THE PHILIPPINES-JAPAN SOCIETY
by unanimous resolution of its Board of Directors,
proudly confers upon
DR. GEORGE S.K. TY
the
MEDAL OF MERIT
for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of
Philippines-Japan Relations
Born in Hong Kong in 1933, the 6-year Siao Kian Ty traveled to Manila with his parents Norberto and Victoria Ty, to settle in Tondo. As a teenager in the 1950’s, the young George helped his father establish and manage the fledgling Wellington Flour Mills, an early responsibility which taught him valuable business lessons that would eventually underpin his amazing journey as a banker, entrepreneur, philanthropist and exemplary Filipino.
Starting out as a scion of a successful manufacturing businessman, it would have been natural for him to continue on in his father’s businesses. Yet, George S.K. Ty determined to pursue his own life adventure and branched into banking based on his fabled insight into how banks have a crucial role in supporting and developing businesses and the economy.
Then only 29 years old, George S.K. Ty founded and organized the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company in 1962 with partners, fellow Filipino business trailblazers Don Emilio Abello, Don Pio Pedrosa and Placido Mapa, Sr. The rise of Metrobank to becoming the largest private Philippine commercial, then universal bank in terms of assets, branch network, profitability and all major financial metrics, was meteoric, legend and highly acclaimed. Metrobank is one of the earliest Filipino banks to operate internationally, having opened its Taipei branch in the early 1970’s. When the Tokyo branch was established in March 1996, it was the first ever Philippine bank granted a banking license by the Ministry of Finance of Japan. Metrobank in Japan today operates offices in Tokyo and Osaka, only two of the bank’s several overseas offices in the US, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Ty is the Chairman of the Metrobank Group, a highly diversified Philippine conglomerate whose interests span financial services, insurance, power generation, real estate, automotives, tourism and travel. Its member organizations are all leaders in their field, trusted for their excellence and solid performance; just to name a few: PS Bank, the country’s second largest savings bank; First Metro Investment Corporation a dominant investment bank; First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation a tier-one stock brokerage of the Philippine Stock Exchange; Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corporation – a joint venture with the Global AXA Group; ORIX Metro Leasing and Finance Corporation – a joint venture with ORIX Corporation of Japan; Metrobank Card Corporation – a joint venture with the Australia New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group; SMBC Metro Investment Corporation – a joint venture with the Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Corporation of Japan; Global Power Corporation – a major power provider in the islands of Panay and Cebu; Federal Land – one of the largest and busiest property developers in Metro Manila;. Marco Polo Plaza Cebu – a world-class hotel of choice in Cebu; First Metro Travelex, Inc. – a joint venture with the Travelex PLC of the United Kingdom.
In 1988, Toyota Motor Corporation and Mitsui & Company of Japan invited Dr. Ty to be their partner in the Philippines. Thus was born the largest, and consistently the leading automotive manufacturing company in the Philippines – the Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation. Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda (Honorary Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation) has been quoted as saying, “if we find the right partner, we are already 50 percent successful”. Indeed, the 23-year partnership of two of Japan’s largest conglomerates (Toyota and Mitsui) and the Metrobank Group of the Philippines, led by Dr. George S.K. Ty, can be considered as the epitome of a successful Filipino-Japanese joint venture, combining and sharing the elemental values of the world-standard Toyota Way, with Dr. Ty’s commitment to Trust and Service.
Two top Toyota dealers – Toyota Manila Bay Corporation and Toyota Cubao, Inc. – also belong to the Metrobank Group.
Mr. George Ty is a multi-awarded individual. Among his most notable recognitions are: The Presidential Order of Lakandula (2010), Management Man of the Year 2006 from the Management Association of the Philippines and the Life Time Achievement Award (2000) by the Asian Banking Awards, Dr. Jose Rizal Awards for Excellence (2002), Outstanding Manilan Award (2001) by the City of Manila , Honorary Citizen of Nanjing (2010) and the Magnolia Gold Award (2003). He has likewise been conferred various honorary degrees by the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (1999), the Centro Escolar University (1990), the Philippines Normal University (2001) and the Chancellor’s List Order of Oblation, University of the Philippines (1985).
Dr. Ty is often quoted attributing simple yet fundamental values by which he built the Metrobank Group – his clients’ Trust and Protection of clients’ entrusted resources. Adhering to these values, he has shaped and defined consummate business ethics founded on honesty, conservatism, discipline, hard work, perseverance, with a clear and strong love of country and people.
These values dear to Dr. Ty are now resoundingly expressed through the outstanding work and mission of the Metrobank Foundation (established in 1979), one of the country’s largest benefactors for education, public service and the arts.
The Metrobank Foundation envisions a leading role in fostering holistic human development to empower society through people who are able to realize the fullness of their potential. Its five-pronged strategy covers Education, Health Care, Visual Arts, Grants and Excellence Awards. In Education, the Foundation has spearheaded the nationwide Search for Outstanding Teachers, grants college scholarships, and sponsors competitions in mathematics. For Health Care, the Foundation funds the Manila Doctors Hospital and provides grants and scholarships at the Manila Doctors College. The Foundation is also a major supporter and partner of the arts and socio-civic organizations all over the Philippines. Since 1999, the Foundation has honored and recognized professionalism among the military and police personnel through highly coveted awards called, “The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS)” and the “Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS)”.
While carved out of a Chinese heritage, the life, work and achievements of Dr. George S.K. Ty point to a true, deep and distinct sense of Filipinism that inspires and challenges. He has said, “If I am not in the Philippines, I cannot be what I am today.” He is unequivocally grateful for the opportunities of education, business and service that the Philippines has given him and his family. In return, he has passionately given back and shared much, firmly cognizant of the social responsibility vested on business corporations. He believes that “the more successful a corporation is the greater were its responsibilities to the community.
Dr. Ty and his wife Mary have raised five children, who in their own rights have succeeded and built upon what their parents have brought them up and prepared them to be. Eldest son Arthur is currently President of Metrobank while their second son, Alfred, oversees interests in Toyota, among others. All their three daughters, Anjanette Ty-Dy Buncio, Margaret Ty-Cham and Alessandra are likewise involved in various capacities with the Metrobank Group.
In recognition therefore of the aforesaid achievements, his immeasurable contributions to Philippine society, and his significant accomplishments in forging meaningful and dynamic relations between Filipinos and Japanese, the Philippines-Japan Society proudly confers upon Dr. George S.K. Ty the 33rd Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit, the highest award within its gift to convey.
Given this 18th day of February in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines on the occasion of the 33rd Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration and the 39th year of the Philippines-Japan Society.
FRANCIS C. LAUREL
President
Attest:
BENJAMIN C. LAUREL
Corporate Secretary
Philippines Japan Society Medal of Merit Awardees 