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 […]
Unsigned handwritten instrument can be proof of filiation
Dear PAO, Julio and I loved each other, so we decided to live together. I was pregnant when Julio met an accident which resulted to his death. I gave birth to our son, but my problem is that the local civil registrar refused to reflect Julio’s surname in my son’s certificate of live birth since […]
Double pay for regular holiday is based on hours worked
Dear PAO, I am a nurse working in a hospital with rotating shifts from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. My daily basic salary is P800. On April 9, 2025, I worked from 10 pm until 6 am the next day. Upon receiving my pay […]
Validity of quitclaims | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, My former employer decided to close the company and cease operations. The management required me to sign a quitclaim before releasing my final pay and separation pay. I was forced to sign it because my brother was in the hospital, and we needed the money for his discharge. I recently found out that […]
Can an illegitimate child inherit from her grandparent?
Dear PAO,Can my girlfriend inherit from her paternal grandfather even if her parents were not married? Her father died when she was only about a year old. Ever since she was born until she graduated from college last year, her paternal grandfather had supported all her needs. Her paternal grandfather passed away a few months […]
Is it against Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for lawyer to borrow money from client?
Dear PAO,My brother secured the services of a lawyer to help him with the annulment of his marriage. About two years into their engagement, this lawyer obtained a loan from my brother, through his lending company, in the amount of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00). Unfortunately, the lawyer failed to comply with the terms of their […]
Mandatory certificate of exemption for nonmarital minors traveling with their father
Dear PAO, I am a father of two wonderful children. My partner and I aren’t married. Because of some irreconcilable differences, their mother and I fought for custody and by virtue of a court order, the custody of my children was awarded to me. I am planning for a family trip to the United States […]
Oral partition of property is valid
Dear PAO, I have a question regarding the property left to us by our parents. We are four siblings, and I wanted to ask if an oral partition is valid. Vicente Dear Vicente, Article 1079 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines provides for the meaning of partition, which states that: Get the latest […]