Why do most local chinese here (Philippines) Have hardware shops for business?

well my family don't own a hardware shop either... but my uncle's in manila have their own... i never really asks them why... now that you mention it i'm starting to wonder myself... but i guess that's because it's not seasonal and of course the owner is a male... i don't think a female would want to open a hardware store don't you think?

Let me guess, you're studying in La Salle... Your observation may be limited to Binondo, where because it our Chinatown, there are a lot of hardware owners who happen to be Chinese. Your observation is further colored by the fact that most Chinese people here are merchants. Historically, the Chinese came here to trade, and these traders later settled here, and therefore, there are a lot of Chinese merchants here. I did ask one Chinese merchant why they prefer the hardware business, and he said that the turnover is fast, and the merchandise are not perishable. Personally, I noticed that a lot of them have grocery stores. I think it is more correct to say that they are usually in the business of selling.