National Seafarers' Day 2011

 "Sa inyong pagalalayag ay dala ninyo ang katangiang Pilipino - kasipagan, pagmamahal sa pamilya at paniniwala/ takot sa Diyos (In your journey you bring with you unique Filipino traits - reliableness, love of family and faith/ fear of God)", thus declared His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, during the mass in celebration of the 16^th National Seafarers’ Day (NSD)  at the Manila Cathedral.

The homily of Cardinal Rosales centered on the significance of the seafaring profession both in the Philippine economy and the lives of the stakeholders. He stressed that more often than not, you can recognize a Filipino seafarer on board the vessel by looking into his cabin and the pictures posted in his wall - his family along with that of Jesus Christ, Mary or any other saint, signifying the source of  his strenghth amidst the hardships and challenges of his profession.

Per Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data, there were 330,424 Filipino seafarers deployed abroad in 2009 comprising almost 30 percent of the global maritime labor force. Although the number of deployed Filipino seafarers has decreased from 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553) to 2008 (261,614), the dollar remittances have been constantly  increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009 to US$3.8B in 2010.

The mass was preceded by the grand parade from LUSWELF in Kalaw to the Manila Cathedral participated by more than  five thousand stakeholders coming from the schools, government and private sector (organizations/ unions, manning agencies, training centers, etc). Earlier, there was wreath laying ceremonies held at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) compound in honor of the deceased seafarers.

Under Proclamation No.1049 issued in 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos,  the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in   activities related to the National Seafarers’ Day during the last Sunday of September every year.   This year's 16^th National Seafarers’ Day celebration fell on September 25, 2011, . with the  theme “Marinong Pilipino: Lakas ng Pagkakaisa!” It embodies the unified attitude of the Filipino Seafarers’ ideals, morals and cause.

This year's NSD served as the kick- off of the National Maritime Week (NMW). On July 17, 2008, then President Gloria M. Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1560 declaring last Friday of September of every year as “National Maritime Day” , spearheaded by the government agencies , to wit : Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)/ Cebu Ports Authority. 

Both celebrations focused on two main issues affecting the Filipino Seafarers: piracy and the maritime labor convention.

The recent piracy incidents are  reality checks  to the risk faced by seafarers , particularly Filipino seafarers.  The Philippines, which supplies a third of the world’s seafarers’ population, is among the most adversely affected and seriously alarmed by incidences of piracy in the Somali basin and the Gulf of Aden. The hijacking of dozens of vessels, ranging from massive oil tankers to chartered supply ships carrying UN food aid for Somalia, has become a highly lucrative industry with millions of dollars paid in ransom each year.

  Seafarers are on the frontline of the piracy problem. In recent years, thousands of seafarers have been killed, injured, assaulted, taken hostage or threatened as piracy and armed robbery have increased dramatically.. All seafarers transiting the Gulf of Aden and Northern Indian Ocean, have to live with the risk of attack. When ships are attacked by pirates, crews suffer the stress of being fired upon with guns and rocket propelled grenades and those captured can be held hostage for months. Following a piracy attack those involved can be seriously affected by post traumatic stress. 

            As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors

On the other hand, it is now  incumbent upon the Philippine government to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006) in order that it will be one of the thirty ratifying countries required  for the convention  to take effect. 

With the recent  ratification by Antigua and Barbuda last August 11, 2011 of the MLC 2006 last June 15, 2011 , 18  member States of the International Labour Organization (ILO)  have now ratified this important Convention, which sets out minimum standards and fair working conditions for seafarers worldwide. While the first requirement for entry into  force of the Convention – coverage of 33 per cent of the world gross tonnage – has already been attained, Antigua and Barbuda’s ratification is an important step towards achieving the second requirement: 30 ratifying countries. It is expected that the additional 12 ratifications will be obtained before the end of 2011, indicating that the MLC, 2006 will enter into force in 2012.

The convention was already ratified by  18 countries/ states, to wit: Liberia  (June 7,2006), Marshall Islands  (September 25, 2007 ), Bahamas (February 11,2008), Panama (February 6, 2009), Norway (February 10, 2009) , Bosnia and Herzegovina  (January 18, 2010) , Spain (February 4, 2010), Croatia  (February 12, 2010) , Bulgaria (April 12, 2010) , Canada (June 15,  2010),Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (November 9, 2010) , Switzerland (February 2, 2011), Gabon (May 12, 2011) Benin (June 13, 2011), and Singapore ( June 15, 2011). Denmark (June 23, 2011)  Latvia (August 12, 2011), Antigua and Barbuda (August 11, 2011).

The  MLC  contains a comprehensive set of global standards, based on those that are already found in 68 maritime labor instruments. It modernizes the global  standards to: (a) set minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship; (b) address conditions of employment, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection; (c) promote compliance by operators and owners of ships by giving governments sufficient flexibility to implement its requirements in a manner best adapted to their individual laws and practices; and (d) strengthen enforcement mechanisms at all levels, including provisions for complaint procedures available to seafarers, shipowners’ supervision of conditions on their ships, the flag States’ jurisdiction and control over their ships, and port State inspections of foreign ships.

Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws (LLB)?

The College first conferred the Juris Doctor (J.D.) on its April 2008 graduates, after a change in degree title was approved by the U.P. administration the previous year. Like the majority of law schools in the country, U.P. used to provide the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), a standard four-year law program covering all subjects in the bar exams, until the change to J.D. was made in order to more accurately reflect the U.P. law program being a "professional as well as a post baccalaureate degree."

Juris Doctor  is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law. The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree (such as the Dottore in Giurisprudenza in Italy and the Juris Utriusque Doctor in Germany and Central Europe). Originating from the 19th century Harvard movement for the scientific study of law, it is a law degree that in some common law jurisdictions has a goal of being the primary professional preparation for lawyers. It is a three year program in most jurisdictions

In the Philippines, the J.D. exists alongside the more common LL.B. Like the standard LL.B, it requires four years of study, is considered as a graduate degree and requires prior undergraduate study as a prerequisite for admission, and covers the core subjects required for the bar examinations. However, the J.D. requires students to finish the core bar subjects in just 2½ years; take elective courses (such as legal theory, philosophy, and sometimes even theology); undergo an apprenticeship; and write and defend a thesis.Notwithstanding these differences, both the J.D. and the LL.B. are considered the equivalent of a master's degree by the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education.

The degree was first conferred in the Philippines by the Ateneo de Manila Law School, which first developed the model program later adopted by most schools now offering the J.D.. After the Ateneo, schools such as the University of Batangas College of Law began offering the J.D., with schools such as the Far Eastern University Institute of Law offering a joint degree program leading to a J.D. and an MBA.In 2008, the University of the Philippines College of Law began conferring the J.D. on its graduates, the school choosing rename its LL.B. program into a J.D. because to accurately reflect the nature of education the university provides as "nomenclature does not accurately reflect the fact that the LL.B. is a professional as well as a post baccalaureate degree.In 2009, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the Silliman University College of Law also shifted their respective LL.B Programs to Juris Doctor -applying the change to incoming freshmen students for School Year 2009–2010. The newly established De La Salle University College of Law will likewise offer the J.D., although it will offer the program using a trimestral calendar, unlike the model curriculum that uses a semestral calendar.

In 1987, when the Ateneo Law School made its initial application with the DECS for the adoption of the J.D. curriculum, then Dean Eduardo de los Angeles described the program in the following language:

"The J.D. Curriculum is a rigid and enriched law curriculum which responds to the current needs of the legal profession and the changing conditions of our society. Presently, the study of law does not expose students to the practical aspects of law. It does not supplement Bar subjects with the study of related special laws or rules and regulations of administrative agencies. It does not compel students to undertake extensive research which is necessary in the handling of cases. It does not motivate students to reach out and help the less fortunate members of society.

The J.D. Curriculum addresses these problems. It compels the students to finish all the core or Bar subjects within 2-1/2 years. Thereafter, varied elective subjects are offered to complement the student’s knowledge of the law, and if he desires, to specialize in a certain field of law . . . The elective subjects will provide some degree of specialization and prepare a law student to actual practice. . . .
Through subjects like human rights, consumer protection and environmental law, the students are immersed in the problems of indigents, the oppressed and society. These subjects will enable the students to realize the gravity of the problems and make them commit to help the less fortunate in our society.

The J.D. Curriculum has 81 units of core subjects, 48 units of elective, 19 units of perspective subjects and 12 units of practicum and research. It is well- balanced and, as shown by the catalogue, meets the DECS requirement of at least 155 units. By sheer load, it is a difficult course, but the school is confident that it can produce more competent, committed and principled lawyers to better serve clients and the country."

Whatever they may call the degree bestowed upon the law graduate, the most important thing is if he be a GOOD LAWYER, borrowing from the words immortalized in the UP LAW lobby  "THE BUSINESS OF A LAW SCHOOL IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DESCRIBED WHEN YOU MERELY SAY THAT IT IS TO TEACH LAW OR TO MAKE LAWYERS IT IS TO TEACH LAW IN THE GRAND MANNER, AND TO MAKE GREAT LAWYERS. -HOLMES"

Philippines must prioritize ratification of Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006)

It is now  incumbent upon the Philippine government to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006) in order that it will be one of the thirty ratifying countries required  for the convention  to take effect. 

With the recent deposit to the ILO  of the ratification documentsof the MLC 2006  by Australia last December 14, 2011   , 22  member States of the International Labour Organization (ILO)  have now ratified this important Convention, which sets out minimum standards and fair working conditions for seafarers worldwide. While the first requirement for entry into  force of the Convention – coverage of 33 per cent of the world gross tonnage – has already been attained, Singapore’s ratification is an important step towards achieving the second requirement: 30 ratifying countries. It is expected that the additional 8 ratifications will be obtained before the end of 2011, indicating that the MLC, 2006 will enter into force in 2012.

The convention was already ratified by  22 countries/ states, to wit: Liberia  (June 7,2006), Marshall Islands  (September 25, 2007 ), Bahamas (February 11,2008), Panama (February 6, 2009), Norway (February 10, 2009) , Bosnia and Herzegovina  (January 18, 2010) , Spain (February 4, 2010), Croatia  (February 12, 2010) , Bulgaria (April 12, 2010) , Canada (June 15,  2010),Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (November 9, 2010) , Switzerland (February 2, 2011), Gabon (May 12, 2011) Benin (June 13, 2011), and Singapore ( June 15, 2011). Denmark (June 23, 2011)  Latvia (August 12, 2011)_ Antigua and Barbuda (August 11, 2011)  , the Government of Luxembourg (19 September 2011),  Kiribati (24 October 2011) Netherlands (December 2011) Australia (14 December 2011)

It is an important new Convention that was adopted by the International Labour Conference of the ILO at a maritime session in February 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland. It sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions of work and helps to create conditions of fair competition for shipowners. It is intended to be globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced. The MLC , 2006 has been designed to become a global legal instrument that, once it enters into force, will be the the “fourth pillar” of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS), the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, 1978, as amended (STCW) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 73/78 (MARPOL).  Between 1920 and 1996, a total of 39 Conventions, 29 Recommendations and one Protocol concerning seafarers have been adopted by the ILO.

The  MLC  contains a comprehensive set of global standards, based on those that are already found in 68 maritime labor instruments. It modernizes the global  standards to: (a) set minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship; (b) address conditions of employment, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection; (c) promote compliance by operators and owners of ships by giving governments sufficient flexibility to implement its requirements in a manner best adapted to their individual laws and practices; and (d) strengthen enforcement mechanisms at all levels, including provisions for complaint procedures available to seafarers, shipowners’ supervision of conditions on their ships, the flag States’ jurisdiction and control over their ships, and port State inspections of foreign ships.

The new Convention will likely  achieve the aim of near universal ratification because the Convention was adopted by a record vote of 314 in favour and none against (two countries abstained for reasons unrelated to the substance of the Convention), after nearly two weeks of detailed review by over 1,000 participants drawn from 106 countries.

Countries that ratify the Convention will require ship owners to put the standards in place before allowing seafarers aboard. And ratifying countries will have the right to inspect vessels for compliance before port calls are allowed. The Convention gives these countries the right to deny ships that are not compliant from sailing onwards. This applies to ships regardless whether the countries they are registered in have ratified the Convention or not.

The Philippines will definitely be one of the major beneficiaries of this convention.   The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally. Per Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data, there were 330,424 Filipino seafarers deployed abroad in 2009 comprising almost 30 percent of the global maritime labor force. Although the number of deployed Filipino seafarers has decreased from 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553) to 2008 (261,614), the dollar remittances have been constantly  increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009 to US$3.8B in 2010. . On the other hand, the Philippines as a flag State has a registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage.

Given the vast Philippine coast line (twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China), Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry, flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.

The Philippines can benefit from ratifying the Convention as a labour supplying state, flag or port state. The maritime labour convention is a good reference point for the Philippine’s formulation of laws and policies responsive to the conditions and contexts of seafarers. Ratification can serve as basis for technical assistance.

When the Philippines does ratify the Convention, for example, manning agencies are mandated not to deploy seafarers aboard ships that don’t follow the new Convention. On the other hand, if the Philippines does not ratify, ratifying countries will not allow Filipinos aboard their ships – unless the Philippine government certifies that manning companies are complying with the new standards relating to wages, social security and so on. The disadvantage non-ratification by the Philippines is that shipowners will have to bear the responsibility for checking the Convention’s requirements on the recruitment and placement of the seafarers.

The Philippines is a signatory to the following IMO Conventions

·         Safety of Life at Sea 1960 and 1974 (SOLAS) plus the SOLAS Protocol 1978 and amendments of 1981, 1983 and 1988

• International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREG) (amended 1981)
• Standards of Training, Certification Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), amended in 1995
• Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 and Protocol 1978 (MARPOL 73/78)
• Load Lines (1966), plus Protocol 1988
• Safe Containers (1972): amended 1981, 1983
• International Maritime Satellite Organization (1976)
• Maritime Search Rescue (1979)
• Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention)

The Philippines is a signatory to the following ILO  CONVENTIONS which are  maritime in nature:

• No. 7 - Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Employment at Sea, (1920)
• No. 9 - Establishing Facilities for Finding Employment for Seamen (1920)
• No. 22 - Seamen’s Articles of Agreement (1926)
• No. 23 - Repatriation of Seamen ((1926)
• No. 53 - The Minimum Requirement of Professional Capacity for Masters and Officers on Board Merchant Ships (1936)
• No. 55 - Liability of the Shipowner in Case of Sickness, Injury or Death of Seamen (1936)
• No. 56 - Sickness Insurance for Seamen (1936)
• No. 58 - Fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Employment at Sea (Revised, 1936)
• No. 68 - Food and Catering for Crews on Board Ship (1946)
• No. 69 - Certification of Ships’ cooks (1946)
• No. 71 - Concerning Seafarer’s Pensions (1946)
• No. 73 -  Medical Examination of Seafarers (1946)
• No. 74 - Certification of Able Seamen (1946)
• No. 91 - Vacation Holidays with Pay for Seafarers (Revised 1949)
• No. 92 - Crew Accommodations on Board Ship (Revised 1949)
• No. 108 - Seafarers’ National Identity Documents (1958)
• No. 109 - Wages, Hours of Work on Board Ship and Manning (Revised,  1958)
• No. 133- Crew Accommodations on Board Ship , Supplementary Provisions (1970)
• No. 134 -  Prevention of Occupational Accidents for Seafarers (1970)
• No. 138 - Minimum Age for Employment
• No. 146 - Annual Leave With Pay for Seafarers (1976)
• No. 147 - Minimum Standards in Merchant Ships (1976)
• No. 163- Seafarers’ Welfare at Sea and in Port (1987)
• No. 164 - Health Protection and Medical Care for Seafarers (1987)
• No. 165 - Social Security for Seafarers (1987)
• No. 166 Repatriation of Seafarers (Revised, 1987)
• No. 179 - Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers

The   Philippines   has  likewise  signed   several   bilateral   labor  agreements with 43 countries on the recognition of certificates of Filipino seafarers under the Regulation 1/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended.  

Out of the nine (9) IMO conventions where the Philippines is a signatory, it has ratified only four (4)  conventions, namely  SOLAS, STCW, MARPOL, and SUA. On the other hand, out of the twenty seven (27) ILO conventions, the Philippines has ratified only six (6)  conventions, namely No. 23 - Repatriation of Seamen (1926), No. 53 -Minimum Requirement of Professional Capacity for Masters and Officers on Board Merchant Ships , No. 76 – Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Revised (1949) ; No. 138- Minimum Age for Admission to Employment; No. 165 - Social Security for Seafarers and  No. 179 -Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers, (1996).

As the foremost seafarer-supplying country and a flag State with a registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage, it behooves upon Philippine social partners and stakeholders to determine the passage most beneficial to our national interests. It is now  incumbent upon the Philippine government to ratify MLC2006 in order that it will be one of the thirty ratifying countries required for the convention  to take effect.

love affair with euro trains

Trains are a convenient mode of short, medium and long distance travel across Europe.  it  has a dense and widely used railway network spanning the entire continent.For short distances, European trains are fast, reliable and frequent. For longer distances they can be preferable to flying for several reasons. Trains have more spacious and comfortable interiors, may offer scenic routes, and do not require long waits at security like at airports. They usually run more frequently as well, and take their travellers to railway stations located in or very close to city centres,

Ticketing in most of Europe is based on a trust system: You simply buy the ticket at the station or online and hop on the train. Once you're on a train, a conductor will come around to check your tickets.

Don't expect too much sympathy if you get it wrong or if you miss your train. The only exceptions are, of course, if your train is cancelled (then you can get the next one) or if you miss a connection because of a delay to or cancellation of some other train on the same ticket.







My itinerary and transpo cost (plane and train)

August 18, 2011 (KLM plane)                                               US$1,400.00

            ETD     Manila                         10:55

            ETA     Amsterdam                18:50

            ETD     Amsterdam                 21:05

            ETA     Hamburg                    22:10

August 19, 2011 (ICE Train)                                                       88 Euros

            ETD     Hamburg                    9:08

            ETA     Berlin                          10:48

            ETD     Berlin                           18:17

            ETA     Hamburg                     19:56

August 23, 2011 (ICE Train)                                           

            ETD Hamburg                          13:30

            ETA Vejle St.(Denmark)        17:20

August 25, 2011 ( train)

            ETD Vejle, Denmark                        16:15

            ETA Copenhagen, Denmark                  20:00

August 25, 2011 (SAS Airline)                                                         134.23 euros

            ETD Copenhagen                   15:10

            ETA Brussels                          16:40

August 27, 2011 (by car)

            ETD Brussels                          11:00 .

            ETA  Netherlands                   13:00

August 29, 2011 ( by train)                                                               130 euros

ETA Amsterdam                     16:30

            ETA Frankfurt                        21:30

August 31, 2011 (ICE Train)                                                               69 Euros

            ETD Frankfurt                         14:58

            ETA Hamburg                         18:51

September 1. 2011 (KLM plane)

            ETD     Hamburg                     8:50

            ETA     Amsterdam               10:00

            ETD     Amsterdam               14:30

September 2 (KLM plane)

            ETA     Manila                         8:55     

Enjoy unlimited access to all that Germany has to offer aboard the ICE. As the fastest train belonging to the Deutsche Bahn, it travels at speeds of up to 200 mph whisking you to your desired destinations in the amount of time it would take to pack your bags. The Deutsche Bahn ICE train connects all the major German cities such as Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Cologne, and Berlin, allowing you to step off the train and stroll to many of the major hotels and attractions.All ICE trains feature comforting amenities and cutting-edge services, including reclining seats with built-in tables and video screens, an integrated audio system, notebook and laptop connections, as well as cellular-friendly zones that allow for undisturbed service, and of course, air conditioning.

When bought on the spot, trains tickets can be more expensive than cheap flights over the same distance, but this difference may disappear when the tickets are booked in advance.Ticket discounts are based on advance purchase, availability, and certain restrictions. Everyone is eligible to receive discounted fares by purchasing an Economy or Comfort class ticket in advance. 

Some major train stations have lockers or luggage storage available at an additional cost—so be sure to have some spare change available if you’re planning to use a locker.

. At the train station, you’ll see large Departure and Arrival Boards located in the center of most stations. Simply match the train number and departure time on your reservation or ticket to the train number on the departure board. The platform number where you should go will be listed right next to it. Once on the platform you’ll notice that each car (also known as a coach) has a clear identification number on its side. Your reservation/ticket will list your car/coach number and your class of service.Once onboard the proper car, you’ll find clearly labeled seat numbers. Simply match the seat number on your reservation/ticket, if you have one.

Most often than not, you can meet backpackers along the way. Alex of milan, italy, my new train buddy from amsterdam to koln,germany. He is a parkour practitioner. Parkour is a method of movement focused on moving around obstacles with speed and efficiency. Originally developed in France, the main purpose of the discipline is to teach participants how to move through their environment by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping. Traceurs (parkour practitioners) train to be able to identify and utilize alternate or the more efficient paths. This is shown in the film "Prince of Persia."

It is difficult to find one’s way at  a large and crowded station. The best way to meet your friend  is  go directly to the Meeting Point. this is the best place where your friend  can be waiting for you  The Meeting Point of Amsterdam Schiphol Plaza  is across the train ticket box of NS railway station and next to train platform numbers 1 and 2.

The Berlin Central Train Station, considered the biggest train station in Europe, opened March 28, 2006. This state-of-the-art station has countless conveniences for travelers including a suspension system for its platforms, greatly reducing vibration and noise. You will find yourself enjoying this station as much as your German train ride!

“DLSU-IPAA joint IP seminar”

“DLSU-IPAA joint IP seminar”
 
Greetings!     
For the first time, the De La Salle University (DLSU) and the Intellectual Property Alumni Association, Inc. (IPAA), in cooperation with the DLSU COMMERCIAL LAW  DEPARTMENT and student organizations LEY LA SALLE and the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADVOCATES, shall conduct a one-day joint seminar entitled, “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, BUSINESS, and THE ACADEME”, which will be held at Century Park Hotel, Pablo Ocampo Street, Manila, on October 1, 2011, from 8am to 5pm.

The topics to be discussed during the seminar are conceptualized to provide entrepreneurs and those who are about to enter into business, corporate directors / officers and staff, college administrators and professors, professionals, and career-minded individuals, with both a theoretical and practical understanding of copyright, trademark, and patents and how intellectual property can best be protected and applied to commerce and trade, the establishment of new businesses, and the development of new products and services.

For more info, please contact
                                    Ms. Natividad Juego
                                    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ALUMNI
                                    ASSOCIATION, INC. (IPAA)
                                    Tel. Nos. 891-1316 to 19
                                    Email Add:  info@sapalovelez.com
                                    Fax No.  891-1198