DivinaLaw has taken legal assistance to new heights — and new borders. The firm on 27 October officially launched its first international free legal clinic for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with Dulog Legal in Chongqing, China.
The landmark initiative, co-organized with the Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing, marks the 12th session of the Dulog Legal program since it began in 2022 as the brainchild of DivinaLaw managing partner Atty. Nilo Divina.
Teachers, engineers, and homemakers in Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan joined consulate staff both onsite and online for the event.
The session tackled some of the more common legal challenges Filipinos overseas face — from employment protection and contract rights to taxation, property law, citizenship, and recognition of foreign divorce, among other things.
Leading the initiative were DivinaLaw Senior Partners Edwin Uy, Aldren Francis Gonzales, and Gregorio Larrazabal, along with Partners Mary Jude Marvel and Floro Balato Jr. They were joined by Senior Associates Jennel Chu, Maria Carissa Guinto, and Joseph Lorenz Asuncion, as well as Associate Renz Ayongao.
For DivinaLaw, expanding Dulog Legal to China was a natural step. The firm is a proud member of the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project — the only member from the Philippines and Asia — and remains deeply committed to providing free legal help where it’s most needed.
According to Marvel, who leads DivinaLaw’s Dulog Legal–Pro Bono Services, the idea of starting in China began when she learned about the independent Philippine Consulate in Chongqing.
“When we reached out to them, everything just fell into place,” Marvel said.
She explained that legal education is crucial for Filipinos working abroad, especially in areas of contract enforcement, family law, and citizenship, all of which can become complicated when local and Philippine laws overlap.
“These are complex cross-border legal matters,” she said. “Even well-informed individuals may not fully grasp them without professional guidance.”
As for what’s next, DivinaLaw has yet to decide which country Dulog Legal will visit next. For now, they’re studying several possibilities — and the decision will depend on one key factor: the presence of an active Filipino community and consular support.
“Our focus will be guided more by community needs and consular partnerships than by geography,” Marvel said.
With its first international clinic a success, DivinaLaw’s message to OFWs is clear: wherever Filipinos are, legal help doesn’t have to feel out of reach.