Launched in August 2025, the 'DepEd Heroes' program of the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to recognize the courage, dedication, and outstanding service of teachers, students, and education partners across the Philippines. The initiative highlights impactful contributions and best practices that strengthen the national education system while fostering pride, unity, and a culture of excellence within the learning community.
Since its launch, DepEd Heroes has honored not only educators and learners but also partner organizations that have played a key role in advancing education reform and access. Among the recognized institutions, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) emerged as the second organization to receive the distinction, acknowledged for its long-standing and meaningful collaboration with DepEd in strengthening education programs nationwide.
GBF has been instrumental in expanding access to STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and supporting educator development initiatives aligned with DepEd’s goals. Through its scholarship programs, the foundation has supported more than 3,500 scholars pursuing STEM-related degrees, helping young Filipinos transition into skilled and meaningful careers. It has also extended scholarships to both pre-service and in-service public school teachers to enhance their content mastery and teaching pedagogy.
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The foundation’s GBF STEM Collab community, now exceeding 320,000 members, serves as a nationwide platform for teacher collaboration, professional development, and peer learning. In the past two years alone, GBF has conducted 26 learning sessions and webinars, granting CPD units to over 103,000 educators, while its ARAL remediation initiative reached more than 210,000 teachers addressing foundational learning gaps.
GBF has also strengthened classroom learning through its GBF Class Builder platform and partnerships such as Khan Academy Philippines, supporting over 3,000 students with technology-enabled remediation programs. Its outreach efforts through the Juan Community Program and school infrastructure projects have further expanded learning access and improved school environments nationwide.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara praised GBF for its decades-long commitment, emphasizing its vital role in empowering teachers and expanding educational opportunities. The recognition underscores the importance of sustained public-private partnerships in building a stronger, more inclusive future for Filipino learners through quality education and STEM advancement.
