Election/Reelection of Trustees (Memo U2526-021)

I am pleased to announce that at the annual meeting of the Members of the University Corporation held last 2 August 2025, the Corporation (re)elected the following lay and Jesuit members of the Board of Trustees:

New Trustee elected for a 3-year term from August 2025 to August 2028:

Ms Ma Gisela H Tiongson

Ms Ma Gisela H Tiongson currently serves as President and Executive Director of Jollibee Group Foundation, where she has been since 2007. 

Ms Tiongson has extensive experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social development. Prior to this role, she worked as an independent consultant and held significant positions at the Synergos Institute and Philippine Business for Social Progress, where she developed and implemented various CSR programs. She is actively involved in several foundations and boards and has presented numerous papers on topics related to CSR and social innovation, showcasing her commitment to addressing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Ms Tiongson earned a Masters in International Policy and Practice (1999) from George Washington University as a Freeman Fellow. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Honorable Mention) from Ateneo de Manila University (1986).

The other Trustees who were re-elected for 3-year terms each are Ms Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Mr Christopher T Po, and Fr Jose VC Quilongquilong SJ. We also welcome back Fr Aristotle C Dy SJ as Trustee who was re-elected for a 3-year term following a brief pause of several months.

On behalf of Ateneo de Manila, I thank Ms Tiongson, Ms Gokongwei-Cheng, Mr Po, Fr Quilongquilong, and Fr Dy for their generous willingness to provide strategic leadership and guidance to the University.

We also express our deep appreciation for two of our outgoing Board members:

Dr Anna Marie "Jing" A Karaos, for her invaluable service to the University as Trustee for eight years, including being Chair of the Board’s Committee on Higher Education, of the President’s Committee on Honors and Awards, and a member of the Advisory Council of Ateneo School of Government;

Fr Roberto Exequiel N Rivera SJ, for his invaluable service to the University as Trustee for eight years, including being a member of the Board’s Committee on Audit and Risk Management and as Chair of the President’s Committee on Professorial/Faculty Chairs.

Through their dedication and generous commitment, Dr Karaos and Fr Rivera helped the University fulfill its mission, particularly in educating and molding young men and women in the Jesuit tradition of excellence and development of the whole person.

We pray that God will continue to watch over them and bless all their endeavors.