MANILA, PHILIPPINES — SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), one of the country’s largest professional services firms, celebrates its 75th Anniversary this 2021. Established in 1946 as a one-man accounting firm by its esteemed founder Mr. Washington SyCip, SGV has grown to become a pre-eminent name in the Philippine and global business community. Despite the numerous challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, SGV continues to pursue its Purpose of nurturing leaders and enabling businesses for a better Philippines.
75th Anniversary logo
To create an iconic, visual representation of the Firm’s ideals, strong foundation and enduring legacy, SGV has developed a commemorative logo to be used this year. The logo revisits distinct icons from SGV’s past, specifically, elements of the first three buildings SGV occupied – the Trade and Commerce Building in Binondo (1946-1956), the SGV Building on San Luis St., which is now called T.M. Kalaw (1956 -1965), and the SGV 1 Building on Ayala Avenue (1965 – present). It represents SGV’s deep roots and long-standing values, upon which the firm continues to build on to rise to even greater heights.
The tagline “Above and Beyond” emphasizes this upward-looking ambition while also highlighting SGV’s track record of going the extra mile to deliver value-added services to all its clients and stakeholders.
Washington SyCip Centennial
Last 30 June, SGV held a virtual celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of its founder, Mr. Washington SyCip. WS, as he was fondly called by many, is remembered as one of the pioneers of the Filipino accounting profession. Born on 30 June 1921, WS was considered one of the best business minds in Asia and was widely respected for his wisdom, insights, and business acumen.
WS is credited not only for founding SGV & Co., but also institutions like the Asian Institute of Management in 1966 and organizations like the Philippine Business for Social Progress in 1970. After his retirement from SGV in 1996, he also continued to sit on the boards of numerous top local and international organizations. WS believed deeply in the Filipino talent and potential, and his personal advocacies included worthy causes such as basic public education, poverty reduction, microfinance, entrepreneurship, and the arts.
Mr. SyCip passed away in 2017 at the age of 96. “While WS is no longer with us, his legacy and achievements will continue to live on through the institutions that he helped built and in the heart of every past, present, and even future SGVean,” says SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan.
The Washington SyCip Centennial Celebration was initially streamed via KTX and is now available for replay for a limited time. The link may be found on the SGV and WS Centennial social media pages and on the newly revamped website www.washingtonsycip.org.
