UST to confer honorary degree on Metrobank founder

MANILA, Philippines - The University of Santo Tomas will confer a doctorate degree in Humanities, honoris causa to George S.K. Ty, founder and group chairman of the Metrobank Group of Companies on August 7 at the UST Medicine Auditorium.

Ty, who studied at UST, was 30 years old when he established Metrobank in 1962, fulfilling his dream of putting up a bank that would not only make money but also give money away in the spirit of philanthropy.

With devoted operation and focus on recruiting talented persons, Ty led Metrobank and made it the strongest financial conglomerate in less than 30 years.

With his belief that the nation’s success begins at the most basic level, Ty established the Metrobank Foundation Inc. in 1979. It became the primary vehicle for the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the Metrobank Group.

The bank’s commitment to honor and nurture outstanding public servants gave rise to the Foundation’s recognition programs: The Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) for talented Filipino artist’s, The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), the Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS), The Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chairs Program, and The search for Journalists of the Year (JOY). All these have been hailed as hallmarks of Filipino excellence.

Ty, through the Metrobank Foundation, also acquired a controlling interest in the Manila Doctor’s Hospital as a response to the need to secure the well being of the citizenry in the country.

In the past years, he diversified his business interests and entered the industries of automobile manufacture, real estate development, insurance, health care, education, power generation, hotel and tourism.

Ty has given significant contributions to nation building through his equitable and sustainable business practices and leadership, acting upon his dream of empowering Filipinos with better opportunities.

UST Rector Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., will deliver the address of concession during the ceremony, while Faculty of Arts and Letters Regent Rev. Fr. Joseto N. Bernadas, O.P., will lead the invocation and Faculty of Arts and Letters Dean Michael Anthony C. Vasco will give the address of petition. UST Secretary General Fr. Winston F. Cabading, O.P. will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The solemn investiture will begin at 2 p.m.