Ker and Co. Building [Iloilo City Cultural Heritage]

Ker & Co., Ltd. are exclusive distributors, shipping agents, insurance agents, and indentors.

Among the products sold by this firm are sewing thread, milk, fluorescent lamps, candies, coffee, baking powder, yeast, whiskey and wines, juice concentrates, wires and cables, outboard motors, hardware, wood preservative, etc. It is best to get in touch with their office for definite brands.

As general agents, they represent Guardian Assurance Co., Ltd., Phil. British Assurance Co., Inc., Phoenix Assurance Co., Ltd., and Sun Insurance Office, Ltd. As Sub Agents for shipping, they represent Columbian Phils. Inc., Citadel Lines, International Harvester Macleod, and American President Lines.

Text from: Iloilo for the Businessman published by the International Chamber of Commerce Iloilo (1973). CPU Henry Luce III Library

No exact date when established in loilo due to loss of records during the Japanese occupation. However, its Manila firm was inaugurated in 1827 with the title, Ker MacMickinz & Co. which was changed to Ker & Co. about 100 years ago when it established a branch in Iloilo.

The firm was principally concerned with the importation of British goods. Later it expanded to hemp, sugar, and copra trading. It was one of the first representatives of British insurance firms the most important of which up to the present is Llyods of London.

Read also: List of Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Sites