Ownership and infringement of copyright in commissioned digital artworks
Dear PAO, I am an artist who offers digital art services through various social media platforms. One time, I was commissioned to make a printed digital painting of a customer’s dogs. Thinking the art would be for the customer’s personal use, I agreed to send the soft copies of my works when requested. To my […]
Purchase money resulting trust | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, My parents bought a certain land, but the title was transferred to my brother Jeff. We are all living in the house built on said property. When my brother died, his heirs claimed ownership over the property, arguing that their father was the owner as reflected in the Torrens Title. My mother reminded […]
Donations to the National Library are tax-exempt
Dear PAO, Our family is an advocate of culture and literacy. For as long as I can remember, we have always been active in donating to different charities and foundations. Recently, we have been contemplating giving a donation to the National Library of the Philippines. I was just wondering if our donation will be subject […]
Artists should be paid appropriately
Dear PAO, In the showbiz industry, not all artists are paid generously. As a small struggling artist, my rate differs depending on the project. Sometimes I get paid more than the minimum wage, but other times even less. Is it right for our employers to pay us below the minimum wage? They say it is […]
Exclusion of some intestate heirs in the execution of extrajudicial settlement of estate
Dear PAO, I have a friend who was previously married in 1995, and they had three (3) children. In 2015, my friend’s spouse passed away. Subsequently, my friend remarried and had two (2) more children. Unfortunately, my friend passed away last year, on Dec. 23, 2024, to be exact. The three children from her first […]
Decriminalization of premature marriages | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, Before my husband died, he told me that he wanted me to re-marry if he dies due to his illness. We were not able to conceive any child, so he wanted me to have a family, he said. He died last January 2025. I met someone in April 2025, and we plan to […]
Exclusion of some intestate heirs in the execution of extrajudicial settlement of estate
Dear PAO,I have a friend who was previously married in 1995, and they had three (3) children. In 2015, my friend’s spouse passed away. Subsequently, my friend remarried and had two (2) more children. Unfortunately, my friend passed away last year, on Dec. 23, 2024, to be exact. The three children from her first marriage […]
SSS compulsory coverage of sea-based OFWs
Dear PAO, I have an uncle who is currently fifty-five (55) years old. He worked as a seafarer in different foreign vessels. When he went to the Social Security Systems (SSS) to avail of his retirement benefits, he found out that his contributions had not been paid by his principal employer. So, he asked for […]
Prescriptive period for filing GSIS separation benefit claims
Dear PAO, I worked as an administrative aide for the Philippine Statistics Authority from August 2002 up to October 2015. Last February 2025, I filed a separation benefit claim before the GSIS. However, my claim was denied due to prescription. I just turned 60 years old last December 2024 and the proceeds from the GSIS […]
Application for registration of land
Dear PAO, Our ancestors have been in open, continuous, exclusive and notorious possession of an agricultural land in Bacolod since March 1945. In 2023, we planned to apply for an original certificate of title for the same land. However, the said agricultural land was only declared by the government as alienable and disposable land in […]