I was just browsing my wall on Facebook. One message caught my eyes. Just reading the story brought some thoughts in me. The never ending cycle of family problems that goes on here in the Philippines. It’s a story and revelation of a family problem with the property that was left behind by the parents. The person that wrote this, it was her grand dad who was a victim. The story goes that the grand father had 6 hectares. He was happy to have that, he used the income for his needs every month. Finally he didn’t realize that one of his daughters pawned the land to somebody else. That daughter didn’t give any share to her other siblings. Well, she didn’t even ask her dad for that. Take note the dad is still alive.
Well, one day her uncle and aunt approached her if she could get the pawned land from other people since she’s earning pretty good money. She did agree to what they asked. She went and got the land and she did let the grandfather and her aunt and uncle signed the papers that she owned the land now since she paid from the person the aunt loaned it to. Even she owned the land, all income still goes to her grandfather. She was happy to give it to him when he was alive since he had no other income aside from that land. It continue on for years.
When the grandfather died, she then wants to get the land so that she could give to her parents. So she asked for the title and other papers. She found out that the aunt that pawned had the title and other papers. So she realized too that the papers that she had with her it’s not notarized by the lawyer (the agreement between her and her grandfather). Not be honored then.
Just by reading with the story of the lady it also reminds me of a message I got over a year ago. The same problem as these lady. The lady was asking for an advice from me on what should she do and her other siblings against other siblings who was getting all the income from the property that their parents left for them. She was really in deeply need on what to do. I just told her to go see a lawyer in there area that specialize about property.
Honestly it happened to my family too. We had nephews that took over some of my parents’ property. One of my nephews used the family of his wife to get the property from us since they are the natives in the area. Problem for them my parents bought the property legally from one of the local residents there before I was even born and the wife of the owner she’s a native in the area and knew my parents very well. Her and her kids helped out my sisters now on getting back our land from my nephew. We even had papers to prove to them that my parents owned the land. My parents hired people there to plant coconut trees and other fruit trees there. I think in mid to late 60’s. When we had it surveyed a few years ago, we hired a few army men to escort the surveyor and my siblings to be there. When the army saw the land the army men and other people that accompanied my siblings made a comment, that no wonder that my nephew would not give it up because it’s a good piece of land that my parents have there. Yeah my nephew should be very happy the area alone the size I think were little over 18 hectares.
We hired a lawyer to take care of a lot of our paperwork now. I think lately my nephew realized that we would never give up to him the property of our parents. So now we are just waiting for the courts decision. It will be a big loss for him. He usually gets more or less 200 sacks of corn, plus the income from the copra and other plants there.
To be honest I told my parents before they passed, during of one of my visits here before to sell all the land they owned and enjoy life. I told them go take vacations to Bohol to visit all the relatives there or go to Cebu visit mom’s family. My dad just had something in mind, he wanted to leave us something and hand it down to the next generation. Wished he did that. Now all of us siblings agreed to sell everything, just leave the land where we grew up with.
I know lots of similar problem going on all over here in the Philippines and even on other country. Families fighting over inheritance. Some were even killing each other. I know for one my cousins were using fists fights for it. I know it sounds crazy but it’s happening though.
I am always amazed how people here cheat and screw their own family members. IMO a lot of the “values” that people have are just for show.
Hi John Heitz – Nice observation. I’ve heard other people say the same. Not really good to hear but it’s happening here. Sad…
Cheers!
I concur to a certain extent, John Heitz. Francis Ford Coppola, in directing the movie, “The Godfather”, did in fact employed subliminal messaging effectively in portraying the hypocrisy of Catholics by juxtaposing the scenes where the capofamiglia (the Boss) was solemnly holding his godson as the baby was being baptized with holy water in Church, while at the same time, his soldati were decimating his enemies one by one on his orders amid the pealing of church bells. LOL
Hi John Reyes – I have not seen that movie yet. LOL… Just not my kind of movies I guess.
Thank you for the comments. Have a pleasant day!
Seems clear enough to me: A criminal offence of fraud has been commited; the police should be involved and the person who illegally pawned the land should be pursued. There are so many of these stories that it amazes me people make it so complicated. Nothing can really change until the culture changes, and people stop being so easy-going on thieves.
I have a friend who is owed $10,000 US by a friend in Cebu for five years now, and he is afraid to nag for return of the money, because, in his words “it will be trouble and it will all end up being seen as my fault”. To h*** with that, I’d be round the borrowers house with smoke bombs, big dogs and determination to secure repayment or a definite enforceable deal to repay.
Am I just tougher than everyone else?
Things don’t work that way here, Jim. I don’t think the police would touch such a case.
Hi Jim Hannah – Barangay captain will the first negotiator that you will go to. Then to the higher court on that town proper. But if crimes/homicide committed, then police will get involve. In getting the property you have to go through a lot of long process. Have to go to proper government offices here like DENR (Department of Environmental and Natural Resources), DAR (Department of Agrarian Reforms),NCIP (National Commission on Indigenous Peoples- if land bought from the natives-lumads)
Good luck to your friend. I don’t think he will get his money back. Unless they have signed papers on both parties. The person that owes him might say that he didn’t borrowed any money from your friend. If your friend will do what you are thinking of doing, he might end up in jail especially if he had no signed papers. Just try to get it nicely and have good attitude. I know its so hard to do.
Good to see you here again!
I have been ripped off and told so many lies by my girlfriends family that I have banned them from my property. My girlfriend can visit them any time she likes but I will have nothing to do with them. My money is now for us only and to give her son a good education.
Hi Murray – I can understand your feelings. I’m sure they get your point why they are not allowed at your property now. Maybe your wife will have to explain to her family on how you feel, off pressure on her part also.
Hope it will be better relationship for you and family later.
Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!
Feyma;
It’s not just family; My friend (And fellow Merchant Seaman) was out to sea while his new house was being finished, I was home and living on the next block, some troll showed up with a bunch of Xeroxed papers claiming the land as it was pawned to him 15 years prior and two owners ago. My friend’s wife brought the man to my house where I asked him if he was a wealthy man, because my friend earned 6 million pesos a year and wouldn’t mind spend some of his money in court to fight him, over the P.35, 000.00 he was claiming. I said if you do win, you’ll have spent 100 times more than that plus waited 20 years. So go ahead and file a claim. The man was never heard from again, and my shipmate bought me a couple of cases of beer to thank me.
Second time, it happened to me, but the man I bought the land from lived across the street from me and I told the guy; “Let’s go over to his house to collect your money.” He was out of there like there was a rocket up his hind passage.
Hi Paul – Wow, the guy had the nerves. And good answered to him Paul. Wished you’re my parents neighbor. LOL.
I always enjoyed reading your stories Paul. thank you so much for sharing.
Have a good one. Cheers!
It is going on with my wife’s family right now in capiz, someone stole the land from the parents, then sold it to an aunt. My wife just found out last week that the lawyers have determined it is rightfully their land and is told the aunt to return it to them. It sad that families fight for land, in America it is the same but for money. In the Philippines the only thing of value is land in their minds
Hi Dirk – It might take awhile before the family of your wife get the land from the aunt. I’m pretty sure the aunt will fight them. It happened to some members of my family. It took them years to get it back. Its really sad ending sometimes.
Good luck to your wife and her family. Nice to see you here again. Take care!
Hello Feyma …………my wife Merlyn is from Davao area and here family has been fighting over her mother’s and father’s land and the money earned from the copra and fruits. Her farther has a room in our house in Matina , we built her father a small house in the province next to the farm but he was moved out by one of Merlyn’s brothers? Some of the other brothers and family get advanced payments on the crops so her father does not have in come to live on. We have been sending money and also one of the other brothers and another sister in USA help her father out. It is really sad to see everyone fighting for the farm income, but I (Kano) try to stay out of the way and let the family decide what they want to do. I did finally step in about 6 months ago and tell the family that there father is still alive and that was his property and income so stop the crap or I will be the enforcer. Things have gotten a little better for now but still have problems. I don’t think we will ever see the end of this.
Hi Dave C – Why are they fighting over the land? Your father-in-law still the owner of that land period. His kids don’t own the land yet unless the father relinquish his rights to his them. All the incomes of the lands still belongs to your father-in-law. The kids should stay out from it. That’s just what we know from the law here.
It sad that kids will kicked parents out. My god what happened to the good manners and right conduct that was taught in school. Geez, So many kids nowadays are just too greedy.
Good thing that you’re the boss now. Keep it up! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Have a great day!
Feyma
Our squatter issue comes to a conclusion tomorrow. The sheriff is going to demolish the dwelling with armed police. The squatter had threatened violence.
There is no such thing as a clean title here. This is why I always tell expats to leave land alone, though it falls on deaf ears.
By the way, the squatter is a cousin of Rebecca’s….trying to extort her. For all the guys who say wife or girlfriend’s family land… It can and might happen to you
Also, we let the word get out that any violence towards Rebecca’s family would be retaliated x 10, with no mercy
Also, despite John Reyes’ anti catholic reference, another Godfather reference… Survivors make vendettas
Hi John – Good luck to you and Rebecca. I hope it will really ends. I know its been awhile for you guys to have problems there. Sad part sometimes the people that were fighting they’re close family that grow up together.
That’s why I posted this article for expats and other foreigners to know about land here. Not a good situation to be in though.
Hoping for the best to you and Becca.
Have a great weekend John!
People are the same all over the world and In the USA a lot of families turn ugly when inheritances come up. Parents and spouses have been killed just for the life insurance. When my wife’s sister died she had a plot of land where she raised vegetables for her family in Mindanao. When she died here in Luzon her son went back to their home in Mindanao and sold the garden. When his father got home he was able to get the land back because the son had no right to sell it. I would bet the buyers never got their money back though. I disagree that it is not safe to buy land here in the PH and that there are no good titles. If you buy a bad title though, you can probably kiss your money goodbye. A deal too good to be true is probably a deal that should be passed up.
Hi loren pogue – It’s a worldwide problems, that’s for sure. But at least people from the West listens to what the court would say. Here families keeps bringing up stuff that’s not even related to the problem just to prolong the dispute so that at the end the owner will just gives in. But ain’t going to happen with our land.
The buyer of the land of your sister-in-law might not get her money back. Hopefully she had papers to proved that the buyer really bought it and notarized. Good luck to her on that.
***A deal too good to be true is probably a deal that should be passed up.***— Amen to that. Can’t agree you more.
Good to see you here again. Have a great day!
Hi Feyma: Excellent article. It is expensive in money and time to settle property disputes. It happened in my family as well. Some relations are simply greedy and make problems for everyone else.
Hi Roselyn – Yep so true. Expensive and time consuming. You know how the offices here works, it takes forever.
***Some relations are simply greedy and make problems for everyone else.***— Exactly, problem is too many of them exist in this world. Sigh….
Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful say!
I have been reading this site for over a year. What I’ve read constantly reminds me how incredibly fortunate I am to have married into the family that I did. My Mother-in-Law and her daughters are educated, industrious, and know the value of work. The family farm is under the care of a trusted cousin with years of proven loyalty. Many, perhaps most of the tenants cheat on the share of rice paid to Mother-in-Law who generously looks the other way. She still sends an amazing amount of clothing and sundries to the tenants (all relatives). For decades, we’ve listened dutifully to the speech about how we are so fortunate, and are obligated to help those “poor people left behind in the Philippines”. Although the latest version of that speech expresses bewilderment over how a family living on good farmland can claim to be hungry. The only real land dispute was settled at the barangay level with the help of a lawyer. The best I could glean of the story was that one of the laziest of the tenants thought that the land reform laws stripped landowners of all their rights and title, and awarded it to the tenants. They were convinced otherwise by the barangay captain. I was however surprised at how quickly both sides were ready to resort to violence before things got resolved.
Hi Cordillera Cowboy – Nice to know that you’ve been an avid reader here. Thank you. I’m glad that you don’t have much problem with land that owned by your in-laws.
But some of the message that you just stated from the tenants, it’s going to be more intense every time you hear them. More feeling sorry story coming up soon. They just don’t want to tell you bluntly to just give up all the income to them since you guys already had a good life anyway. Here they are farming and working hard still not enough. That’s what they felt like telling you, but had no courage to say it brutally. Instead they will tell you all the dramas they have in life.
Do what’s really right for your mother-in-law though. Don’t give in to the dramas.
Tell them to visit the DAR & DENR & NCIP for enlightenment of ownership of land that was bought years and years ago. They will know what rights they will have then.
Always good to see you here. Have a pleasant day!
Interesting article. It amazes me to hear about all the issues that Philippinos have about land rights, and then you have so many foreigners who want to buy land and think they can get around all the title issues because of their native country knowledge.
Hi don – Thank you for the heads up. Highly appreciated.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Feyma – this is a reposting of a comment I made to John Miele’s “Our Squatter Problem, and the Power of a Barangay Captain” article four years ago. I feel its relevance to your article involving a bitter land dispute between relatives and the role of the Barangay captain merits reposting of this edited version.
I have a continuing land ownership problem, but my involvement, because of my being here in the States, is conducted through my cousin in Salaza (Palauig, Zambales) who oversees our properties and to whom I have granted Power of Attorney to act on the family’s behalf following the passing of my parents. I maintain possession of at least 7 Deeds of Trust to various family properties in the province and in Manila some of which date back to the Commonwealth years.
In one property, displaced Aeta families from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption were allowed to settle by my Mom but were made to sign a notarized agreement saying that they can live on the property for 15 years. No problem with that. The Aetas honored the agreement and left after 15 years.
The one bothersome problem currently involves a relative farmer who refuses to give up the farm that he had been farming for the past 40 or 50 years. He farms a riceland belonging to the family on the outskirts of Salaza. He was given permission by Mom to grow rice on the property on the condition that he pay rent in the form of x number of cavans of rice annually. However, the permission given him some 40 or 50 years ago was made orally (I suppose it was because he is a relative – hence, the “palabra de honor” was all that was needed). Thus, there were no legal written instruments that would compel him to leave the property if he were so asked by the heirs in later years. After all these years, he must have began to feel that the land was legally his; afterall, we never inquired about the land in almost half a century. We all live in the States and cared very little about our family properties there. I didn’t even know that the land belonged to us until my cousin to whom I have granted the Power of Attorney reminded me about it recently.
The relative farmer is adamant about leaving. To cut the story short, my cousin referred the matter to the Barangay council after numerous relative-to-relative requests were unsuccessful. The Barangay captain, or council, however, ruled that my cousin is in no position to order eviction, her Power of Attorney notwithstanding. The heir to the property, according to the Barangay Captain, has to be physically present before the Barangay council to lodge a complaint before the eviction process can be initiated, if at all.
John…. The squatter is being evicted as I type this . The barangay captain is now the mayor. She made last ditch appeal to him last week. Needless to say, since she violated the agreement, he was not very open to her appeal.
Over 5 years to get that b*tch off the property
Hi John – Good to hear that the squatters were evicted. It’s been a long headache for you and Becca. Finally it’s over.
Take care!
John – For your and Rebecca’s sake, I’m glad to hear that this unfortunate episode is finally coming to an end. At the same time, I also know that your having been immersed in Filipino culture for a number of years now, I know that you understand well the sensitivity of the Filipino and how his mind works. For five long years, it was a battle of wills, and she lost. And how!. The humiliation of having what she called her home demolished in front of the entire town as well as the surrounding towns and barrios, there is no doubt whatsoever that she suffered a major loss of face. She will be the talk of the rown from here on out, if not of the entire province, She will never again be able to face friends and relatives without being embarassed, or go to the market without being stared at. It’s hard to imagine how she can survive this very severe loss of face, short of committing suicide or leaving the area for good. A severe form of “hiya” emasculates the Pinoy. He will do all he can to recapture the lost machismo. The thing about personal vendettas is you never know when or where it’s going to be exacted. Hopefully, there will be none, as time will gradually heal the wounds of the past..
John: there was plenty of drama, but no violence. What is so ironic is that, had she abided by the barangay agreemt offered by the mayor, she would have owned her own land with clear title by now and the barangay would have paid to move her. It was extortion, plain and simple, and now she gets nothing. She threatened to file a case against Becky for “emotional distress” but our lawyer has a counterclaim ready to file with a jaw-dropping sum if she does so, in addition to a petition to move the venue to Manila, making it expensive for her to proceed. We are hiring a guard from a different province for a few months with instructions to shoot any trespasser on sight.
Rebecca spent 5 times the cost of the land in expenses.
Hi John Reyes – Thank you so much for sharing. That’s really an eye opener now for our readers here. To really have documentation on anything here regarding buying or owning anything. Don’t just accept verbal agreement.
To be honest with you I hope you guys resolve all the problems before your mom pass away. It’s gonna be a nightmare for you kids if she won’t settle everything. I wished to God my parents settled everything with my nephew before my dad and mom died.
Good post from you there for our readers here to see. Thank you so much. Really appreciated your comments.
Have a good weekend ahead!
Thank you, Feyma. We have been married many years. I think we have already gone through the phase you describe here. Mother-in-Law is a very traditinal Filipina from the World War II generation. She raised a family, held down a full time job as a teacher, and farmed her land. Her business sense and hard work allowed her to prosper enough to educate all of her children, then she immigrated to the US and prospered there. She is the most generous person I have ever met. Those who bring drama wilt under her descriptions of how she earned her prosperity. I’ve heard her tell them “I carried my bolo like a man. I worked the fields before the sun came up, taught in the school, and worked the fields again in the night.” None of those bringing drama are working very hard. The honest tenants are working hard, and their production is high. We reward these folks with gifts, and also jobs when we have them. The wife of the most productive tenant is a permanent employee at our student boarding house. We are also paying tuition for one of her daughters education.
I think the next test will come after my Mother-in-Law passes away. Fortunately, she has already made arrangements so that each of her daughters know how the land will be divided. If there’s drama (and you are correct, there will be)It will come from the tenants again.
Take care,
Pete
Hi Cordillera Cowboy – Sounds like you have a good mom-in-law there. It’s really sad that with her working so hard that someone will take advantage of her. The problem, the lazy ones are the one keep whining and complaining almost all the time. It’s a shame.
I’m hoping that the arrangement by your mother-in-law to divide the property was written on paper and notarized.
Yep, unending dramas in the near future. 🙂
Have a good one. Cheers!
Glad to hear Rebecca’s ordeal with that squatter is finally coming to an end, that was a long time coming ! I remember you said you purposely
left out her identity but now we know the thief is a relative.
sounds like it’s fairly common.
Thanks Roberto …. It was pure extortion…. Nothing less
Bob/Feyma:
No, I am sure that the police would not become involved in such a case. My point really was that this is such a commonplace story, that what really needs to change is people’s tolerance of a dysfunctional legal system that does not resolve clear and simple issues in a timely manner. Only when that culture of tolerance begins to change, can change itself actually begin to happen.
As regards my friend, my point was not that one should pursue debts through taking the law into your own hands, though it certainly makes me feel like that. In fact, we have avoided that situation arising for ourselves by just saying “no, sorry, we don’t give loans, perhaps there’s another way we can help”? What aroused/inflamed me was that my friend loaned the money in good faith to someone who to this day is still a member of their barkada. What is so very wrong, is that he is afraid to press too hard for his money back, despite knowing that the borrower can afford to repay it. This is apparently because he feels that he would be seen by other members of the barkada as the one who was in the wrong. Now tell me, what’s wrong in that scenario; for me it is the culture that makes him afraid to insist on having back his money that he and everyone else knows he is owed?
I do love the Philippines and the people very much, but this thinking really frustrates me.
Hi Jim Hannah – Thank you for your comment.
Is your friend that loaned the money Filipino? Maybe he’s embarrassed to ask the money back. In his mind the guy already know that he owed the money and he will pay in his terms. Or he knows already that the guy don’t really want to pay the money back. Geez, is the borrower just a rip off guy/scammed bug?
*** I do love the Philippines and the people very much, but this thinking really frustrates *** — I hear you… I can understand how you feel…
Have a pleasant day!
Feyma,
Unfortunately, this is something that happens everywhere, and has been the case since the beginning of man. Always fighting for land and or money. I have seen this myself, and it disgusts me the lust of money that some people have. Money over family? Not me. I hope all works out well for your family land and that you can sell it and relax and not be stressed over it anymore.
It is for these same reasons you describe that I worry about buying a place in the PI. I think Bob is right… renting is a good thing. 🙂
Hi Scott Fortune – For sure. It’s depressing sometimes.
*** I think Bob is right… renting is a good thing. *** — Yep, It really worked out best. If you didn’t like the area at first you have the choice to leave. If you buy you get stuck and frustrated. Angry and trouble at the end.
Thanks for stopping by!
HI Feyma – I agree with John M, I have never know people to be so dishonest to their own kith and kin than the Filipino. I now just shake my head when I hear of it without any sympathy as to do so means getting involved.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim – I appreciate your comment. Thank you so much for sharing.
Have a good Sunday. Cheers!