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150 couples in Kasalan sa Pasko
Around 150 couples are preparing to get married at the upcoming Kasalan sa Pasko (Wedding on Christmas) event in Davao City. The event, organized by the Local Civil Registrar, will take place at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center. Couples from remote barangays, including tribal communities such as Ata, Matigsalug, Bagobo-Klata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, and Obu Manuvu, have participated in the registration process. The requirement for the event is the birth certificate of the couple or any other proof of their birthplace and date. The office offers free registration and a Certificate of No Marriage Record (Cenomar) to encourage early registration. Couples who have been cohabitating for over five years will exclusively benefit from free registration and Cenomar. For independent marriage arrangements, couples must present the same requirements but pay for the Cenomar themselves......»»
Delivery bag checklist before giving birth
Mary Mason once said, “A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years and in your heart till the day you die.” During a woman’s pregnancy, one of the things she meticulously prepares is her delivery bag. A delivery bag consists of new mother’s and baby’s essentials when the baby is born in a hospital or clinic. If you are nearing your delivery due date, around eight months, and haven’t had any idea what to bring, check out this basic list. [gallery size="large" columns="1" ids="200378,200381,200382"] For newborn Baru-baruan or newborn clothes set — At least two pieces of tops (either sleeveless or with sleeves), shorts or long pants, a pair of mittens and booties and a baby cap. Liquid soap — To wash off some fluids or vernix (the white, cheesy-looking substance that coats the newborn’s skin), a mild liquid soap is necessary. The baby’s first bath will be done by a lying in or hospital staff after giving birth. Diapers — Bring at least two to five pieces of newborn diapers. A good quality diaper should be super absorbent, gentle on baby’s skin, great fit and made of eco-friendly materials. Bib or small, soft cloth — This can come in handy to protect the baby’s delicate skin and clothes from spit-up, breastmilk and drool. Have at least three pieces. Receiving blanket — A thick blanket helps protect the baby from the cold air. Choose colors either blue or pink for easy gender identification. Plain white is also good. [caption id="attachment_200379" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] THE baby’s first bath will be done by the lying-in or hospital staff.[/caption] For mommy Dress — Bring at least two to five nursing clothes to make your breastfeeding journey more manageable and comfortable. It’s easy to put on, easy to loosen and easy to take off again since it doesn’t put any pressure on your postnatal body. Adult diapers — Carry at least six to eight pieces of adult diapers to help absorb leakage of excess blood after giving birth. Maternity pads — After the adult diaper phase, maternity pads give extra protection after child birth. Toiletries — These include liquid soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, bath towel, deodorant and cotton buds. You can add wet wipes and tissue, too. Slippers — Wear your slippers before going to the hospital or lying in. Scrunchie, comb and mirror — Stay clean to avoid any infection and you also feel better after giving birth. Comb your hair to look good as well. Liters of water — Be extra hydrated by drinking at least 16 cups of water a day to help you produce breastmilk round the clock. Documents and IDs — These are given requirements from the hospital or lying in, as well as your baby’s identification for birth certificate. Bring at least two government IDs. Speaking of government IDs, update your PhilHealth contributions to avail of maternity hospital coverage. Ideally, keep the delivery bag by your house door or any accessible place so it’s easy to grab and go when the time comes. Start ticking off this checklist now! The post Delivery bag checklist before giving birth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lapid seeks 20% discount for indigent jobseekers
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid on Tuesday filed a proposed measure seeking to provide a 20-percent discount to indigent jobseekers when they acquire government documents and clearances required during their applications. Once passed into law, Senate Bill 2382 or "Indigent Job Applicants Discount Act” would grant “20 percent discounts for indigent job applicants in the payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by government agencies for employment application.” “He who has less in life should have more in law,” Lapid said, referencing former President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.’s credo which he said inspired him to craft the bill. Lapid underscored the need to provide equal opportunities to indigent Filipinos seeking to be employed. “It is the humble intention of this proposed measure to encourage and assist indigent job seekers in securing gainful employment,” he said. He said the labor opportunities “are seen to be one of the prospective windows that can help improve the well-being of indigent citizens and their family's quality of life.” “Therefore, availment of productive employment opportunities is essential for achieving poverty reduction and sustainable economic and social development,” he added. SB 2382 will cover clearances issued by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, marriage and live birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority, and transcript of records and authenticated copy of diploma from state universities and colleges. It also includes medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital licensed by the Department of Health, and medical certificate for foreign employment from any DoH-accredited medical facility for Filipino overseas workers; Tax Identification Number and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from indigent job applicants. Qualified beneficiaries include those whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, and as identified and certified by the PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring System, as established under Republic Act No. 11315. The city or municipality shall issue the “certificates of indigence” based on the latest CBMS data. Under the bill, any public officer or employee who refuses or fails to provide the benefit granted to the indigent job applicant shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less P5,000 but not more than P20,000. Prosecution for an offense shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service law, rules and regulations. Meanwhile, a job applicant who misrepresents or falsifies any document to avail of benefits or abuses the privilege granted them shall be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the Revised Penal Code, and shall suffer perpetual disqualification from availing of the privileges under this Act. Lapid noted that a counterpart measure from the House of Representatives has been passed on third and final reading last 22 May. The post Lapid seeks 20% discount for indigent jobseekers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Proving filiation (2)
A scrutiny of the records would show that petitioners were born during their parents’ marriage. The certificates of live birth would also identify Danilo de Jesus as their father. There is perhaps no presumption of the law more firmly established and founded on sounder morality and more convincing reason than the presumption that children born in wedlock are legitimate. This presumption indeed becomes conclusive in the absence of proof that there is physical impossibility of access between the spouses during the first 120 days of the 300 days that immediately precede the birth of the child due to the following: (a) the physical incapacity of the husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife; (b) the fact that the husband and wife are living separately in such a way that sexual intercourse is not possible; or (c) serious illness of the husband, which absolutely prevents sexual intercourse. Quite remarkably, upon the expiration of the periods outlined in Article 170, and in proper cases Article 171, of the Family Code (which took effect on 03 August 1988), the action to impugn the legitimacy of a child would no longer be legally feasible, and the status conferred by the presumption becomes fixed and unassailable. Thus, applying the preceding pronouncement to the instant case, it must be concluded that the petitioner —who was born on 5 March 1945, or during the marriage of Alfredo Aguilar and Candelaria Siasat-Aguilar and before their respective deaths — has sufficiently proved that he is the legitimate issue of the Aguilar spouses. As the petitioner correctly argues, Alfredo Aguilar’s SSS Form E-1 (Exhibit “G”) satisfies the requirement for proof of filiation and relationship to the Aguilar spouses under Article 172 of the Family Code; by itself, said document constitutes an “admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a private handwritten instrument and signed by the parent concerned.” Petitioner has shown that he cannot produce his Certificate of Live Birth since all the records covering the period 1945-1946 of the Local Civil Registry of Bacolod City were destroyed, which necessitated the introduction of other documentary evidence — particularly Alfredo Aguilar’s SSS Form E-1 (Exhibit “G”) — to prove filiation. It was erroneous for the CA to treat the said document as mere proof of open and continuous possession of the status of a legitimate child under the second paragraph of Article 172 of the Family Code; it is evidence of filiation under the first paragraph thereof, the same being an express recognition in a public instrument. To repeat what was stated in De Jesus, filiation may be proven by the admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a private handwritten instrument and signed by the parent concerned, and such due recognition in any authentic writing is, in itself, a consummated act of acknowledgment of the child, and no further court action is required. Relative to the said form of acknowledgment, the Court has further held that — given the pronouncements herein made, the Court sees it fit to adopt the following rules respecting the requirement of affixing the signature of the acknowledging parent in any private handwritten instrument wherein an admission of filiation of a legitimate or illegitimate child is made: Where the private handwritten instrument is the lone piece of evidence submitted to prove filiation, there should be strict compliance with the requirement that the same must be signed by the acknowledging parent; and Where the private handwritten instrument is accompanied by other relevant and competent evidence, it suffices that the claim of filiation therein be shown to have been made and handwritten by the acknowledging parent as it is merely corroborative of such other evidence. (To be continued) The post Proving filiation (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Use of father’s surname, the child’s decision
The misdeeds or oversights of parents cannot and should not disgrace their children. It is for this basic precept that Philippine laws have granted non-marital children (formerly called “illegitimate” children) a myriad of rights akin to — if not totally similar — those of marital children (formerly called “legitimate” children). Notably, their appellation has been changed to a more appropriate description of their parents’ civil status at the time of their birth rather than the birth’s supposed “legitimacy.” Non-marital children are now permitted to carry their father’s surname upon compliance with requirements set by law and related regulations. While Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines provides non-marital children’s successional rights, Republic Act 9255, which took effect in 2004, boosted these rights by allowing them to use their father’s surname if their filiation has been recognized by the latter in accordance with some preconditions. The Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA, consequently, revised the implementing rules of RA 9255 in 2016 to better effectuate the wisdom of the law, especially considering the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Grace M. Grande v Patricio T. Antonio (G.R. No. 206248, 18 February 2014), which states that neither the father nor the mother is granted the right to dictate the surname of their non-marital children. Instead, the law gives non-marital children the right to decide whether or not they will use their father’s surname. Just recently, PSA issued Memorandum Circular No. 2023-14, which further revised the implementing rules, providing that prevailing rules shall have retroactive effect for all births occurring within or outside the Philippines where a Filipino is concerned. The Office of the Civil Registrar General also amended the same implementing rules through Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2023, so that existing laws and regulations about the use of non-marital children of the surname of their father shall apply to those born during the effectivity of the Family Code of the Philippines or from 3 August 1988 with (a) unregistered births and (b) registered births, where non-marital children use the surname of their mother. Considering these changes, should non-marital children prefer to use the surname of their father, there must exist an express acknowledgment by the latter of the former through any of the following: (a) affidavit of admission of paternity found at the back of the child’s certificate of live birth; (b) affidavit of acknowledgment; or (c) private handwritten instrument signed by the father with his express recognition of the child as his for the rest of his life. These documents shall be filed before the local civil registry where the birth is registered or, in case of unregistered births, where the child is born. Absent the express acknowledgment from the father, the non-martial child cannot use the father’s surname. How, then, is an admission of paternity filed? The father, mother, or non-marital child of legal age may file the affidavit of admission of paternity or affidavit of acknowledgement. In the case of a private handwritten instrument, the same should be personally filed by the father. If the father is deceased, the private handwritten instrument may be filed by the non-marital child, who is of legal age, or the non-marital child’s mother. Should the local civil registry find the requirements complete and without issue after review, the non-marital child’s new surname shall be annotated on the existing certificate of live birth; it shall not be supplied on the portion intended for the last name. The above rules do not include the assignment of a middle name for a non-marital child. An additional Supplemental Report should be filed to supply the child’s middle name on the certificate of live birth. It must be remembered, however, that the non-marital children’s use of the surname of their father does not necessarily make them marital children in legal contemplation — it plainly permits them to publicly use such surname, e.g., in their identity documents like passport, school and employment records, and other documents. There is a separate process for the conversion of a child’s status from non-marital to marital called legitimation. *** For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Use of father’s surname, the child’s decision appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Undergrads with more than 5 years work experience can get a bachelor’s degree
The House of Representatives on late Monday approved on final reading a bill that seeks to allow undergraduates who have been working professionals with more than five years of experience to earn a bachelor's degree. With 251 affirmative votes, the lower chamber passed House Bill 9015, or the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act, wherein working professionals who, for some reason, were either unable to finish or completely unable to step into college to obtain a bachelor's degree. The ETEEAP program, operated by virtue of Executive Order 330 signed by the late then-President Fidel Ramos on 10 May 1996, allows working professionals to still earn a bachelor's degree without going through traditional schooling methods. Under the House-approved measure, senior high school graduates, post-secondary technical-vocational graduates, and college undergraduates who have become professionals with an aggregate of five or more years of work experience could obtain a college degree. The legislation requires that undergraduates utilize the knowledge, experiences, achievements, and skills they acquired via their employment to earn academic credits, which would then be deducted from the overall number of units or credits necessary for graduation. Undergraduates are also required to fulfill the requirements of Section 10 of the Alternative Learning System Act (RA 11510), to obtain certification from the Department of Education. Undergraduates of at least 23 years of age and with at least five years of work experience are eligible to apply under the program. Other requirements include a completed ETEEAP Application form, certification of passing the DepEd's accreditation and equivalency assessment, employment certificates, birth certificates, resume, curriculum vitae, service record or employment certificate, and job description signed by the employer and a transcript of records. The Commission on Higher Education, which will spearhead the provisions of the proposed law, will be given additional powers and functions in relation to the ETEEAP. The post Undergrads with more than 5 years work experience can get a bachelor’s degree appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A history of storytelling through art collections
Narrative art is art that tells a story. It uses visual images of a sequence of events unfolding over time or an ongoing story to evoke emotions and capture one’s aspirations or culture. Narrative art preserves the past for future generations across diverse cultures. One of the country’s top bankers, Edwin Bautista, president of Union Bank of the Philippines, and his wife, professor Aileen Beltrano Bautista, debuted their private collections at the Salcedo Auctions titled Private Art, Public Lives, featuring A Passion for Connections: Objects and their narratives from Edwin and Aileen Bautista collection. “It’s a full story,” said Edwin when asked about the collections’ narrative. “The exhibit starts with the pre-colonial era. Basically, (Ferdinand) Magellan. There’s a portion that shows trade with China. Some ceramic pieces and gold pieces of jewelry that ancient Filipinos wore. This is like telling the story of how life was before the Spaniards came. That portion ends with the arrival of Magellan and his death at the Battle of Mactan.” The Bautistas’ collection of pre-colonial art pieces illustrating historical events of life before the Western World discovered the Philippines brings our imagination to life and provides us insights into our ancestors’ sophisticated artistry and rich culture. Philippine birth certificate An interesting collection is the map section that tells the story of the Philippines through maps and how the Philippines was seen in the eyes of the Western World. The collections trace the evolution of the Philippines through maps, Edwin said. The first Philippine map, which is also called the Birth Certificate of the Philippines, shows the first time the whole archipelago was officially named the “Philippines.” According to Edwin, there are only about three or four copies of that map. Some of the original maps do not show the island of Luzon. “Remember it was only after the third expedition of (Miguel Lopez de) Legazpi that the Spaniards landed in Luzon. Before him, there was only the Visayas. So you have Magellan and then Villalobos.” One of the most important collections in that section is the Murillo Velarde map or the Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Islas Filipinas (Hydrographical and Chorographical Chart of the Philippine Islands). The map was the first map made in the Philippines and first published in Manila in 1734 by the Jesuit cartographer Pedro Murillo Velarde, the engraver Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay and the artist Francisco Suárez. The Velardo map played a critical role in the Philippines case in The Hague for our claim over the West Philippine Sea islands as the 1734 map showed that the Spratly Islands, named Los Bajos de Paragua, and Scarborough Shoal, named Panacot, were part of “Las Islas Filipinas” constituting the Philippine archipelago during the Spanish regime. There were also old Philippine flags captured by the American soldiers during the Philippine-American war. But Bautista traced most of them and bought them from private collectors. Personal collections Edwin said all of the art pieces in the exhibit were from his and his wife’s own collection. They did not even know most of the artworks existed before they started their collection. His passion for the arts was ignited when he started collecting amulets (anting-anting). “My focus then was how to make the narrative full. It’s easy to collect amulets because there is an organized group of Filipinos who believe in them.” As for the source, he used to scour eBay, visit auction houses or even get tips from Buddhists and other religious groups. But for the Salcedo Auction exhibit, the Bautista couple commissioned well-known playwright and director Floy Quintos, who also owns the Art Gallery Deus in Manila. Floy shared: “The exhibition begins with two large ivory corpus that embody the very pinnacle of both Filipino craftsmanship and spirituality. It ends with contemporary folk amulets and carvings that speak for the enduring, resilient folk spirit of the Pinoy.” “In between these objects, many narratives have unfolded. The range of objects offers perspective and insights into our history, spirituality and creativity. The collection of Edwin and Aileen Bautista brings all these objects together to tell a story of our evolving nationhood. “From the blood, sweat, tears and passion of Edwin and Aileen Bautista comes the art collections worth preserving. The art pieces are the stars of our history, but the collectors connect all their stories to create a wonderful narrative. They inspire, educate and even entertain the public with their passion for the arts and gripping perspectives on our history and heritage.” The post A history of storytelling through art collections appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI operatives arrest S. Korean pretending to be Filipino
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Sunday the arrest of a South Korean who pretended to be Filipino. BI Intelligence Deputy Chief for Mindanao Melody Penelope Gonzales said that on 5 September, the Bureau conducted an operation at Sitio Mojon in Barangay Langub, Davao City, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 11, the Police Station, and other government intelligence units, which resulted in the arrest of a Korean national who was identified as Kim Jinkoon, a 58-year-old male. Gonzales added that Kim was the subject of a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco after being found to be a fugitive from justice in South Korea, facing a total of seven cases filed against him. The Bureau also learned that Kim’s passport had already been canceled by the South Korean government which makes him an undocumented alien. Kim was arrested following a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Region 11, when he presented himself as a Filipino and insisted on applying for a Philippine passport, presenting identification cards, and claiming that his name was Allan Sun Duran. Upon verification with the South Korean government, his cases in his country revealed that he is an undesirable alien. He initially resisted arrest, insisting that he was a Filipino, but records from the Korean government had shown him a fugitive. Later, Kim admitted that he obtained his Philippine birth certificate in 2008 through an unidentified Filipina fixer. Kim is now temporarily detained at the BI Davao District Office prior to his transfer to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, where he will face immigration charges for overstaying and undesirability. The post BI operatives arrest S. Korean pretending to be Filipino appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heaven, NAIA mess, easy way out
Dear Editor, Who wants the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA to remain one of the worst airports in the world? Nobody. But who sells or disowns his child just because the child is problematic? Nobody either, except the loveless and crazy. The Marcos Jr. administration has just formally kicked off the sale of NAIA to the private sector. But for unknown, real/deeper sense and repercussion, what does this mean? Letting one’s knee touch the canvas during a boxing matchup means surrender. Alas, this is exactly what the government tries to do in pushing its knee hard to the floor. Or in doggedly pushing to privatize the “helplessly” beleaguered NAIA. It is the way to “solve” the mess at the country’s premiere airport, or so they thought. But what is the use of government if it can’t compete with the private sector in efficiency, governance, and modernization? What can private people do that public officials can’t, with all the yearly budget (in trillions of pesos) at their disposal? Cryptic. Hindi ba gobyerno pa nga ang dapat magpakita ng pinakamagaling, pinakamoderno at pinakamagandang halimbawa para sa lahat sa bansa (Shouldn’t the government be the one to show the best, most modern and best example for everyone in the country) to serve as a standard/benchmark for excellence? If a government can’t set the right example for everyone, then how can its people expect something good to come out of it? There is more than meets the eye to all these NAIA brouhahas/shenanigans. The main challenge lies in our officials’ capability, effectiveness, and wisdom in solving the ongoing issues at NAIA. What sane reason does the Department of Transportation and Communication (or Malacañang) have to privatize NAIA? Are they admitting that the private sector or business people are better off than them in the area of managing and administering? If that’s the case, then Filipinos would do well to have these private people take over every single office in the government. Or could there be something behind the “privatization” move that only those behind are aware of? Given the ever-escalating prices of rice and other agricultural/local products, the needless importations, the unabated smuggling, and the hoarding that causes artificial shortages of rice, sugar, salt, onion, meat products, etc., in the market, would it be bad to suggest that we privatize the Department of Agriculture, following the government’s touted line of thinking in wanting to privatize NAIA? Easy, lazy way out. Time to break the cycle, this vicious cycle of “privatization,” lest Filipinos someday find the entire country privatized “wisely”. Easy, lazy way out. I had a wonderful experience of government efficiency on 30 August 2023, when I went to the central office of the Philippine Statistics Authority along East Avenue to get an authenticated birth certificate. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do my purpose anymore because I came very late due to the rain and heavy traffic. But I got the surprise of my life, having found the PSA staff (including the guards) very accommodating and friendly, quick to respond. The processing of papers was highly systematic, cogent, instantaneous, and ingenious. The counters and machines, and the whole big, wide people area were well arranged and ventilated. Admirable. I arrived at 4:30 pm and I left at 4:50 p.m., with my authenticated birth certificate. Wonderful. No delays, hassles or inconvenience. And no exaggeration. For the first time, I felt like I was in heaven — inside a government office, unbelievably. True to its motto, the PSA is “Solid. Responsive. World-class.” You can do it (Philippians 4:13) at NAIA and elsewhere, dear government. But do away with privatization. Reni M. Valenzuela renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com The post Heaven, NAIA mess, easy way out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Binay: Focus on modern info tech instead of burdening Filipino travelers
Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday said the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking should focus more on maximizing modern technology and profiling improvement to fight human trafficking in the country instead of burdening Filipino travelers with strict document requirements. Binay, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tourism, said that the revised departure guidelines set by the IACAT are very restrictive to Filipino travelers “yet inconclusive in stopping human trafficking. Hence, the senator said the IACAT and other related agencies should also be mindful of improving their profiling of travelers as she finds the policy of providing additional travel documents "coercive, restrictive and redundant." Binay said the presence of technology is there to make it convenient for passengers and make them feel secure. Technology also plays a huge role in curbing human trafficking, she added. "Kung kaduda-duda talaga ang background ng byahero at kasamang biktima (If a traveler's background is indeed suspicious including the victim)—that's the time immigration people should do their jobs of cross-checking the info they have in their database and compare it to the claims of the person in question,” Binay further stressed. She then appealed: ”Let's maximize the use of information technology to correctly profile travelers.” Binay lamented that immigration officials should use a combination of methods and criteria to determine travelers who may pose a security risk. “We all know that visa applications are all scrutinized for accuracy and consistency. Kapag medyo kaduda-duda ang impormasyong nakalagay, expect an outright rejection of your application. Ang dapat sigurong higpitan yung mga babyahe papunta sa countries na walang visa at mataas ang human trafficking cases—in this case, cross referencing is necessary to check the background of a particular traveler,” she said. The Department of Justice and Bureau of Immigration, she said, must deploy officers who are well-trained to interpret data contextually and make informed decisions based on the info at hand. Of course, human judgment is prone to mistakes that's why oversight is essential. Kaya dapat trained professional ang nasa frontlines to treat every traveler with respect and sensitivity, at magkaroon tayo ng mechanisms to address false positives to protect an individual's rights," Binay further stressed. The IACAT recently announced the imposition of the revised guidelines for Filipinos leaving the country beginning on 3 September. Under the revised guidelines, outbound passengers should present the basic travel documents consisting of a passport with at least six months validity from the date of departure; an appropriate valid visa whenever required; a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, if necessary; and a boarding pass. For tourists, immigration officials may also ask for proof of hotel booking/accommodation, financial capacity or source of income; passenger’s declared purpose of travel, proof of employment, and other similar documents. Immigration officials may also ask outbound travelers for a copy of their original Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate or report of birth or marriage certificate/report of marriage, copies of documents of sponsor, valid work visa or permit, residency permit, or any equivalent document, overseas employment certificate, e-receipt, or OFW clearance for OFW sponsors. If traveling through a relative’s sponsorship, an original affidavit of support and guarantee duly notarized by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate/Honorary Consulate must be presented. The post Binay: Focus on modern info tech instead of burdening Filipino travelers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOJ: Revised departure guidelines to boost Phl’s anti-human trafficking efforts
The Department of Justice stressed that the revised departure guidelines for international-bound Filipino travelers primarily target to boost the government measures to fight human trafficking in the country—far from claims that it was intended to intrude on people’s privacy and impede traveling rights. In a news forum on Saturday, DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said the decision of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to revise the departure guidelines really aims to reduce “the grave menace of human trafficking” in the country. Clavano further explained that the 2023 revised IACAT guidelines were culled out from the 2015 policy. Thus, the IACAT is not imposing additional documentary requirements on travelers, he said. “Hindi po totoo na additional requirement dahil hindi naman ho iyan required. ‘Pag mayroon lang red flags, ‘pag mayroon lang nakitang inconsistency sa kuwento or hindi na-meet iyong standard po ng ating mga Immigration Officers, doon lang sila magtatanong (It is not true that we require additional requirement because it’s not required. If there are red flags, if there are inconsistencies in their stories or if they did not meet he standards of immigration officers—then questioning will follow),” said Clavano. The IACAT earlier announced it will implement revised departure protocols for Filipinos traveling abroad beginning 3 September. Senator Risa Hontiveros appealed to the Bureau of Immigration not to “bully” Filipino travelers who are going abroad when it starts imposing stricter regulations starting next month. As the author and sponsor of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and one of the lawmakers who exposed the scam hubs within and outside of the Philippines, Hontiveros said she believes it is absolutely imperative for the government to ramp up its efforts in fighting human trafficking. “I believe it is absolutely imperative that we do more against human trafficking. I am aware of the magnitude of this serious global problem,” she added. “Ngunit hinihingi ko din sa ating BI na huwag naman maging bully sa ating mga Pinoy na turista. Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayan na maka-relax o makabisita sa kanilang pamilya ng walang malaking abala (But my appeal to the BI is not to bully our Filipino tourists. Let’s give our compatriots a chance to relax and visit their families without much hassle),” she added. Senator Francis Tolentino hopes that the revised guidelines won’t become another burden to outbound Filipino travelers. In a radio interview on Saturday, Tolentino urged the IACAT to simplify the requirements for Filipino travelers and their processing going through the immigration counters at the airports. Tolentino said the agency should also enhance their information drive on required travel documents and the process of undergoing immigration interrogation. The senator added there must be a “synchronized” process so that Filipinos who wish to go abroad can travel smoothly. In imposing the revised guidelines, Hontiveros hopes the BI would also impose stricter policies for travelers entering the Philippines. “Sana ay kung gaano kahigpit ang BI sa mga palabas ng Pilipinas ay ganoon din ito kahigpit sa mga papasok sa bansa (Hopefully, as strict as BI is on those travelers going out of Philippines, it will also be as strict on those entering the country),” she said. Hontiveros lamented that Filipinos traveling outside the country should not be treated as second-class citizens within Philippine airports. Under the revised guidelines, outbound passengers should present the basic travel documents consisting of a passport with at least six months validity from the date of departure; an appropriate valid visa whenever required; a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, if necessary; and a boarding pass. For tourists, immigration officials may also ask for proof of hotel booking/accommodation, financial capacity or source of income; passenger’s declared purpose of travel, proof of employment, and other similar documents. Immigration officials may also ask outbound travelers for a copy of their original Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate or report of birth or marriage certificate/report of marriage, copies of documents of sponsor, valid work visa or permit, residency permit, or any equivalent document, overseas employment certificate, e-receipt, or OFW clearance for OFW sponsors. If traveling through a relative’s sponsorship, an original affidavit of support and guarantee duly notarized by the Philippine Embassy, Consulate, or Honorary Consulate must be presented. Clavano urged outbound travelers especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), to follow the revised IACAT guidelines, by preparing the required documents before proceeding to immigration counters at the airports, to ensure hassle-free processing of their travel documents. “Well, this is really not a hindrance to the right to travel. Ito po ay isang polisiya ng ating gobyerno na i-eradicate or tigilan na talaga itong malawak at malalim na problema ng human trafficking,” he said. The post DOJ: Revised departure guidelines to boost Phl’s anti-human trafficking efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What’s in a name?
“Yes, Mr. Dimasapoc,” I told my fictional client over the phone. “You can have your name changed when you apply for US citizenship.” “That’s good to know,” Mr. Dimasapoc said, a tinge of relief in his voice. “Uh, can I change it to any name I want?” “Yes, as long as it’s not offensive or repulsive or against the law.” So, that’s how much he hates his birth name, Juan Palatac-bo Dimasapoc, I thought. “Actually, I was thinking of changing it to something more American-sounding, something cool and modern,” he said. “But I’ll think about it some more.” He thanked me and hung up after saying he would call again for an appointment. Yes, there is nothing that prohibits a US naturalization applicant from changing his/her name as part of his/her citizenship application — as long as the new name is not repugnant to morals or basic decency or against the law. For example, a person cannot be named Messiah or Santa Claus, or Adolf Hitler, according to some US court decisions (per usbirthcertificates.com). There are even US court rulings that declared King and Queen as off-limits for use as a person’s moniker. Apparently, that is not the case in the Philippines, where royal-sounding names are popular as middle-class sobriquets, probably because the Filipinos — unlike the Americans — have no historical beef against the ruling monarchies of the olden days. In other countries, specific word names are forbidden such as Snake, Circumcision, Sex Fruit, and Anal, among others (again, per usbirthcertificates.com). Indeed, it is doubtful if these porno-flavored appellations can pass muster even in legally permissive democracies such as the US and the Philippines. Interestingly, Filipinos have a habitual propensity, bordering on the insane, of using nicknames that are “repeat-syllable” types such as Bongbong, Noynoy, Junjun, Tingting, Dondon, Wengweng, and Lotlot, just to name a few, although Uncle Sam has a fair share of “repeat-syllable” names in circulation as well, such as Toto, Jojo, Bebe and the famous (Lady) Gaga, among others. One could just imagine if the syllable Pi or Ti or Pek or Pok or Pu or Su had been among the favorites in the Philippines. Regardless of whether or not these various name idiosyncrasies are permissible within the US immigration system, it is a must that any name change request be expressly indicated on the US citizenship application form (Form N-400) and affirmed in person before a US Citizenship and Immigration Services or CIS officer for it to prosper. Otherwise, the applicant will have to do it outside of the naturalization process which is not only costly but is time-consuming as well. If submitted properly, the applicant will be asked to sign a petition for a name change during the citizenship interview which will be submitted to a federal court after the citizenship application has been approved. Prior to the oath-taking ceremony, the petition will be signed by a federal judge and will be handed over to the newly-minted US citizen during the actual oath-taking event along with the certificate of naturalization. From that time on, Uncle Sam’s new subject will be able to use his/her chosen moniker. Continuing with Mr. Dimasapoc’s saga, he called again a week after the initial phone call to set up an appointment for his US citizenship case. We agreed on a date and time for an office visit. Before he hung up, he blurted out, quite excitedly: “By the way, Attorney, I have already decided on a new name.” “That’s good. What will it be?” “Jonjon Tacboparra Dimasapoc, Attorney. J.T. Dimasapoc, for short.” I guess logic trumps vanity, after all. The post What’s in a name? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rule 108 on substantial change
Ramon filed a petition under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court, with the trial court for the correction of his name on his birth certificate from “Ramon Corpuz Tan Ko” to “Ramon Corpuz Tan”. He argued that all his life, he only went by the latter name; that is without the “Ko”. He submitted as evidence all documents he deemed necessary to justify the correction of his birth certificate. The trial court went through the proceedings. The court, upon rendition of judgment, dismissed his petition. It decreed that while Rule 108 was correctly invoked, Ramon did not comply with what is incumbent upon him in adversarial proceedings. The court noted that his petition involved a substantial correction, which under the rules, clearly mandated adversarial proceedings and not merely a summary. It opined that Ramon should have impleaded his mother in the proceedings. For his failure to do so, his petition could not be granted. Of course, Ramon did not agree to this. He argued that the dropping of the name “Ko” was no substantial correction and thus, his mother was not necessarily a party. The trial not giving in to his plea, Ramon elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals. The higher court, however, disagreed with him. It affirmed that the lower court that it is indeed a substantial correction. Ramon thus now had no other alternative but to resort to Supreme Court. The issue to be resolved before the Highest Court is whether his request for correction, that is the removal of the name “Ko” from his name is substantial or not. If it is, then indeed adversarial proceedings should have been observed. If not, then a mere summary hearing could be had. Thus the Supreme Court ruled: “Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court governs the proceeding for the cancellation or correction of any entry concerning the civil status of persons which has been recorded in the civil register. “In Republic of the Philippines v. Valencia, the Court declared that a petition for correction of entry under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court covers not only clerical errors, but also substantial changes. The difference lies only in the procedure which would govern the correction sought. “If the correction is clerical, then the procedure to be adopted is summary. If the rectification affects the civil status, citizenship, or nationality of a party, it is deemed substantial, and the procedure to be adopted is adversary. “A clerical error is one which is visible to the eyes or obvious to the understanding; an error made by a clerk or a transcriber; a mistake in copying or writing, or a harmless change such as a correction of a name that is clearly misspelled or of a misstatement of the occupation of the parent. On the other hand, substantial or contentious alterations may be allowed only in adversarial proceedings, in which all interested parties are impleaded and due process is properly observed. Substantial and controversial alterations include those which may affect the citizenship, legitimacy of paternity or filiation, or legitimacy of marriage. The issue to be resolved before the Highest Court is whether his request for correction, that is the removal of the name ‘Ko’ from his name is substantial or not “Corrections in the name, whether of the owner of the Certificate of Live Birth or any of the parents indicated therein, may also involve substantial and controversial matters which would require an adversarial proceeding. “In this case, the alleged error could not be considered a clerical error or a readily apparent mistake. Contrary to the petitioner’s claim, the correction sought would definitely have an effect on his filiation with the persons named in his Certificate of Live Birth. “As aptly observed by the appellate court, the name ‘Tan Ko’ has been consistently used not only in the entries for petitioner’s name, but also for that of his parents. In entry No. 7, the name of petitioner’s father was entered as ‘Tan Ko,’ while his mother’s name was entered as ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ in entry No. 12. Furthermore, his mother, as the informant for petitioner’s birth certificate, signed as ‘T.C. Tan Ko’ in entry No. 17. “Verily, the ‘correction’ of petitioner’s name from ‘Ramon Corpus Tan Ko’ to ‘Ramon Corpuz Tan’ would necessarily affect not only his name, but also the names of his parents as entered in his Certificate of Live Birth. “As correctly explained by the appellate court, altering petitioner’s surname from ‘Tan Ko’ to “Tan” would, in effect, be an adjudication that the first name of his father is indeed ‘Ko’ and his surname ‘Tan.’ Clearly, the correction would affect the identity of petitioner’s father. Moreover, there would be a need to correct his mother’s name from ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ to ‘Trinidad Corpuz Tan.’ This would require deleting the word ‘Ko’ from ‘Tan Ko’ and changing the letter “s” to ‘z’ in ‘Corpus.’ Following Benemerito, to effect the correction, it would be essential to establish that ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ and ‘Trinidad Corpuz Tan’ refer to the same person. A summary proceeding would certainly be insufficient to effect such substantial corrections.” The facts and quoted part of the decision are from Ramon Corpus Tan v. Office of the Civil Registrar et al. G.R. 211435 promulgated on 10 April 2019. The post Rule 108 on substantial change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
KZ Tandingan hinarang ng sekyu sa sariling concert: Kulang na lang pakitaan ko si Kuya guard ng birth certificate
ISANG nakakalokang rebelasyon ang ibinahagi ng singer at songwriter na si KZ Tandingan ukol sa isang pangyayari sa kanyang naging concert noon. Nagkaroon kasi ng guesting ang singer sa podcast nina Antoinette Jadaone at JP Habac na “Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast” kung saan pinag-usapan nila ang mga naging concert experiences nila. Dito nga ay naikuwento ni […] The post KZ Tandingan hinarang ng sekyu sa sariling concert: Kulang na lang pakitaan ko si Kuya guard ng birth certificate appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
KZ Tandingan hinarang ng sekyu sa sariling concert: Kulang na lang pakitaan ko si Kuya guard ng birth certificate
ISANG nakakalokang rebelasyon ang ibinahagi ng singer at songwriter na si KZ Tandingan ukol sa isang pangyayari sa kanyang naging concert noon. Nagkaroon kasi ng guesting ang singer sa podcast nina Antoinette Jadaone at JP Habac na “Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast” kung saan pinag-usapan nila ang mga naging concert experiences nila. Dito nga ay naikuwento […] The post KZ Tandingan hinarang ng sekyu sa sariling concert: Kulang na lang pakitaan ko si Kuya guard ng birth certificate appeared first on Bandera......»»
BI responds to alleged 10-birth certificate demand on traveler
The Bureau of Immigration has responded to a widely shared social media post by a female traveler who said she was asked by an immigration official to produce 10 birth certificates of her family members. According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, while they have yet to receive the full report and investigation, initial information showed that the unnamed passenger's travel was deferred because of multiple red flags. The traveler, who initially attempted to depart late last month, claimed she was travelling to Taiwan to visit a distant relative. But during the assessment, the immigration officer noted that there was no mention of possible work in Taiwan. The traveler was also unable to establish her relationship with her sponsor and had numerous inconsistencies when asked to provide basic details about her sponsor. According to the BI officer who checked her travel documents, her personal capacity to sustain herself during the 14-day trip was also not established. The BI chief added that the traveler was reminded to secure proper working documents. Following the Department of Justice’s guidelines on departure formalities, departing passengers whose purpose and capacity are not fully established may be sponsored by a relative within the fourth civil degree. Tansingco also said that travelers need not worry as long as they have the appropriate documents that match their actual purpose of travel. Many travelers are coming in and out of the country with no issues, he stressed, and only those with conflicting documentation are subjected to further inspection. The post BI responds to alleged 10-birth certificate demand on traveler appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coast Guard hiring until 20 June
The Philippine Coast Guard is accepting application for commissioned officer or enlisted personnel until 20 June this year. Earlier, Commodore Jay Tarriela, deputy chief of the Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management, said they are expecting an additional 4,000 recruits this year to reach the 30,000 quota for 2023. Licensed nurses are also being recruited. Eligible applicants are 21 to 28 years old, with good moral character, single, at least five feet tall, and physically and mentally fit. The PCG said qualified applicants should submit a duly accomplished application form, birth certificate (Philippine Statistics Authority-issued), National Bureau of Investigation Clearance, college diploma, transcript of records and 4R colored full body picture to the Coast Guard Nursing Service, Coast Guard Base Taguig, 56 M.L. Quezon Street, New Lower Bicutan, Taguig City. Nurse applications will be accepted until 19 June 2023. Meanwhile, 476 male recruits finished their training at the PCG Regional Training Center Taguig last 9 June. PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu led the graduation ceremony of the Coast Guard Non-Officers’ Course Class 95-2022 “Mandilaab.” In his speech, Abu urged the graduates to maintain their emotional, mental and physical toughness to have a strong public service. He also encouraged the graduates to always be humble and live the ethos of being a “servant leader.” The post Coast Guard hiring until 20 June appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indispensable parties must be impleaded
Rule 108 of the Rules of Court provides the procedure for the correction or cancellation of entries recorded in the civil register. These may be records of birth, death, marriages or their annulment, legal separations, filiation, and changes of name. As provided in Section 3 of said rule, “when cancellation or correction of an entry in the civil register is sought, the civil register and all persons who have or claim any interest which would be affected thereby shall be made parties to the proceeding.” Note that a judicial action will be instituted, and indispensable parties must be impleaded. In the Republic of the Philippines v. Salome C. Timario (G.R. 234251 promulgated on 30 June 2020), Salome asked the trial court to correct the name of her father from Pedro Langam to Antonio Casera and her year of birth from 1949 to 1950 in her birth certificate. This is brought about by her discovery that she had an earlier birth certificate that erroneously indicated Pedro as her father and that she was born in 1949. After due proceedings, the trial court granted her petition and ordered the correction of the corresponding entries as prayed for. The Office of the Solicitor-General, representing the State, however, objected on procedural grounds. It argued that it was furnished a petition only after a decision was rendered and that the necessary parties were not made part of the proceedings. Accordingly, there being a denial of due process, the proceedings must be considered void. The trial court refused to reverse itself. It argued that its opposition was already mooted by the issuance of the decision. In addition, the non-inclusion of the other parties was cured by the fact of publication in the major dailies. The State then brought the matter to the Court of Appeals. The appellate court, however, sustained the trial court. Undaunted, the State appealed the matter to the Supreme Court. Thus, declared the Highest Court: “Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court outlines the procedure for cancellation or correction of entries in the civil registry. The proceedings may either be summary or adversary, depending on whether the correction sought is clerical or substantial. If the correction is clerical, the procedure adopted is a summary. Otherwise, it is adversary. Corrections in either name or names of an individual’s parent or parents in his or her birth certificate involve substantial matters which require an adversarial proceeding. The provision is plain and clear. All persons who stand to be affected by a substantial correction of an entry in the civil registrar must be impleaded as indispensable parties. Failure to do so renders all proceedings subsequent to the filing of the complaint including the judgment ineffectual. This requirement hinges on the fact that the books making up the civil register and all documents relating thereto may only be the facts therein contained. Indeed, if the entries in the civil register could be corrected or changed through mere summary proceedings, the door to fraud or other mischief would be set open, the consequence of which might be detrimental and far-reaching. Here, respondent failed to implead her two (2) purported fathers “Pedro Langam” and “Antonio Casera”, her mother “Rosenda B. Acasio” and her siblings in violation of Section 3, Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court. Respondent had known from the start that she had two (2) registered fathers “Antonio Casera” and “Pedro Langam”. She knew her mother “Rosenda Acasio” and all her siblings. Yet, she failed to implead them and offered no explanation therefor. All told, the petition for correction of entries below should be dismissed. The trial court’s failure to acquire jurisdiction over indispensable parties rendered all proceedings therein, including the decision itself, void.” See how fatal it is not to follow procedural requirements. While a party’s cause may be meritorious, doing a shortcut will only lead to a disastrous ending. As I have written before and I thus write again, always follow the technical requirements to the letter. It is a mortal sin for us lawyers to lose based on technicality. That is what I always emphasize to my lawyers. Citations are from the Rules of Court and the case above mentioned. Facts are also from the same case. The post Indispensable parties must be impleaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl launches eGov Super App
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday asked government agencies to adopt e-governance to improve the delivery of services to the public as the country launched the eGov Super App, the country's first one-stop-shop platform for national and local government services. In his speech during the launching of the eGov SuperApp at Malacañang Palace in Manila, Marcos said that the government must keep up with the rapid pace of technological adoption and facilitate the development of interconnectivity infrastructure. "Our Government must keep up with that frantic pace, and it is frantic, and facilitate the rapid development of our interconnectivity infrastructure to allow our economy to ride the wave and open up an ocean of opportunities for prosperity," Marcos said. The President also stressed that the country "cannot compete on an even basis unless you are highly digitalized both in the private and public sectors." Marcos reiterated what he said during his first address to the nation last year: "We are in the midst of an age of exponential adoption of technology." He added that the Philippines had fallen behind in e-governance, citing a survey showing that only five percent of Filipinos do their transactions with the government online. "We cannot do (transactions) online with the government. We have to go to the office. We have to collect the birth certificate, documentation, and clearance, then go to the government office. They say: 'You're missing one document,' and the Filipinos must return to that office. And they do all of these things," Marcos added. To address this, Marcos said that the government is pushing for the passage of the E-Governance Act of 2022, which would promote the use of ICT in government operations. The bill –– which House Speaker Martin Romualdez, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and Tingog Sinirangan Party-List Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre filed last June 2022 –– would establish a national e-governance framework and create a central agency to oversee its implementation. Marcos said that the E-Governance Act is "essential" to the government's goal of transforming the economy. "This is going to be another building block in the foundation of our economic transformation," Marcos said. He also mentioned the issuance of the national ID is critical or that is important or that's necessary for the conduct of business with the government. Now that the Department of Information and Communications Technology launched the eGovPH "super app," Marcos said the Philippines could compete with neighbors in the global market. "This is a very good step, and we will continue to push this; we will need the partnership, not only of our government agencies but also of the private sector because the private sector also has concerns in this regard, especially when it comes to cybersecurity," Marcos said. The e-GovPH super app, considered a one-stop-shop platform for local and national government services, could be downloaded in the Google Play and Apple application stores. Among transactions that could be done in the application include SIM registration, local government unit services, job application, tourism information, start-up empowerment, healthcare information, and feedback. To use all the application functionalities, one should sign up and undergo identity verification, including submitting a live selfie. Once the initial verification is complete, users will receive an eGov Digital ID and a QR code. However, according to DICT Secretary Ivan Uy, not all government agencies are currently integrated with the application. Still, efforts are underway to establish those connections. The post Phl launches eGov Super App appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suspected trafficking victim intercepted at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration reported that an overseas Filipino worker was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Tuesday morning for misrepresentation. The female OFW was intercepted before she was able to board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Jeddah to work as a household service worker. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco shared that the OFW, who was victimized by an unscrupulous agency, presented documents stating that she is 24 years old. Tansingco added that it was apparent in her demeanor that something was off, and she was obviously younger than her presented age. The victim was able to present a passport with a valid working visa stating that she was 24 years old. However, officers were able to discover that the birth certificate she carried was altered. Current policies require HSWs working in the Middle East to be at least 24 years old. The post Suspected trafficking victim intercepted at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»