Updated May 28, 2026
For some young Filipinos, a college education – and the promise of a stable career that comes with it – remains out of reach. The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) offers a Technical-Vocational (TechVoc) pathway as an alternative to reaching their dreams.
Inside a sprawling training center in Calamba, Laguna, scholars in uniforms and steel-toe boots are learning to operate industrial machines, troubleshoot automated systems and prepare for jobs waiting on the factory floor.
The opportunity comes through “Iskolar ni Juan”, a technical-vocational scholarship program run by GBF and backed by Universal Robina Corp. (URC), one of the Philippines’ largest food and beverage manufacturers.
Launched in 2014, the program provides a one-year scholarship focused on mechatronics servicing and instrumentation and control servicing, combining classroom instruction with hands-on industry training.
Over 500 scholars have graduated from this initiative, which currently maintains a 100 percent passing rate for its certification exams.
Under the program, scholars spend seven months studying at the GBF Technical Training Center in Calamba, followed by five months of on-the-job training at URC plants.
Graduates earn a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority National Certificate II, qualifying them for jobs as production operators, machine technicians and maintenance personnel.
The scholarship covers tuition, dormitory accommodations, daily meal allowances, uniforms, school supplies, transportation and on-the-job training allowances.
It is open to senior high school students ages 18 to 30 from families earning no more than P200,000 annually.
For scholars like John Marvin Javier, the program became more than a scholarship — it became a second chance.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to go to college, but with Iskolar ni Juan I managed to get a stable income, help my family, and pursue my dream to study again,” Javier said.
The initiative reflects the broader mission of GBF, which aims to expand access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education while strengthening the country’s technical workforce.
“Education is key to uplifting the lives of Filipinos,” the foundation said in describing the vision that inspired the organization’s founders, including the late industrialist John Gokongwei Jr.
Established in 1992, the foundation has focused on developing future STEM leaders through scholarships, educator training and community partnerships.
Its scholarship programs include support for college STEM students, young scientists and children of sugarcane and potato farmers.
To date, the foundation has supported 3,428 scholars, including 1,988 graduates and 1,263 active scholars.
To know more about Iskolar ni Juan, comprehensive program details and mission updates are available on the Iskolar ni Juan Facebook page.
