BIZ BUZZ: Turf war 1: Makati vs Taguig

It looks like the raging territorial dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig over the coveted Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and seven “EMBOs” or Enlisted Men’s Barrios is far from over.

A couple of weeks ago, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reportedly received instructions from the Supreme Court to stand down from enforcing a December 2021 ruling that awarded the disputed territories to Taguig City.

According to DILG sources, the High Tribunal’s third division said that Makati still has a pending omnibus motion for reconsideration and request for the case be elevated to the full court and set for oral arguments. It added that DILG’s request for guidance on how to enforce the High Court’s decision will likewise be included in its agenda for discussion.

To recall, Makati has always maintained historical rights over the disputed lands that include BGC and seven barangays around the old Fort McKinley (predecessor of Fort Bonifacio) since the 1800s. These areas, however, became the subject of dispute when a Ramos-era edict creating the Bases Conversation and Development Authority led to the privatization of the former military base. When Taguig claimed jurisdiction over BGC and its immediate environs in 1993, Makati opposed the same until the case reached the Supreme Court.

With the recent court filings, it seems that the Makati-Taguig turf war is still raging. Will Makati succeed in saving a huge chunk of its claimed territory? Watch this space, folks!

—Daxim L. Lucas

Turf war 2: Eat Bulaga’s trademark

As expected, both camps locked in the vicious dispute over the country’s longest running noontime show Eat Bulaga! are claiming ownership over the popular trademark known from Aparri to Jolo.

According to the Jalosjos-led management now running Eat Bulaga! producer Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), it owns the trademark, thus it is well within its rights to continue using it, even if longtime hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) and the Dabarkads as well as the creative and production teams had resigned and been replaced by a new team.

Former Senate President Tito Sotto, however, is adamant that it is the creators who own the trademark. Perhaps even the general public agrees as Eat Bulaga! has become synonymous after 44 years with the TVJ trio.

A quick check of the World Intellectual Property Organization database shows that TAPE indeed “owns” the Eat Bulaga! trademark, but this mainly covers the use of Eat Bulaga! on a wide range of goods such as shirts and jackets for merchandise sales. Plus, the registration is set to expire this coming June 14.

To date, there are only two pending applications to register the Eat Bulaga! trademark. One was filed jointly by TVJ and longtime TAPE top executive Tony Tuviera in February this year and the other was filed in March by Joey de Leon. Both seek to trademark, among others, the use of the name for the production of a variety show.

“We started Eat Bulaga! in 1979. Joey invented the name, Vic composed the theme song. TAPE Inc. actually came in only in 1981, so how can it be theirs?,” explained the former senate president.

Even then, the new TAPE management is claiming ownership and is not about to give in. Thus it will now be up to the local intellectual property office to settle the trademark dispute once and for all.

According to Director General Rowel Barba of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, hearings on the pending applications will be conducted by the adjudication officers of the Bureau of Legal Affairs before a decision is made.

Question now is, will the decision come before the registration expires in just one week? Abangan!

—Tina Arceo-Dumlao INQ