers,” he said. </p><p>As part of the centennial celebration, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) also renamed Bridgetowne Avenue to John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard as a permanent tribute to his legacy and the values that continue to guide the Gokongwei Group.</p><p>The one-kilometer boulevard runs through Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Robinsons Land&#x27;s mixed-use development spanning Quezon City and Pasig.</p>

<p>As part of the centennial celebration, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) also renamed Bridgetowne Avenue to John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard.</p>

As part of the centennial celebration, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) also renamed Bridgetowne Avenue to John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard.

Gokongwei Group marks founder's centennial with eye on future growth

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

Gokongwei Group marks founder's centennial with eye on future growth

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 05, 2026 05:41 PM PHT

Read More:

John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard

Lance Gokongwei

Bridgetowne

Gokongwei Group

ph economy

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.