George S.K. Ty is a Chinese-Filipino tycoon and the founder
of the universal bank, Metropolitan and Trust Company or Metrobank.
He is the Chairman of the Metrobank Group, Metrobank Foundation, Toyota Motor
Philippine Corporation and the former Chariman of Toyota Autoparts Philippine
Corporation. In 2010, Forbes ranked him as the ninth richest Filipino with a
networth of USD805 million.
Founding Metrobank
In 1962, when Ty was just 29 years old he founded Metrobank
with business partners, Don Emilio Abello, Don Pio Pedrosa and Placido Mapa,
Sr. The bank went public in 1981. He had been the Chairman of the Board from
1975 to 2006 until Antonio Abacan, Jr. succeeded him. He is now the Chairman of
the Metrobank Group since 2006.
In 1988, Mitsui Corporation partnered with Ty’s Metrobank to
put up Toyota Motor Philippine Corporation with the former having 51-percent
stake and the only Toyota subsidiary to be locally-owned. He has been the
Chairman of the Board since 1988. He also served as the Chairman of the Totyota
Autoparts Philippine Corporation from 1990 to 2005.
Aside from these, Ty also serves as Chairman of the Advisory
Board of First Metro International Investment Corporation Hong Kong since 202
and Manila Doctors Hospital since 1979. He is an Honorary Chairman o First
Metro Travel Inc. since 1989 and Chairman of Manila Doctors College since 2008.
Charitable causes
When Ty founded Metrobank, he envisioned setting up a
foundation wherein he could give back to the community. 16 years later, in
1979, he established Metrobank Foundation, which eventually acquired
controlling interest in Manila Doctors Hospital. He has served as the Chairman
of the Foundation since. To date, the foundation honors teachers, soldiers,
policemen and artists.
In 1993, to celebrate wedding of his son Arthur Ty, Ty
donated USD20 million to the foundation. In 1999, he donated another USD 30
million, to celebrate the wedding of his other son, Alfred Ty.
In 2009, Ty revealed that he is donating a P1.2 billion
prime land in Metropolitan park to established the Philippines’ largest
non-profit hospital that will have a 1,000 bed-capacity, and another P5 billion
to for operational costs.
Such was Ty’s generosity that former first lady, Corazon
Aquino remarked, “the beautiful example of openness, international solidarity,
and outstanding philanthropy...needs to be emulated by more people who have
been blessed in life.”
Hobbies
Ty is an avid art collector and patron. His foundation
regularly supports art competition. He is particularly fond of collecting
Chinese paintings and holds the largest private collection outside China. One
of his most valuable works a magnificent horse painting done in shuimohua-style
by China’s legendary artist Xu Beihong.
Personal life
Ty's chinese name Siao stands for youth and Kian,
persistence. He is born to parents Noberto Uy and Mary Vy Ty in Hong Kong and
settled in Binondo when they came to the Philippines. His children are Arthur Ty, Alfred Ty, Anjanette Ty,
Margaret Ty, and Zandra Ty. He was awarded Management Man of the Year in 2006
by the Management Association of the Philippines.
