In a landmark moment for the Philippine real estate sector, Lance Y. Gokongwei, President & CEO of JG Summit Holdings and Chairman of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), was presented with the inaugural Life Achievement Award during the prestigious 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards Gala held on August 15, 2025, at Shangri-La the Fort, Manila.
The award, the first of its kind in the history of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards series, “acknowledges Gokongwei’s exceptional contributions to the Philippine real estate industry over a career that has consistently shaped and influenced the sector.”
Gokongwei is one of the country’s most respected business leaders and the current head of the Gokongwei Group, one of the Philippines’ largest and more diversified conglomerates. He has guided the group’s continued growth across real estate, food and beverage, aviation, retail, digital banking, logistics, and healthcare. With his visionary leadership and able guidance as former President and CEO and long-serving board member, he was instrumental in transforming RLC into one of the country’s most trusted and forward-looking developers.
Gokongwei is also a strong advocate of sustainable and inclusive progress, championing RLC’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) agenda through investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green building.
PropertyGuru hailed Gokongwei as a true pioneer, recognizing that “remarkable leadership, commitment to innovation, and significant impact to the country’s property market have set the bar for excellence.”
The award came at an opportune time, with Robinsons Land celebrating its 45th anniversary. The timing made the accolade even more meaningful, said Gokongwei. “For the past four and a half decades, Robinsons Land has always stayed true to its mission: to build better lives. Whether in helping first-time homeowners have a place they can call their own, building malls that bring jobs and services closer to communities, putting up offices that support global talent, opening hotels in emerging cities, developing estates that shape the future of our cities, or growing logistics hubs to support businesses, we’ve always seen real estate as more than just a business. For us, it is about creating spaces that make everyday life better for the people we serve.”
He added, “From landmark projects like Robinsons Galleria in our earlier years to now having a presence in nearly every region in the country. It’s been a journey of building-quietly, steadily, and with purpose.”
He also paid tribute to the employees of RLC. This award belongs not just to me but to all the men and women of Robinsons Land who have been quietly building day by day everything that we have achieved.”
Under Gokongwei’s leadership, RLC has also been named one of the Philippines’ Best Employers for two years running-a testament to the people-first culture cultivated in the company.
Gokongwei also thanked RLC’s customers, commun1t1es, and business partners for their support through the years.
He also took the time to honor his father, the late industrialist and philanthropist John Gokongwei, Jr., who had laid the foundation for this achievement. “His vision, values, and sense of purpose continue to guide everything we do, not just in business but in how we serve others.”
For Gokongwei, this award is a “reminder that there is still much to be done” and “inspires all of us in the industry to keep building, not just more but better, with integrity, with imagination, and always, with people in mind. We’ve always believed that when we build well, we help build the nation, too.”
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