University honors Gozon family’s matriarch

MANILA, Philippines — Wesleyan University Philippines (WUP) recently inaugurated the Carolina L. Gozon Institute for Lifelong Learning as a tribute to Carolina Lapus Gozon, the late mother of GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon.

The institute will serve as an applied knowledge center for continuing education initially in Region 3 and the centerpiece of WUP’s public service and social accountability thrusts.

It also aims to provide new avenues and opportunities for continuing education and skills training, especially for disadvantaged Filipinos who are likely to struggle more severely in a post-COVID recovery period.

Gozon, despite being born into an affluent family, continued to explore wider opportunities beyond her academic field of specialization to help provide for her family.

She bravely started her own business by borrowing P20,000 as capital from her mother and supplying for Rufina Patis.

Even after losing her principal buyer, she remained hopeful and struggled to produce her own brand, Dalisay Patis, which brought her early business success. She eventually went on to own a salt mine, start a quarrying business and supply coffee seedlings.

The inauguration ceremonies, held on March 18 at The Manila Hotel, was led by WUP president retired judge Benjamin Turgano along with OIC-vice president for academic affairs Dr. John Mark Bondoc, Carolina L. Gozon Institute for Lifelong Learning director Christian Jan Fausto and European Union deputy head of delegation Dr. Ana Sanchez Ruiz.

Some members of the Gozon family who were present at the launch expressed their heartfelt gratitude to WUP for giving this tribute.

“At one point in her life, nakilala niya ang Diyos nang lubusan and that, to my Wesleyan family, is the woman you are honoring. It is not a woman of great achievements; she is a woman of great faith,” said Butch Jimenez, Gozon’s grandson.

As part of their tribute, Jimenez’s wife, Tricia Amper-Jimenez, performed a song interpretation of one of the poems written by Gozon.

“My mom’s life was abundant, it was full, but it was also enriched by the many trials that she endured and lived with absolute trust, faith and love in God. She passed away peacefully at 97 with her mental faculties intact. She valued education and sacrificed to ensure that we will go to the best schools and go abroad. She said education is a way to prepare us to face the future. But she said it’s not enough. To meet life’s tests and challenges, she said it is to know that Jesus is the answer and Jesus is all we need,” said Gozon’s daughter, Flor Gozon Tarriela.

“Thank you to Wesleyan University for honoring our mother, Carolina Gozon. God bless us all,” she said.