Yu Ti Vo 楊在田

Yu Ti Vo first came to Manila in 1865 at age 17 to help his father run a blacksmith shop in Binondo, Manila. After his father fell ill, both father and son returned to China. He returned to the Philippines, borrowed 200 pesos and revived the blacksmith business. He tripled his capital within a year by making horseshoes for the US Cavalry. He branched out into distributing US-made hardware and construction materials. His company became the biggest pre-WWII hardware firm in the country.

Yu Ti Vo lived to age 83. He fathered 11 sons and four daughters. He retired in 1915 to return to China, leaving his enterprises to his sons and nephew.

His great grandson David Henry Hwang wrote "Madam Butterfly" (Tony Award for Best Play, 1988). He also wrote "Golden Child" from stories told him by his grandmother, the second daughter of Ti Voʼs fourth son.

Resources

• Yu, Merril. "Yu Khe Thai and Po Lin Tiu cira 1915". Flickr, 1915. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50415049@N05/4651161821/in/photostream/. Accessed 20 July 2020.
• Yu, Merril. "Yutivo Family". Flickr, 1915. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50415049@N05/5036891139. Accessed 20 July 2020.