Guardians of the Law Through Time

In a profession defined by precedent and continuity, few institutions embody both as completely as Siguion-Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako (SRMO). As the firm marks 125 years of uninterrupted legal practice, it stands not only as the country’s longest-running law firm, but as a living chronicle of Philippine legal history itself. From the final years of Spanish rule to the complexities of modern governance, SRMO has remained steadily at work while the nation around it transformed.

Established at the dawn of the 20th century, the firm has practiced law through colonization, war, independence, authoritarian rule, democratic restoration, and repeated economic cycles. Its survival across eras was never a matter of inertia. Instead, it reflects a deep-rooted ability to evolve while remaining anchored to core professional values—integrity, rigor, and service.

Over more than a century, SRMO has quietly shaped generations of leaders who would later influence public policy, jurisprudence, business, and media. Its alumni include three former Senate Presidents—Juan Ponce Enrile, Ernesto “Ernie” Maceda, and Edgardo “Ed” Angara—each representing a different moment in the country’s legislative development. Others went on to establish or lead some of the Philippines’ most influential law firms and corporations, helping define the country’s legal and commercial landscape.

The firm’s legacy is equally strong within the judiciary and legal education. Distinguished former partners and associates have served as Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries, governors, regulators, and legal educators—extending SRMO’s influence far beyond private practice. This breadth of impact reflects the firm’s long-standing role as both a training ground and a proving space for excellence.

That tradition is reinforced by an exceptional record in the Bar Examinations, with multiple Bar Top 1 placers across decades and a steady stream of Top 10 finishers. These achievements point to a culture that prizes discipline, mentorship, and intellectual rigor.

For SRMO’s leadership, longevity has never been accidental. Each generation understands itself as a steward rather than an owner, entrusted to preserve the firm’s standards while preparing it for what comes next.

As it enters its quasquicentennial year, SRMO views 125 years not as a finish line, but as a reaffirmation of purpose—proof that institutions built on principle can endure, adapt, and remain relevant across centuries.