When people ask me about my area of legal practice, I often mention estate planning. A common response I get is, “So, you focus on real estate law?” While estate planning does involve some aspects of real estate, it is not primarily about real estate. It’s understandable that there are misconceptions about estate planning. Given the low level of personal financial planning awareness in this country, it's not surprising that understanding of estate planning is even lower. Many Filipinos lack a personal financial plan or even a basic retirement plan, so it's expected that most don’t have a comprehensive estate plan. An estate plan is simply a plan for how an estate owner's assets will be handled after they pass away. It considers several factors, such as the owner’s goals, payment of estate taxes, and proper distribution to heirs according to the owner's wishes and legal requirements. Lack of estate planning can lead to several problems: strained family relations, reduced estate … [Read more...]
Should we go to church services despite government ban on mass gatherings due to COVID-19 ?
About three days ago the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a “pandemic.” COVID-19, officially also known as the “NOVEL CORONA VIRUS” (nCoV) and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) , was detected in the late 2019 rapidly spreading in provinces in China and later on spreading to the rest of the world. As a response just a few days ago, our very own President Rodrigo Duterte, proclaimed proclamation 922 declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines in accordance with Republic Act 11332. As of the time of this writing Metro Manila has been placed under “Community Quarantine.” Other jurisdictions also made their own local proclamations and provinces and cities all across the country also imposed their own “Community Quarantine.” Since as announced by the President, “Community Quarantine” involves the prevention of “mass gatherings” which of course includes church services, several churches in Metro Manila have … [Read more...]
High Yield Investment scams in the Philippines from a legal, theological, business, investment and economic perspective – Part 1
High yield investment schemes are a hot topic nowadays in the Philippines. Various entities have successfully enticed not only Filipinos both in the Philippine and abroad but even foreigners to get into these get rich quick scheme which offers rate of returns from 30% per month to as high as 400% per month! This burning issue (which has become a big headache for the Philippine government) is multi-faceted as it has not only legal implications. The problem is multi-faceted as it is also an investment, business, economic and even a theological problem! Why is it a theological problem that needs to be addressed? I will explain this later in part 2. As a pastor, lawyer, businessman and personal finance and investment professional this is my take on this matter. We will tackle the legal perspective first. Republic Act 8799 otherwise known as the “Securities Regulation Code” (SRC) prohibits the sale or distribution of “Securities” in the Philippines without first registering it … [Read more...]
Free compilation of laws, Labor Law for Non-Lawyers and Bar Reviewers for all subjects 2012 Edition
As a non-lawyer, or as a foreigner, have you ever wished there were one book that summarizes the laws and jurisprudence of the Philippines? This is such book. Each book in this series probably encompasses 95% of the legal principles in each bar subject. For practical purposes, studying this book is like going to law school, after all, this is used as a bar reviewer. These notes are a compilation of educational and academic research materials from various public domain sources. No authorship is claimed as to all the materials herein. Laws and jurisprudence are non-copyrightable. Titles in this Series are as follows: - Political Law - Labor Law - Taxation Law - Civil Law - Mercantile Law - Remedial Law - Legal Ethics - Criminal Law Since files are big, the files will be sent only upon request. Please give your full name, title and affiliation (only those with full info with receive the file) You may forward this to anybody who is an employee and to anybody who is an … [Read more...]
2011 Philippine bar exams results
The most awaited bar exams in Philippine Bar exam history was rumored to be released last Friday February 24, 2012. But I don’t know where people get there rumors because the Supreme Court through Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez has categorically said that there will be no bar exam results that will be released that day, however he said “next week is a possibility.” I say that this is the most awaited bar exam in Philippine history because this is the first time that the Supreme Court has radically changed the method of bar examination. About 60 % of the exam will be multiple choice questions while 40 % will be trail memorandum writing. This is literally uncharted waters for all of those in the legal profession hence everybody is holding their breath as to whether or not these reforms will increase or decrease the mortality rate or whether or not it is effective in measuring as to whether or not a person is fit to join the noblest of all professions. The major changes in the … [Read more...]
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