The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), in partnership with food and beverage industry leader Universal Robina Corp. (URC), operates the Iskolar ni Juan scholarship program to provide young Filipinos—especially those unable to afford college education—with a clear alternative pathway toward stable employment.
Launched in 2014, this one-year technical-vocational initiative centers on mechatronics servicing and instrumentation and control servicing. Scholars spend seven months learning at GBF’s dedicated training center in Calamba, Laguna, followed by five months of hands-on on-the-job training at URC’s various plant facilities. The scholarship fully covers all necessary expenses including tuition fees, dormitory accommodation, daily meal allowances, uniforms, school supplies, transportation costs, and training stipends.
Eligible applicants are individuals aged 18 to 30 who have completed senior high school and come from households with an annual income not exceeding ₱200,000. Upon completion, graduates receive a TESDA National Certificate II, which qualifies them for skilled positions such as production operators, machine technicians, and maintenance personnel. To date, more than 500 students have successfully finished the program, which maintains an impressive 100 percent passing rate in national certification assessments.
This effort forms part of GBF’s broader mission to expand access to quality education—particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM fields—while strengthening the country’s pool of skilled technical workers. Established in 1992, the foundation was built on the belief, championed by late industrialist John Gokongwei Jr., that education is the most powerful tool to improve Filipino lives. Beyond this program, GBF supports college STEM students, young scientists, and children of agricultural workers, having assisted over 3,400 scholars overall. For participants like graduate John Marvin Javier, the program offers life-changing opportunities: it allowed him to earn a steady income, support his family, and even pursue further education later on. By turning education into tangible employment, Iskolar ni Juan addresses both social inequality and industry demand for capable, certified workers.
