The gathering reflected two decades of relationships and friendships cultivated by Atty. Nilo Divina.
Tycoons, corporate executives, and some of the country’s most respected lawyers moved alongside TV personalities and socialites, with business and entertainment sharing the same space.
DivinaLaw started in 2006 as a five-lawyer firm in Makati founded by Divina, and has since grown into one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the Philippines.
“Twenty years ago, I made what many would describe as a very bold decision. I left a high-paying, stable job to organize and establish my own law firm,” Divina said.
“No certainty of success, just a vision, premised or anchored with the philosophy that client satisfaction will be our burning passion,” he added.
Now also serving as Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Law School where he graduated, Divina reminded guests of the firm’s humble beginnings as a team of four former students.
“All I could assure them, in fact, I assured them that I can afford to pay your salary for three years. But after that, we decide whether or not we made the right decision. To sink or swim with me after three years,” he said.
From that start, the firm has grown into one of the country’s top law practices, with a roster that includes some of the biggest names in business, politics, and everything in between.
For eight consecutive years, its lawyers have been recognized among the top 100 legal professionals in the Philippines.
Divina took the opportunity to thank employees, partners, and clients, most of all his pioneers who were early believers in the firm.
These were Antonio Go of Equicom Group, whom Divina credited as a benefactor and early mentor, Teresita Sy-Coson, chair of BDO Unibank, Benjamin Yao, chair and CEO of SteelAsia, Premium Securities, and the Antonio family of Century Properties.
DivinaLaw also paid tribute to its people, recognizing team members who have marked 5, 10, 15, and 20 years with the firm, highlighting the force behind its growth.
Together with its early backers, this contributions underscored how the firm evolved from a small startup into a trusted name among the country’s top business groups, before the evening shifted back to the celebration.
The night opened with a Mass, reflecting how Divina Law incorporates faith-based principles into its corporate philosophy, before transitioning into a refined Chinese banquet prepared by Shangri-La.
Ogie Alcasid took the stage first with a light, playful set that warmed up the crowd, before Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez followed with a set that carried the night forward.
The two later returned for a duet, drawing one of the night’s biggest reactions.
“I’ve never seen so many lawyers in one place at the same time,” Velasquez joked during a brief comedic moment between sets.
Later, Fra Lippo Lippi added a nostalgic close that gave the evening a different kind of energy.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
