His father, Don Eduardo Soriano Sanz, was a Spanish engineer who migrated to Philippines in the late 19th century.

His employees described his leadership as known for having "his word was law", and that includes deciding the "flavor of the month" in Magnolia Ice Cream, one of the company's products.

He was also actively involved in rebuilding San Miguel after the war and its further expansion with the acquisition of the Balintawak Beer Brewery in Polo, Bulacan.

[9] After becoming a Filipino citizen, Soriano served as secretary of finance, agriculture and commerce during the wartime cabinet of the Quezon administration.

[10] Soriano also served with USAFFE and later as a colonel on General Douglas MacArthur's staff in the Southwest Pacific Theater.