To know what Sapalo Velez Bundang & Bulilan (SVBB) is today, its soul or character, if you may, would require more than a mere narration of events or accomplishments that took place in its thirty (30) years of existence. One has to recognize that SVBB embodies the values, strengths and weaknesses of the founders of the firm, namely: Eugene A. Tan and Ignacio S. Sapalo. After all, Eugene A. Tan initially and Ignacio S. Sapalo later on, made crucial decisions that set the direction, goals and values of the firm. Eugene A. Tan led the firm as Managing Partner for eighteen years since its establishment on August 1, 1976 up to November 1994 and Ignacio S. Sapalo, from January 1, 2000 up to the present.

Eugene A. Tan was an extraordinary person. Born in Roxas City, he graduated Valedictorian in both the secondary and tertiary levels at the Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion in Roxas City. He took up law at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law where his passion to excel led him to the top of his class (Class 1967). After passing the Bar in 1968, he worked as an Associate Attorney of the Ross Salcedo Del Rosario Bito & Misa Law Firm, specializing in Maritime Law. On August 1, 1976, he and Ignacio S. Sapalo formed the Tan & Sapalo Law Offices, with Maritime Law and Intellectual Property Law as their fields of specialization. He later joined the Faculty of the Ateneo School of Law and subsequently wrote a meticulously researched book entitled, “Philippine Law on Agency”. He coupled his love for the law with very lofty goals that he single-mindedly set out to accomplish. It did not take him long to win the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) and Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Awards. True to form, he became a President of many organizations, the more prominent of which were the Philippine Bar Association and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. His thoroughness in legal research, his will to win and his lofty ambitions are values SVBB retains up to now.

Like Eugene A. Tan, Ignacio S. Sapalo was a “probinsiyano”. He was born in a small town in Iloilo of parents who were mainly educators. He graduated Valedictorian in the secondary level at the St. Clements College in Iloilo City. At the Ateneo de Manila, he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree, major in Engineering. Changing his career path, he took up law at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law where he became a classmate of Eugene A. Tan. It was at the law firm of Ross Salcedo Del Rosario Bito & Misa where as an Associate Attorney, he began his career as a specialist in intellectual property. He also worked for two (2) years at the law firm of Sycip Salazar Feliciano Hernandez & Castillo. He abandoned a promising career at Sycip Salazar to form with Eugene A. Tan the Tan & Sapalo Law Offices. He soon taught various law subjects at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law. He remains a Professor of that school, teaching Patent Law.

In 1987, Ignacio S. Sapalo was appointed Director of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks & Technology Transfer (BPTTT). During his tenure, he overcame many bureaucratic obstacles to improve the services of the BPTTT and raise the level of awareness of intellectual property nationwide. He led the group that crafted Republic Act No. 8293, the Intellectual Property Code, and authored a book entitled, “Background Reading Material on Intellectual Property Law in the Philippines” published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. His managerial skills as Director of the BPTTT enabled him to complete these projects and more, although handicapped by limited resources

On January 1, 2000, Ignacio S. Sapalo took over the management of the firm. He started auspiciously by involving everybody in the formulation of the goals of the firm: to be the best intellectual property law firm in the country, a champion of seafarers’ rights, and provider of pro-bono services to the poor.

Many changes were implemented to achieve these goals.

New lawyers—graduates of Ateneo, UP and San Beda—were hired; the unit adjoining its present Ayala office was leased to provide more space and accommodate the growing number of lawyers and staff; and the quality and timeliness of the services of the firm were enhanced through automation.

On August 8, 2003, the first branch office of the firm was established in Iloilo City. Next was the branch in Cebu City which was inaugurated on August 5, 2005 Very recently, on June 27, 2006, the Cagayan de Oro branch of the firm was inaugurated. With these branches, in association with the Apostleship of the Sea, a Roman Catholic organization mandated to care for and promote the welfare of seafarers, SVBB is now able to serve the needs of seafarers in the Visayas and Mindanao, giving emphasis to helping their families cope with the distress caused by the absence of the father, or mother, or both.

SVBB is recognized worldwide as one of the top intellectual property law firms in the country. Its roster of clients includes industry leaders, such as Microsoft Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toyota Technical Development Corporation, Nestec Ltd., Nestle Philippines, Cadbury Schweppes, etc. It does not protect only foreign-owned intellectual property, however. It has taken up the challenge of helping fuel the fire of genius of Filipinos by making the patenting services of the firm affordable to them  With patent protection, they will enjoy a competitive edge when they market their inventions It will soon provide these services to Ateneo de Manila University, College of Science and Engineering, which is engaged in research and development on many emerging technologies. SVBB has the capability to draft patent applications relating to complex technologies, and prosecute them here and abroad. It has hired engineerlawyers and scientists of proven expertise in their fields of specialization who will undertake this task.

Considering that piracy and counterfeiting of intellectual property rights are increasing exponentially everyday, causing huge losses to legitimate businesses and economies of countries, SVBB and several retired generals, formerly of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army, formed an investigation and consulting firm named IPROBE, Inc. to vigorously enforce intellectual property rights.

More than six (6) years since the firm defined its goals, based on what SVBB has accomplished, it is clear that it focused its activities and directed its efforts to make SVBB become the best intellectual property law firm in the country, a champion of seafarers’ rights and provider of pro-bono services to the poor. Notwithstanding Shakespeare’s derogatory remarks about lawyers, lawyering is very much a noble profession. Lawyers apply their knowledge of the law to sort out, settle and resolve the countless conflicts among individuals, families and communities. On their shoulders fall the challenging task of ferreting out the truth in every case they handle, carefully balancing contending interests to reach fair and just results, and always staying within the bounds of the rule of law.