The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-04
Philippine Millionaire and PhIlanthro-
pIst Who May Come to keokuk,
Gives Interview on
i Life.
PHILIPPINE PROGRESS
Native Of the Islands says That Peo-
pie Are Ready and Will
Ing For Their In
dependence.

Senior Teodore Yangco, a wealthy
PHILIPPINE, interested in Young Mems
Christian Association work, was
scheduled to speak here at the recent
annual meeting of the local associa-
ton. Because of duties connected
with his country which kept him in
Washington, he was unable to be
here and sent his regrets. Senior
Yangco Is planning on coming TO- Keo-
kuk, however, before. he leaves, chief
ly to view the water power plant. He
was In Chicago yesterday and the
following interview with him printed
in the Chicago Tribune will be OF in
terest to those who are interested in
Y. M. ~. A. and social work:
Tecdore Yangco was in Chicago
yesterday. Associated with this name
Is the story of the rise of a native
Filipino from a poor, half clad boy Of
the streets of Manila to the position
of the wealthiest man in the Philip
pines, with all the ideas of social
justice and philanthropy held by the
mcst advanced OF Americans.
Before the gripping human interest
story is related it should be observed
that Yangco, after eight months spent
here in the United States, is return
ing to Manila to establish a founda-
ton after the Rockefeller pattern, by
which he will turn over his millions
of dollars to the education, moderniz-
ing, and uplifting of the people of
the Philippine islands.
People Want independence.
Yangco is a bachelor. He is OF
sturdy build, affable, polished, and
democratic. He loves Americans for
what they have done for the Philip
pines and declares that the Filipino
Is not only capable of self govern
ment now but demands independence
for the islands.
And he predicts that in the next
few years the Philippine islands will
be one Of the richest spots on the
face OF the earth. Untold wealth, he
said, sleeps in the virgin soil and the
hills. It awaits only the magic touch
OF American capital and a little more
advancement on the part Of the ma
tives.
But to the fairy story Of half clad
Filipino boy sixty years ago that
makes the careers of Dick Whiting
ton and U. s. Grant look ordinary.
Career Of His Father.
That boy, the father of Teodore,
was then fourteen years old. He had
been living with an aunt who was
cruel to him. One night he packed
up his little scarf and ran away. He
lived in the out OF the way places In
Manila for little while, managing
somehow to keep soul and body to-
gether. Then he managed to get
few shining trinkets.
He told his friends he was going to
pay q visit to the head hunting Moros
on the southern island. They warned
him he would be killed and probably
served up for breakfast. He sneered
at the warnings and set out.
They met him on the shore and
asked him what he meant by coming
to them. BY way Of reply he spread
out the glistening trinkets before
them. They were interested. He
traded all the trinkets for their rice.
which he sent back to Manila in
crude boat.
Goes Out Again.
Then he got together some Of the
bright colored cloths of the Span.
iards and with a bag Of tin jewelry
left, on another voyage to the head
hunters. This time he returned with
two boatloads OF rice. The journeys
back and forth became more frequent.
Soon he built boat of his own. They
had no steamboats, then. After a
while he built two boats and then
four and then eight.
1t was but a few years before ne
was building other boats to run to all
the islands. Then ne began trading
with England and the continent. He
became an exporter and an importer.
Teodore, his second son, was ms
favnrite The father had money to
educate him and wanted him to be
a great man. He was sent to Lon
don.
Worked FOR Father.
He worked in his fathers stores.
He finally knew the business from the
Pat diad