Hardware firm gets new office building

Successfully restoring a heritage building is one big reason to celebrate and the blessing of the Co Ban Kiat Building II in Binondo, Manila made it an even more joyous occasion.  The majestic building on Juan Luna St., named after its first owner Cmdr. Samuel J. Wilson, was built in 1936 by Marion Karolchuck, the man behind the construction of many edifices in the Philippines. During the course of its rich history, the building has housed several financial institutions.  This year, the same building was fully restored to serve as the headquarters of one of the few pioneering hardware businesses in the country — Co Ban Kiat Hardware, Inc. founded in 1924 and now headed by Johnny Cobankiat as chairman and president.  The Cobankiat family came in full force:  Johnny’s lovely wife Aida and children Co Ban Kiat Hardware vice president for sales and marketing Jan Vincent Cobankiat and vice president for IT and logistics Jan Wesley Cobankiat and Coby’s managing director Charlene Cobankiat-Tiu were at the ribbon-cutting which was followed by a sumptuous lunch and the traditional dragon dance for luck and success. The guest list was mostly comprised of representatives from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc., the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc., bankers and big businessmen.