If the Parents are Not Married, Whose Surname Does the Baby Use?

I always thought that if a child is born out of wedlock, the baby automatically carries its mother’s maiden last name (while his middle name is left blank, otherwise, the baby and the mom will appear to be siblings).  Only when the baby’s parents marry will the child have the legal right to adopt the

4 Important Things to Remember when Claiming PhilHealth Benefits for Hypertension

One of the leading causes of death in the Philippines remains to be uncontrolled hypertension leading to heart disease and stroke.  In 2017, it was reported that 25% of Pinoy adults have high blood pressure caused by either their lifestyle or inherited the condition from their parents and elders.  The climate and high fat, high

4 Things You Need To Know When Applying for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan

Are you planning to buy a house soon?  Have you considered getting one through a Pag-IBIG housing loan? Here are some facts and figures that could help you decide on availing a real estate property through your Pag-IBIG membership. Lower interest rates for Regular Housing Loan Effective February 14, 2018, the Pag-IBIG began offering home

4 Things You Need to Remember When Claiming Your PhilHealth Benefits

In a previous article, we featured the guidelines on how you can be sure that you are eligible to claim your PhilHealth benefits after you have been confined and treated in a hospital.  There are cases, however, when even a qualified PhilHealth member is not able to fully enjoy his privileges in spite of showing

Top 10 Most Asked Questions About PSA Birth Certificates

Question: Can I apply for a passport even if my gender in my PSA birth certificate is wrong? I can have this corrected but that will take time. I already have an appointment with the DFA and I need my passport asap. Answer: You may go ahead and appear at the DFA on the date of

Where to Get the First Corrected Copy of Your PSA Document

Errors in your civil registry documents could adversely affect your transactions with the government or private establishments.  Often, erroneous birth certificates and other documents from the PSA are referred to the LCR of the place where the birth, death, or marriage was originally recorded.  Misspelled names and other obvious clerical corrections are rectified through a

Problems with your PSA Birth Certificate: They Wrote the Wrong Religion!

The Philippines is the bastion of Christianity in Asia with over 93% of our population listed as Christians; we ranked 5th worldwide according to a 2011 report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.  Filipinos take religiosity pretty seriously.  To us, it is not just some form of affiliation or membership, it is a legacy passed on

Problems with PSA Birth Certificate: When Correcting One Letter Results to a Court Proceeding

Aling Nelia is a housewife and a mother of five children.  On her 57th birthday, her kids pooled their resources and surprised her with a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong as it has always been her ardent dream to see the place. She began working on the required documents while waiting for her passport application