When a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) Abroad Needs Authentication in the Philippines

It is an important legal requirement: a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) executed and notarized abroad must be authenticated if it is to be valid and binding in the Philippines.

Why? Because a notarization from a foreign country by itself does not guarantee that the document will be accepted by Philippine authorities. Authentication confirms the genuineness of the notarial act — the identity of the notary, the validity of the seal or stamp, and that the person signing actually appeared before the notary or authorized official.

If this authentication step is skipped, Philippine government agencies, courts, banks or the registry of deeds may reject the SPA — even if it was properly notarized overseas. This can derail transactions involving property, banking, legal representation, or other significant acts that rely on the SPA.

What changed with the Apostille Convention

Traditionally, the process of authenticating foreign documents for use in the Philippines was cumbersome: documents had to be recently legalized by the foreign government (often via its “foreign ministry” or equivalent), then authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate (“consularization” or “red ribbon”).

But since the Philippines became a party to the Apostille Convention on 14 May 2019, there is now a simpler route — apostillization.

• If the country where the SPA was executed is also a member (contracting state) of the Apostille Convention, the notary’s act can be certified via an apostille by that country’s designated “competent authority.” This apostille — usually a sticker, stamp, or attached certificate — verifies the authenticity of the notary’s signature/seal and the authority of the notary.

• Once properly apostilled, the SPA can be used in the Philippines without further authentication by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

• However, if the SPA was notarized in a country not part of the Apostille Convention, you must still follow the older procedure — foreign legalization + consular authentication before the SPA is considered valid in the Philippines.

Thus, the Apostille Convention streamlines cross-border recognition of public documents (including SPAs), reduces bureaucracy, and makes it easier for Filipinos abroad to send notarized documents home for legal purposes.

What is the Apostille Convention — in simpler terms

The Apostille Convention — more formally the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961) — is an international treaty that simplifies the process of authenticating public documents (e.g. notarial acts, birth certificates, marriage certificates, court documents) when they are used abroad. Under the Convention:

• A participating country designates a “competent authority” (e.g. a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State, County Governor). That authority issues an Apostille Certificate for the document.

• The Apostille certifies authenticity — of the signature, the capacity of the signer, and, when applicable, the seal or stamp. Importantly, it does not certify the content of the document.

• Once a document bears a valid apostille, it becomes “honored as public document” in any other member country of the Convention. No further legalization (e.g. consular legalization, embassy certification) is required.

In effect, the Apostille Convention replaced the older “red ribbon / consularization” system with a single-step international certification — massively easing cross-border document exchange.

Who are the “Apostille Countries”? (Selected List & Highlights)

As of 2025, there are over 120 contracting states to the Apostille Convention worldwide.

Here are some examples across different regions:

• Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and many others.

• Americas: United States, Canada (joined Jan 2024), Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, many Latin American and Caribbean countries.

• Asia–Pacific: Japan, Australia, South Korea, China (note: only Hong Kong & Macao SARs; mainland China isn’t party) according to some sources.

• Others: Various countries across Africa, Middle East, Latin America, and elsewhere. For example, a number of less-commonly cited countries are part of the convention according to publicly available member-lists.

Because the Convention is widely ratified, most countries where Filipinos live or travel are likely to be contracting states — which greatly helps in easing the authentication process for documents like SPAs, birth certificates, or educational credentials.

What This Means for Filipinos Abroad — And You

Given that you — and likely some people you know — may need to have documents notarized abroad for use in the Philippines (e.g. SPAs for real-estate dealings, representation, banking, remittances, family law, etc.), here are the practical takeaways:

• If you’re in a country that’s a contracting party to the Apostille Convention:  Have your SPA or relevant document notarized there, then request an Apostille Certificate from the country’s competent authority. Once apostilled, the document can be used in the Philippines — no further embassy/consulate authentication needed.

• If the country is not part of the Convention: Be prepared for the older process: notarization → legalization by foreign government → consular authentication by Philippine embassy/consulate. This can be longer and more complex.

• Always present the original notarized + apostilled/consularized document when submitting to Philippine authorities — e.g. Registry of Deeds, banks, courts. Some agencies may require a “certified true copy,” but the apostille or consular seal must be visible.

• Understand: an Apostille doesn’t validate the content, only the authenticity of the notarial act. The receiving agency in the Philippines still has the right to assess whether the document meets substantive legal requirements (e.g. SPA must contain detailed description of powers; certain acts like property sale require notarization per law).

Why the Apostille Convention Matters — Not Just for SPAs

Beyond SPAs, the Apostille Convention facilitates international mobility and transactions for Filipinos abroad:

• Birth, marriage, death certificates — important for dual citizenship, overseas employment, visa or immigration processes abroad.

• Educational credentials — diplomas, transcripts, certifications for foreign study or work.

• Court or notarial documents — affidavits, powers of attorney, contracts, adoption papers, etc.

Because over 120 countries are parties (and more join from time to time), this system significantly reduces red tape and speeds up cross–border legal and personal processes.

For Filipinos living partly abroad, dealing with properties in the Philippines, or planning international transactions — understanding and using the Apostille system could save time, money, and headaches.

Final Thoughts

We underscore a simple but often-overlooked truth: notarization abroad does not automatically guarantee recognition in the Philippines. 

Without proper authentication, foreign SPAs and other documents may be rendered ineffective.

But since the Philippines’ accession to the Apostille Convention, there is now a smoother, internationally-recognized path: apostillization.

This system reflects global legal cooperation and makes things easier for Filipinos abroad dealing with cross-border documentation.

If you are ever in the process of executing a Special Power of Attorney abroad — whether for land, banking, or personal matters — make it a point to check:

1. Is the country an Apostille Convention member?

2. If yes: apostille the SPA. If no: prepare for consular legalization.

3. Retain the original apostilled/consularized SPA when submitting it in the Philippines.

Source: Ziggurat Real Estate

How to enjoy your money without regret

Many people work hard to save and invest, yet when it comes to spending, they often feel guilty. For some, every purchase feels like a dent in their financial future. For others, impulsive buying leads to regret the next day. Either way, money becomes a source of stress rather than enjoyment.

Behavioral finance helps explain why. Studies show that people do not always spend rationally. Emotions, habits and mental shortcuts influence our decisions, sometimes leading to happiness and sometimes to regret. By understanding these patterns, we can use our money with less guilt and fewer regrets.

Traditional economics once assumed that people act rationally and that they weigh costs and benefits before making decisions. But research in psychology and behavioral finance shows that reality is far more complex.

Money is more than a way to pay for things. It carries emotions, which explains why people feel outraged when they see politicians misuse public funds on lavish lifestyles. Every choice to spend or save reflects our fears and hopes.

One reason spending feels complicated is what psychologists call anticipated regret.

Studies led by Thomas Gilovich of Cornell University in 1998 on anticipated regret show that people often avoid spending because they imagine regretting it later. They picture a future where they wish they had saved instead.

Ironically, the same thing happens in reverse for impulsive spenders. They focus only on the excitement of buying and forget the regret that may come later. This push and pull is why spending often feels more emotional than logical.

Mental accounting

Another reason is what researchers call mental accounting, a concept popularized by Richard Thaler in 1985. His study, published in the journal Marketing Science, showed that people divide money into separate mental “accounts,” such as essentials, savings and discretionary use.

Take dividends or bonuses as an example. Many people see them as money that is safe to spend, while selling investments feels more like taking money out of your nest egg. The money may be the same, but the psychology is very different.

If money is meant to make life better, then the real question is how we spend it in a way that truly makes us happy.

Back in 2013, behavioral researchers Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton explained in their book “Happy Money” that happiness has less to do with how much you spend and more with what you spend it on.

Their research showed that experiences such as a vacation, a family celebration or even a simple day out with friends tend to create deeper and longer lasting joy than material purchases.

A brand new gadget or luxury item might thrill you at first, but the feeling fades quickly while memories often grow more valuable with time.

Meaningful spending

Another study by Cassie Mogilner Holmes of UCLA and her colleagues in 2016 found that spending brings the most satisfaction when it matches personal values.

People who used money to strengthen relationships, pursue growth or support meaningful goals reported higher life satisfaction than those who saved too much or spent without purpose.

What this tells us is simple. Happiness is not about the size of your bank account but about how well your money supports the life you want to live.

Imagine three retirees with the same savings. The first is so worried about running out of money that he barely spends. He skips the trips he dreamed of and avoids hobbies he once wanted to try.

When his health finally slows him down, he realizes the real loss was not the money but the memories he never made.

The second goes the other way. He spends too much on luxuries and drains his savings too fast. By the time he gets older, the lifestyle he once enjoyed becomes impossible to sustain. What remains is stress instead of comfort.

Then there’s the third. She sets aside enough for essentials and long-term security but also reserves a portion for enjoyment. She books trips early, savors the excitement of looking forward to them and creates memories with her family. By striking this balance, she avoids both the regret of holding back too much and the pain of spending too much.

Live without regrets

These examples show what research has been saying all along. Regret usually does not come from spending money, but from spending it without purpose. If you save only out of fear, money does not protect you, it just traps you.

If you spend it carelessly, it leaves you feeling empty. But if you use it for experiences and relationships that truly matter, it gives life more meaning.

The psychology of spending teaches us that financial success is not just about building wealth. It is about using money in ways that create both security and fulfillment.

Research by Gilovich, Thaler, Dunn, Norton and Holmes all point to the same truth that happiness with money is never about the total you keep, but about whether it supports the life you want to live.

Source: Inquirer

Remittances growth hit 5-mo high of 3.7% in Sept

Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) jumped by an annual 3.7% in September, the fastest pace in five months, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Monday.

Data from the central bank showed cash remittances rose to $3.12 billion in September from $3.01 billion in the same month in 2024.

This was the fastest growth since the 4% logged in April.

Month on month, cash remittances increased by 4.84% from $2.977 billion in August.

For the first nine months of the year, cash remittances sent through banks increased by 3.2% to $26.03 billion from $25.23 billion a year ago.

“The United States remained the top source of remittances to the Philippines during January-September 2025, followed by Singapore, and Saudi Arabia,” the BSP said in a statement.

Cash remittances from the US accounted for 40.4% of the total in the nine-month period.

This was followed by Singapore (7.1%), Saudi Arabia (6.4%), Japan (4.9%) the United Kingdom (4.8%), the United Arab Emirates (4.5%), Canada (3.5%), Qatar (2.9%), Taiwan (2.8%) and South Korea (2.5%).

Meanwhile, personal remittances went up by 3.8% to $3.46 billion in September from $3.34 billion a year earlier.

In the January-to-September period, personal remittances rose by 3.2% to $28.97 billion from $28.07 billion a year ago.

Personal remittances include both cash coursed through banks and informal channels as well as in-kind remittances.

Analysts said OFWs sent home more money starting September, as the holiday season approaches.

“The ‘ber’ months effect kicked in early, with OFWs sending more ahead of the long holiday season,” Reyes Tacandong & Co. Senior Adviser Jonathan L. Ravelas said in a Viber message.

He added that the strong labor market and a competitive peso also supported remittance growth in September.

The peso closed at P58.196 per dollar on Sept. 30, weakening by P1.066 or 1.87% from P57.13 on Aug. 29.

In September, the country’s unemployment rate improved to 3.8% from 3.9% in August. For the first nine months, the jobless rate stood at 4.1%, a tad higher than 4% in the same period last year.

“The onset of ‘ber’ months marks the start of the holiday season for Filipinos. Thus, we may expect OFWs to send their earnings to their families here for the celebrations and gatherings,” Oikonomia Advisory and Research, Inc. economist Reinielle Matt M. Erece said.

Mr. Erece said remittance growth could be faster from October to December, before stabilizing in January 2026.

“For the fourth quarter, expect remittances to stay resilient and peak in December. BSP’s 3% full-year growth target looks well within reach,” Mr. Ravelas likewise said.

The BSP expects cash remittances to grow by 3% to $35.5 billion this year.

Source: Business World