Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur

01/06/2026

Para sa mga gustong magparehistro ng kanilang mga logo (o trademark), tandaan: "nagkahahadlang sa pagpapatala ng mga marka ang mga pagkakatulad sa disensyo ng 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 o 𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘰 na maaaring magdulot ng kalituhan sa mga mamimili kahit pa may idinagdag na mga bagong salita."

Source: SSupreme Court PHPublic Information Office
Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18WMfPGFmd/

Nagpasya ang Korte Suprema na nagkahahadlang sa pagpapatala ng mga marka ang mga pagkakatulad sa disensyo ng 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 o 𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘰 na maaaring magdulot ng kalituhan sa mga mamimili kahit pa may idinagdag na mga bagong salita.

Sa Desisyong isinulat ni Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, pinagbigyan ng Unang Dibisyon ng Korte Suprema ang mga pinagsamang petisyon ng Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC (Starwood) at isinantabi ang mga pasya ng Court of Appeals (CA) na nagpapahintulot sana sa pagpapatala ng mga marka ng Oceanic Empire Limited (Oceanic).

Naghain ang Oceanic ng aplikasyon para ipatala ang mga 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 na “W GLOBALCENTER” at “W FIFTH AVENUE” at nauna na nitong nakuha ang pagpapatala para sa “W TOWER.”

Tinutulan ng Starwood, na siyang may-ari ng ilang rehistradong 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 na “W” para sa mga hotel at serbisyong panglibangan, ang mga aplikasyon at hiniling ang kanselasyon ng “W TOWER.” Katwiran nito, nakalilito ang pagkakatulad sa kanilang mga 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 ang mga marka ng Oceanic. Sinabi rin ng Starwood na makikinabang ang Oceanic sa kasikatan at reputasyon ng kanilang brand at maaari nitong iligaw ang publiko na maniwala na may kaugnayan sa Starwood ang negosyo ng Oceanic.

Sa pagpabor sa Starwood, ipinaliwanag ng Korte Suprema na naglalayong maiwasan ang kalituhan sa mga produkto at negosyo ang proteksiyon sa 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬. Tanging ang posibilidad lamang, hindi ang aktwal na patunay, ng kalituhan ang kinakailangan para sa proteksiyon sa 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬. Dapat suriin ang bawat kaso batay sa pagkakahawig ng mga marka at sa kaugnayan ng mga serbisyo.

Sa ilalim ng Dominancy Test, binibigyang-diin ang dominante o ang pinakatampok na katangian ng mga marka sa halip na ang mga maliliit na pagkakaiba.

Sa kasong ito, nagpasya ang Korte Suprema na ang titik “W” ang dominante o tampok na bahagi ng mga marka kapwa ng Starwood at Oceanic. Bagamat nakatala ang “W” ng Starwood bilang isang 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, nilinaw nito na hindi maaaring angkinin ng Starwood ang mismong titik na “W” kundi ang natatangi at naka-istilong (stylized) bersiyon lamang nito.

Binigyang-diin nito na agad na mapapansin ng mga mamimili ang pagkakatulad ng mga markang “W” ng magkabilang panig. Pinanindigan nito na hindi nagpapabago sa katotohanan na pareho silang gumagamit ng iisang estilo na mukhang magkahawig sa paningin.

Inatasan ng Korte Suprema ang Direktor ng Bureau of Trademarks na isantabi ang aplikasyon ng Oceanic para sa pagpapatala ng 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 at pagbigyan ang petisyon ng Starwood para sa kanselasyon ng markang “W TOWER.”

Basahin ang 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 sa https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=166975

Sumunod sa 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 ng SC PIO: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

25/05/2026

Here at Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur we help car rental business owners safeguard their fleet through iron-clad contracts.

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21/05/2026

🚨Notice: May 27, 2026 has been declared as a national holiday in observance of Eid'l Adha. Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur will be closed on this day.

JUST IN: The Palace declares May 27, 2026, a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha. | via Kenneth Paciente

21/05/2026

Disputes don't need a court. Resolve it through independent mediation and negotiation at Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur

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15/05/2026

Be careful with your non-verbal gestures; it just might be considered as "grave threats" under the Revised Penal Code.

Credits to page: Supreme Court PH

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DkeuVDZwq/

The has ruled that non-verbal threatening gestures with criminal intent may be considered grave threats under the 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 (𝘙𝘗𝘊).

In a Decision written by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, the SC’s Third Division acquitted Gregory Israel of grave threats after finding no criminal intent in his gesture of pretending to shoot and behead two individuals.

But it clarified that the crime of grave threats may be committed through non-verbal gestures and not only through spoken or written words.

Israel, who claimed to be a Belgian architect allowed to practice his profession in the Philippines, was hired by Belgian business partners Christine Helena Amanda Navez and Olivier Edmund Denonville for the construction of their building. After Israel refused to correct the construction defects in the said building, Navez and Denonville filed a case for damages against him.

Sometime in 2017, while Navez and Denonville were on their way home from the airport, they nearly collided with Israel’s motorcycle. The latter then allegedly made two overt gestures: pointing his fingers at Navez’s head as if pulling a gun trigger and drawing his fingers across his neck as if threatening to behead Navez.

Israel was convicted of grave threats. When his conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, he sought relief from the SC, arguing that he had no criminal intent when he performed the acts, and that Article 282 of the 𝘙𝘗𝘊 does not cover pure non-verbal gestures.

The SC acquitted Israel after finding that criminal intent was not proven. But it disagreed with his other argument, ruling that non-verbal gestures may be considered grave threats.

To convict for grave threats, the 𝘙𝘗𝘊 requires two elements: the 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 and the 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲.

The SC held that Article 282 of the 𝘙𝘗𝘊 does not differentiate between threats conveyed verbally and those expressed through non-verbal gestures. What matters is the communication of a threat intended to intimidate.

Although the second paragraph of the provision specifies that threats can be conveyed orally or in writing, it does not exclude threats conveyed through non-verbal means. Therefore, threats can be either verbal or non-verbal.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=166072.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=164941.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

15/05/2026

Notice to the public: ALWAYS verify the identity of the individuals who claim themselves to be Philippine lawyers.

You may visit https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/lawyers_list or your local Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapter for more details.

⚠️ URGENT NOTICE FROM THE IBP NATIONAL OFFICE ⚠️

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) reminds the public to always verify the credentials of anyone claiming to provide legal services or representing themselves as connected to any court or government agency.

We are officially warning the public regarding an individual using the name "Atty. Allyssa Ann Nordstrome Agustin." Please be informed that this individual is NOT authorized by, employed at, or affiliated with the government and legal offices she claims a connection to.

Protect yourself from unauthorized legal transactions and misrepresentation. Before paying any fees or sharing case details, it is your right to:
✅ Check the official Supreme Court Roll of Attorneys.
✅ Demand to see their Roll Number, IBP Number, and current MCLE compliance.
✅ Contact our National Office or your local IBP Chapter to confirm their standing.

Do not fall victim to individuals refusing to show proper identification. Report suspicious transactions and preserve your evidence.

Contact the IBP to verify legal credentials today:
📞 Helpdesk: 8634-4696 / 8634-4697
📱 Viber: 0919-095-5859
📧 Email: [email protected]

Mag-ingat. Mag-verify. Huwag basta magtiwala sa nagpapakilalang abogado. ⚖️

10/05/2026

Book an appointment now to know more about our property management services.

Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur

06/05/2026

Book an appointment with Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur today!

06/05/2026

Avail FREE notarial services and legal consultation on May 7, 2026 from 8 am to 12 noon. Visit IBP DAVSUR Legal Aid at PAO compound.

05/05/2026

Hello, Digos! May 8, 2026 has been declared as "special non-working day" in Digos City.

Watin & Oliva Law Offices - Digos City, Davao del Sur will be open on this day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐎. 𝟏𝟐𝟑𝟕, 𝐬. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Declaring Friday, 08 May 2026, A Special (Non-working) Day in the City of Digos, Province of Davao Del Sur

Visit the Official Gazette website: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/K5zzTM