John Gokongwei – Cebu Pacific

John Gokongwei is the founder of Cebu Pacific, a Filipino airline company that started in 2005. Cebu Pacific is one of the most recognized airline companies in the Philippines. John Gokongwei is a great rag to riches story of how he started entrepreneurship out of poverty. He also is an active philanthropist and donates millions to various charities around the Philippines. John L. Gokongwei Jr. Who is he? “Call it trite–but, believe me, success can be achieved, through hard work, frugality, integrity, responsiveness to change–and most of all, boldness to dream. These have never been just easy slogans for me. I have lived by them” Gokongwei Jr., John L.. What made him a leader? The qualities that Gokongwei possesses made him a successful business tycoon. He is the type of person who is a risk-taker; he was never afraid to take the next steps for his empire to grow. He is an optimistic person, failures and mistakes were never a barrier for him, he always tries to have a healthy attitude towards failure, it’s a part of being an entrepreneur which is clearly stated in his quote: Achievements Mr. John L. Gokongwei, Jr., serves as President of JG Summit Capital Markets Corp.
Mr. Gokongwei served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. from 1990 to 2001, which he founded. Mr. Gokongwei served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at Oriental Petroleum And Minerals Corp. from 1994 to 2002. He founded Universal Robina Corp. in 1954. He served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc. for JG Summit Holdings Inc. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Universal Robina Corporation, Robinsons Land Corp., JG Summit since 2001. He was primarily responsible for the overall direction and development of the JG Summit Group of Companies which he founded in the mid-fifties. He founded Robinsons Land Corp. in 1980 and has been its Chairman Emeritus since January 1, 2002. He has been Chairman Emeritus of Universal Robina Corporation since January 1, 2002. He has been Chairman Emeritus at JG Summit Holdings Inc., since January 1, 2002. Mr. Gokongwei is the Founder of Universal Robina (Cayman), Ltd and has been its Chairman Emeritus since January 2002.
He serves as the Chairman of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc. and the Great Pacific Life Assurance Corporation. He served as Chairman of JG Summit and Universal Robina Corporation. He served as Chairman of the Board of Robinsons Land until December 31, 2001. He has been Deputy Chairman of United Industrial Corporation Limited since 1999 and Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Singapore Land Ltd. since 1999. He has been a Director of Manila Midtown Hotels and Land Corporation since 1973, Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc., since 1992, Cebu Air, Inc., since December 1995, Litton Mills, Inc., since 1978, Robinsons Land Corp., since 1980, Southern Negros Development Corporation since 1982, Universal Robina Sugar Milling Corporation since 1987, Robinsons Inc., since 1987, United Industrial Corporation Limited since July 27, 1999, and Singapore Land Ltd. since 1999.

Mr. Gokongwei has been a Director of A. Soriano Corp. since May 21, 1980, and JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation since 1994. He serves as a Director of Universal Robina Corp., Universal Robina (Cayman), Ltd., JG Summit Holdings Inc., JG Summit Capital Markets Corporation of JG Summit Holdings Inc., PGPI, Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp., First Private Power Corporation and Bauang Private Power Corporation. He served as a Director of Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc., from May 1993 to October 26, 2011. He served as a Director of Philex Mining Corp. from 1993 to September 2008. Mr. Gokongwei received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from De La Salle University in the Philippines in 1977 and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, the USA from 1972 to 1973.