Jarvis Yap Ortega obtained his Bachelor of Laws from University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines. He was called to the Bar in 1995. In the Philippines, he notably worked as an Associate Lawyer at Richard W. Sison & Associates and in the firm of Hermosisima, Sison and Inso, and eventually became the Principal Partner of Ortega and Mayol Law Office. He practiced general litigation in the area of civil cases, criminal cases and corporate matters.