When the “world’s most coveted trophy” lands in the hands of one of the most accomplished and awarded lawyers in the country today, one has to wonder what could come next for the man who has plenty more years ahead of him.

Atty. Nilo Divina — who is Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law, published author and DAILY TRIBUNE columnist — received another distinction in the 2025 Stevie Awards.

In its report, DivinaLaw said it received three awards at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, with #AskDivinaLaw earning a Gold Stevie Award and founding and managing partner Nilo T. Divina and Dulog Legal being recognized with Silver Stevie Awards.

Atty. Divina was recognized in the Thought Leader of the Year category for his contributions to the legal profession and leadership in legal practice.

The Stevie Awards are widely considered the world’s premier business awards, honoring the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and professionals worldwide. The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards specifically recognize innovation in business across 29 markets in the region. Winners are selected through a rigorous judging process by more than 100 executives from around the world.

This year’s winners were chosen from over 1,000 nominations and were formally recognized at the awards ceremony held in Seoul, South Korea, on 13 May.

The president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools is a multi-awarded lawyer whose long list of recognitions include being named one of the top 100 lawyers in the Philippines by the Asia Business Law Journal for six consecutive years (2018 to 2023).

In 2022, Divina was named Outstanding Thomasian Alumni for Law and Justice in the UST’s The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (TOTAL) Awards.

He was also named Executive of the Year for the Legal Industries in the 19th Annual International Business Awards

In 2024, Divina was recognized at the Stevie International Business Awards, receiving the Gold Award for Achievement in Web Writing/Content for his biweekly column in the DAILY TRIBUNE, "A Dose of Law," which also evolved into a podcast and TikTok series.

Among his awards, Atty. Divina values UST’s highest recognition as it upholds the “competence, commitment and compassion in their personal life and professional practice which are hallmarks of the Catholic and Thomasian identity.”

The TOTAL Awards is the highest alumni recognition that can be bestowed by the university and the UST Alumni Association.

Among others, Divina is also an enterprising individual who established a restaurant named after his mother, Aurora, and a man with a heart, his numerous charitable activities continuing to bring benefits to those in need.

What more could such a sterling, upstanding citizen do for his country now that he has proven himself professionally and personally beyond measure?

Perhaps a government assignment next? A place in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet? Now THAT would be something to watch.