By Dennis Gorecho
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers!” is an infamous line from William Shakespeare’s work titled Henry VI. This has been interpreted in different ways: a critique of how lawyers preserve the privilege of the wealthy and powerful; implied accolade of how lawyers stand in the way of violent mobs; and commentary on bureaucracy and anomaly of the rule of law.
Notwithstanding Shakespeare’s derogatory remarks about lawyers, lawyering is very much a noble profession, says Atty. Ignacio S. Sapalo, managing partner of the Makati-based Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) law offices.
Lawyers apply their knowledge of the law to sort out, settle and resolve the countless conflicts among individuals, families and communities.
Atty. Sapalo stressed that on the lawyer’s 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.
The 44 years of existence of SVBB law offices—during which it witnessed episodes of political turmoil and economic crisis—are a testament to the sterling character and resilience of the partners, lawyers and staff of the firm.
Established on August 1, 1976, the heart and soul of SVBB was forged by the vision and leadership of its founders, classmates Eugene A. Tan and Sapalo, both of the Ateneo School of Law batch 1967.
SVBB became one of the front-running law firms in the country engaged in intellectual property prosecution, maintenance, licensing, and enforcement.
Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds such as copyright, trademark, patent, utility model, and industrial design.
IP rights give the creator an exclusive right over the use of one’s creation for a certain period of time, ensuring that he is given due recognition or remuneration for his effort.
The governing local law is Republic Act 8942, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
SVBB later evolved into a full service law firm with diversified practice areas in Philippine law, including corporation/taxation, litigation and labor (specifically seafarers’ claims) with branch offices in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.
Given the important role of Filipino seafarers, SVBB remains as one of the leading movers advocating seafarers’ rights through initiatives showcasing its commitment to the principle of social justice.
The life of a seafarer is not a walk in the park as they are physically, mentally and emotionally stressed being away from their families and working on board vessels sailing the world’s oceans non-stop for months.
The risks of getting killed, injured or ill are high as seafarers are constantly exposed to several perils and fluctuating temperatures as the ships cross ocean boundaries.
The SVBB cooperates with various stakeholders, such as the church-based Apostleship of the Seas (AoS) Philippines, in ensuring better protection and more benefits for seafarers.
SVBB also believes that the best way to afford legal protection to seafarers is for them to be informed of their legal rights through nationwide paralegal lectures and through legal publications and radio programs.
“Serving with a heart; driven to challenge change!” is SVBB’s motto, which captures succinctly what the firm is, its culture and values in the protection of the clients’ interests with sensitivity, care, and attention.
“Serving with a heart,” in essence, is an adaptation of the dictum “No master but law. No guide but conscience. No aim but justice” that was immortalized by the well-revered jurist, nationalist and former Supreme Court Justice Jose Benedicto Luis Reyes.
In some aspects, lawyering is intertwined with “politics” in the classical sense of Plato and Aristotle, and viewed as “the art concerned with what it means to be a human being; what is the best life for a human being; and… the ways in which we can order our living together so that good human lives will emerge.”
“Change, indeed, is the rule of the day, but our basic commitment and obligation to protect the interests of our clients remain constant. As good lawyers, we will carefully balance contending interests to reach fair and just results, and always staying within the bounds of the rule of law,” Atty. Sapalo said.
SVBB is committed to perform the noble task of upholding justice with excellence and professionalism, for the good and interest of society, especially the poor and underprivileged.
Atty. Dennis Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.