Rico Paolo Rausa Quicho hails from the historic town of Mariveles, Bataan. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a professional banker. He finished grade school in his home province and thereafter, attended the Marist School in Marikina where he completed high school.

As a boy growing up in the province, his perception of a lawyer was limited to the stereotypical—a barong-clad man who is a respectable member of the community. He describes his path towards becoming a lawyer as a ‘natural progression.’

“I read a lot.” And often his relatives would quip, “Eto si Rico, magaling magsalita, bagay mag-abugado ito.” His notion of lawyers later developed when he left his hometown for high school.

He took up Political Science at the De La Salle University-Manila. He observed that his competencies and skills were aligned in the said field. “I love reading, argumentation, and research.”

After earning a degree at De La Salle, he did not enter law school at once and instead took a gap year to earn more experience and more maturity. He volunteered in some NGOs and people’s organizations for about a year. Thereafter, he pursued his law degree at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. 

Even as a dean and a professor of law, he says that he is a student as well, constantly learning as he goes along. The realization that there is always something new to learn keeps him motivated in the profession.

PHOTO: RON GONZALES / @rongonzalesphoto

A sophisticated lawyer that he is, he knows good food and fine whisky. He has an eye for what is respectable and what is crass. In other words, he knows how to live. But he is no sybarite. Nothing evokes much of his appreciation of simplistic pleasure than his favorite local dish—adobong puti. For sentimental reasons, this dish has always reminded him of his late father, Antonio, who used to cook the said dish for his family. No doubt, he would still prefer his father’s adobong puti over the luxurious Wagyu steak which he also admits to liking. The reason? He knows how to remember and appreciate the meaning and memories associated with something, no matter how simple it is.

With gratitude, he recounts that he had a very happy childhood in Bataan. “Life was so simple and uncomplicated.” He grew up with his father’s ‘tough love’ and his mother who ‘would always be there’ for him. “My mom would always be my constant,” he said warmly. “I’m very fortunate that my parents raised me and my brother very well. And up to now I’m very grateful for that.”

His parents raised him to be prepared for life’s hardships, and for this he gives due credit to them. “Palagi nilang sinasabi, and this I always tell my kids: ‘Life is very difficult, so you have to be prepared.’ And I think as parents, that is the greatest challenge—how to prepare our children for so many eventualities, for failures, hardships, setbacks.”

His morning routine begins in prayer. After freshening up, he runs as his exercise, if it is not a busy day. Emails of pleadings by his associates greet him as he takes his coffee. Aside from leading his law firm, he is currently the Dean of the Universidad de Manila – College of Law. Hence, starting his morning right is imperative to fulfilling his responsibilities for the day.

---

As a boy growing up in the province, his perception of a lawyer was limited to the stereotypical—a barong-clad man who is a respectable member of the community. He describes his path towards becoming a lawyer as a ‘natural progression.’

---

Despite the busy mornings, he never misses a day without having breakfast with his mother, Marilou. “Every morning, I see to it that I spend time with her. Minsan nakakapag-usap kami, minsan hindi na. But just the mere fact that I’m with her, in front of her, within her presence, that starts my day.”

The pandemic also has its silver lining, in one way or another. He has been spending more time with his children and his loving wife, Joy. Like him, his wife Atty. Elita Joy G. Pinga-Quicho is also in private practice. She is also in the academe, being part of the University of the Philippines – College of Law faculty.

“Diego, Sophia, Maxene—my kids. They’re really my north star.” He continues, “They inspire me, keep me going, make me get better. I would really want to set a good example. I want to lead them. And hopefully I would be able to leave a good legacy for them.”

We asked him what is the central aspect that he considers before making any important judgment. He said that he always thinks about how his children would view his decision. “I always pray and then after that, I think, ‘anong sasabihin ng anak ko?’” More than six years ago, he was asked the same thing—his answer never changed.

The Lawyer

He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University – School of Law in 2003 and passed the Bar exam on his first take. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2004. He entered Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako Law Offices, a private law firm which he credited for giving him the best possible legal training. It was in the private firm that he was able to build on the fundamentals—from drafting pleadings to how one should present themselves in court. He spoke highly of his mentors who took him under their wing and guided him during his early years in the profession.

His passion for learning did not wane even after a decade into practice.  He was accepted in the University of California, Berkeley where he obtained his Master of Laws degree with a Certificate on Specialization in Law and Technology in 2015. He was a scholar of the Asia Foundation.

Looking back, during his law school days, he describes himself as an average student. “I was just an average student. I know what I can do. I know what needs to be done. But I really work very hard.” 

It’s hard to imagine that considering his accomplishments as a young lawyer, he admits that was just like any ordinary law student—except that he had to balance his priorities when he became a father while in law school. At the age of 23, he knew what to focus on. “Back then, priority really was to pass law school and build that family,” he recounted.

The impeachment trial of the late Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona was an eye-opener for the young lawyer. Atty. Quicho recalls that his experience as part of Chief Justice Corona’s legal defense team was a humbling opportunity.

“I volunteered,” when we asked how he became part of the legal team. He remembers that he was with his mentor Atty. German Lichauco II, who is a partner at Siguion Reyna, when they heard the embattled Chief Justice delivering a speech calling lawyers to fight for judicial independence and rule of law. He said that he was fortunate that people vouched for him to be part of the defense team which consisted of prominent lawyers.

---

“ I never questioned what’s happening in my life, because I know there are answers after.”

---

By 2015, he would later be the Spokesperson for Political Affairs of the beleaguered Vice President Jejomar Binay. Nearing the 2016 presidential elections, he once again finds himself part of a turning point in the nation’s history.

At that time, a career in politics was just around the corner for the promising lawyer from Bataan. Nevertheless, he still considers himself fortunate that such plans did not push through for he was able to do the things close to his heart—most importantly spending time with his family.

Aware of the realities of life, he does not see himself as a crusader. Instead, he considers himself as a disruptor. He wants to trailblaze.

PHOTO: RON GONZALES / @rongonzalesphoto

“I never questioned what’s happening in my life, because I know there are answers after.”

He believes that as long as he knows his purpose, his role in the society; he should not question what’s in store for him along the way.

But what gets you the farthest in the legal profession?’ We asked him. Is it knowledge, connections, skills, confidence?

“It’s humility,” he assured, without doubt. “Humility in a sense that I’m very conscious that I do not know everything, that I do not have the monopoly of good intentions. So, I always try to learn. If I commit mistakes, I’m always ready to apologize. If I fall short of my objectives, I always get back on track and push forward.” Humility, it would seem, takes a lot of courage as well.

“While you’re young, don’t be afraid of redemption. Kasi yung iba, natatakot if they commit mistakes eh. But redemption is free. You always have your entire lifetime to make amends, be better. Do not leave anything to chance.”

The Educator

In the classroom, he was known to be tough. From long case lists to difficult exams, Atty. Quicho had a reputation for expecting more from his students. To choose his class was in itself a test of a student’s willingness to not only learn, but also to go beyond the traditional way of studying law. Memorizing and reciting codal provisions is not enough, for he needed to see the student’s thought process, the references they used, the arguments they could craft in the novel problems he presented.

He frequently stresses that he gives the most importance to the process and that he wants his students to ponder, evaluate, and analyze. Though the job is one that works on precedence, he wants his students to think innovatively and appreciate the operability of laws. Perhaps it is his Atenean roots always demanding from him and his students to embody magis, a Latin word and core Atenean value meaning “more” or “greater”.

During online class, he says that he strives to be innovative in finding ways to connect with his students. As the pandemic has made face-to-face classes impractical, professors need to think of ways to keep their students engaged despite the varying environments.

“I think teaching is important because you would have the opportunity to touch a generation of thinkers, of learners, and hopefully, you plant good seeds that would be harvested in the next years to come,” is his response to the question “why teach?”

PHOTO: RON GONZALES / @rongonzalesphoto

He occasionally takes a slight departure from the Socratic method—the predominant way in law school—and adopts other forms of teaching methods, such as the Harkness discussion. In using the Harkness method, the burden of driving conversation is shifted to the students, allowing them to introduce their own ideas and opinions on a subject. Nevertheless, he still believes that the Socratic method is the most important technique in teaching law as it helps with retention of concepts and doctrines.

In addition to his practice, deanship, and teaching load, Atty. Quicho took on the additional task to become a bar mentor for a group of SBCA-SOL graduates in preparation for the recently concluded 2020/21 Bar exam. With his teaching and mentoring style being more hands-on with his mentees, it is quite impressive how he is able to manage his time between his many endeavors. The secret, it would appear, is that he sees new challenges as a blessing, a testament to his hard work and the trust people have in him. “Opportunity only knocks once,” he once quipped, showcasing his overall attitude to work.

The Filipino

Towards the end of the interview, we could not leave without getting to know Atty. Quicho’s opinions on certain matters involving the country today. The lawyer has never shied away from politics and being involved in hot-button issues.

“I still want to be very optimistic about it, but I won’t bet on it…so hopefully it will change sooner or later,” he says about the direction the country is headed. He takes a few pauses in between answers, pauses ripe with thoughts waiting to be prodded.

He describes the government to be ‘in a state of inertia,’ lacking the external force to get the wheels moving. As a country, it is as if we are in a constant game of catch-up, lagging behind not only Western countries but even among our contemporaries in Asia.

He speaks at length of the changes needed in the legislature, stating that it should be more progressive. There is a dire need for laws catering to and protecting the rights of marginalized groups, such as women, children, LGBTQ, farmers, and urban poor. A clear policy direction on technology would also seem to be lacking. Without missing a beat, he names several areas in technology that should have been long developed.

But despite all these, he remains a proud Filipino. “It’s our resilience,” he says, “that gives me pride as a Filipino.” He believes that by owing to our mistakes and harnessing our strengths, we will be able to move collectively towards progress. And by repairing our nation’s fractured identity, we could never be steered off the course.

“We need someone who would unify and would have the political will to think outside the box.” A strong leader, he describes, would be one who inspires positive change. With the upcoming presidential elections on the brain of most Filipinos today, he also notes that, while election day is important, it’s really what the nation does after the results that would define our future.

With more than a decade of experience which placed him in the forefront of national issues, the man refused to keep his silence at a time of rampant impunity. On April of 2020, he initiated a criminal case against Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III for an alleged violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, for violating health protocols intended to restrict the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

So we asked him, why take the risk? What can we learn from it?

“You know, it is always difficult to go against the powers that be. But at the end of the day, we know what is right, what is wrong, and everyone knows the truth. I act based on what is right and what would help,” he answered. 

He believes that although everyone has an opinion, no one is allowed to change the facts. “I’ve been to so many battles and I’m never afraid because I know I have to fight for what is right. But people would have different versions of the truth. I always tell them: ‘you are entitled to your interpretation of the truth but you are not entitled to work on the facts.’”

He firmly believes that we Filipinos still need to work on our identity as a nation. “Once we have our identity,” he says, “we can never go wrong.”

PHOTO: RON GONZALES / @rongonzalesphoto

---

“You know, it is always difficult to go against the powers that be. But in the end of the day, we know what is right, what is wrong, and everyone knows the truth. I act based on what is right and what would help.”

---

For him, the definition of justice is simple but profound. “Justice is doing what is right and preventing what is wrong.”

In his eighteenth year in the profession, he remains hungry and passionate to take on more challenges and to scale even greater heights. “I hope marami pa akong magawa and marami pa akong ma-achieve. I really look forward to that.”

And so do we. ∎

---

Atty. Rico Paolo Quicho is currently the Dean of the Universidad de Manila – College of Law and a law professor at San Beda College Alabang – School of Law. Aside from being a professor in Remedial Law, he is also the founding partner of the Quicho Law Offices, a full-service private law firm based in Ortigas, Pasig City.

In his free time, Atty. Quicho enjoys running, swimming, and cycling. He also likes travelling and enjoying good food with his family. Atty. Quicho is also the host of his weekly podcast, The MaLAWpet Show, which streams on Facebook and Youtube every Thursday.

He is happily married to Atty. Elita Joy G. Pinga-Quicho and is blessed with three wonderful children: Diego, Sophia and Maxene.