Senate honors late philanthropist George S.K. Ty

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III (center) hands over a copy of Senate Resolution No. 87 to Mary Vy Ty, (ninth from left) wife of Dr. George S.K. Ty, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019 posthumously honoring Ty for his philanthropic contributions to the country. In his sponsorship speech, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, said: “Dr. Ty’s greatness was not on the wealth and fortune he amassed in his lifetime, but on his innate kindness, compassion, benevolence, and respect for people’s abilities and potential to succeed.” (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate honored on Monday the late Dr. George S.K. Ty for his philanthropic contributions to the country.

Under Senate Resolution No. 87, authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Ty, who passed away in November 2018, was honored for “his heart for community and life-long mission to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.”

“Dr. Ty trail-blazed the way to corporate compassion and social responsibility and established the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) as an instrument to share the benefits of Metrobank’s success,” Drilon said.

“The hard work of the late Dr. Ty, a visionary business leader and an icon of philanthropy, turned the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. into a vital economic backbone of the country,” he added.

Among the notable programs of the MBFI include the Metrobank Scholarship Program which had helped over 1,000 underprivileged youth in finishing their college degrees in various fields including education, information technology, engineering, business administration, and architecture.

The foundation also hosts an annual Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge which serves as a venue for students to further improve their skills in the said field.

George S.K. Ty

“Through the Grants and Social Development Partnerships of MBFI, financial and in-kind assistance is extended to socio-civic and non-government organizations, as well as local and national government agencies,” the resolution said.

The resolution listed other contributions of the foundation, including those in the field of medicine and social services, particularly in the provision of subsidies in its majority-owned Manila Doctors Hospital, and healthcare programs in schools and communities.

In terms of disaster response, MBFI also provides aid to those affected by natural disasters not only in the Philippines but also in Asia.

Contributions in the fields of art and education of social issues, among others, were also honored.

The Senate of the Philippines has also annually recognized the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers, Soldiers and Police Officers.

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