Defaulting buyer’s rights under the Maceda Law
Dear PAO, I agreed to buy an apartment unit, payable monthly for 10 years. I already paid one-and-a-half years’ worth of installments. However, recently, I was unable to pay due to financial constraints. The developer threatened to cancel our contract immediately. Are they correct? I would like to know what my rights are under the […]
Meet the Marine Biologist Who Works for a Hotel Chain
Carbon neutrality, zero waste and serving seafood solely from responsible suppliers: Many boutique eco-tourism destinations — particularly those catering to small numbers of luxury travelers — can reach or come close to sustainability goals such as these, but what about a decades-old resort company operating 97 properties across 14 countries? As the global director of […]
Can a foreigner inherit private land in the Philippines?
Dear PAO, I am an American citizen, and I have a friend who is a Filipino citizen and included me as one of his heirs in his will. In the will, my Filipino friend gave me a parcel of private land in the Philippines. I would like to know if such a disposition is valid. […]
How do Westminster Dog Show Participants Travel to New York? With Planning and Plenty of Treats.
Follow live updates on the 2024 Westminster Dog Show. The A-listers who traveled to New York this past weekend, gathering for the biggest event of their careers, arrived by car and driver, or on planes surrounded by entourages. They didn’t even carry their own passports, much less pack their kibble or squeaky toys. Each and […]
Refusal to undergo random drug testing
Dear PAO, We have a family business engaged in transporting passengers/commuters. Can refusal to undergo random drug testing be a valid ground for the dismissal of an employee? Lydia Dear Lydia, In the case of Kakampi and its Members, Victor Panuelos et al. v. Kingspoint Express and Logistic and/or Mary Ann Co, GR 194813, April […]
How the ‘Evil’ Tomato Came to Define Italy’s Cuisine
Meanwhile, prices for olive oil have soared — in Europe, up to 50 percent higher this January compared to January of last year — as production declines because of weather and disease, with millions of trees in Italy succumbing to the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, which scientists believe may have been brought over from Costa Rica […]
Issue of reasonableness of new rental may be resolved in ejectment, not in consignation
Dear PAO, My lease agreement with Lina is about to expire. She told me the lease may be renewed if the rent is increased to 200 percent. I offered a reasonable 50 percent increase, but Lina declined, and she demanded that I vacate the property after the expiration of our lease, or she would file […]
Big, Smoggy Bangkok Gets a Badly Needed Breath of Fresh Air
For more than half a century, Thailand’s state-owned tobacco monopoly mass-produced cigarettes at a sprawling industrial estate in Bangkok. A steady stream of heavy trucks brought raw tobacco into the heart of the city and hauled millions of cigarettes away. But now, that cancer-inducing complex has given way to something completely different: green space that […]
Section 10 (A) of Republic Act 7610 intends to punish with increased penalty crimes under Revised Penal Code
Dear PAO, An allegation was thrown against me for degrading the reputation of a teenage girl. The matter was brought before the barangay, however, the conciliation failed. When the barangay issued a certificate to file action, I was surprised that the offense indicated was for violation of Section 10 (a) of Republic Act 7610. I […]
How Airlines Are Using AI to Make Flying Easier
Last month in Chicago, a United Airlines flight to London was ready to depart, but it was still waiting for 13 passengers connecting from Costa Rica. The airline projected they’d miss the flight by seven minutes. Under normal circumstances, they’d all be scrambling to rebook. But thanks to a new artificial-intelligence-powered tool called ConnectionSaver, the […]