Blessed with adequate rainfall, its vast fertile plains produce a big volume of rice, sugar and mangoes. This

spawned Villaruz’s turtle tiller and Jaspe’s thresher, very useful inventions which were also commercially successful. The presence of SVBB in Iloilo, with its expertise in intellectual property, will encourage Ilonggos to invent more.

Atty. Joenel T, Alipao earned both his Bachelor of Arts Degree, major in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City. He is a Professor at the University of Iloilo College and St. Paul’s College. His practice areas include admiralty and maritime, criminal, civil, labor and agrarian laws.

Atty. Myra A. Duremdes obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree, major in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws Degree from the Central Philippine University, Iloilo City.

Nestled right in the heart of the Visayas, Cebu City, the capital of the province of Cebu, is the second most important urban center in the country. It is the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay. Metro Cebu has a total population of more than two million people and is home to many national and international corporations and the Mactan Export Processing Zone.

One of the Philippines’ main shipping hubs, both local and international, it is home to more than 80% of the country’s inter-island shipping companies. Its international cargo and container port is currently the busiest outside Metro Manila, that is why a vast number of seafarers come and reside in Metro Cebu and the Apostleship of the Sea built the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center there.

By putting up a branch office in Cebu City, SVBB would be able to provide seafarers more timely and efficient service and meet the growing need of a fast growing city for world-class legal services.

Atty. Juan Javier F. Paras obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree, major in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and Juris Doctor in Law from the Ateneo de Manila University. He is a professor at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu City teaching labor laws. He handles labor, admiralty and maritime claims, intellectual property, civil and other litigation matters.

Within a 30-minute drive from Cagayan de Oro City is a sprawling industrial estate of the Phividec Industrial Estate where the recently completed international container port is located, together with pioneering sintering and smelting plants.

In putting up a branch office in Cagayan de Oro, the only Manila-based law firm to do so, SVBB hopes to protect intellectual property rights generated by its dynamic economy.

Considering that a majority of seafarers in Mindanao are found in Northern Mindanao, working closely with the Apostleship of the Sea, SVBB can provide excellent legal service to them and their families thru its Cagayan de Oro office.

Atty. Romeo B. Fortea earned his Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of the East. He has been in the practice of law for twenty-six years. He was a former in-house counsel to various companies like Kumho Construction, Aguirre Group, John Clements Consultant and Fil-Estate Group. He moved and established his private practice at Cagayan de Oro City in 1991. He was past president of the Rotary Club Carmen Valley, District 3870, past director of the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and is now the auditor of the local chapter of the IBP.