Can Lola Nidora lawfully restrict Yaya Dub’s lovelife?

Friday night, over brandy, vodka, and moscato, two macho men who are unabashed AlDub fans asked me: As a family law practitioner, what do you think is the extent of Lola Nidora’s authority over Yaya Dub? Can Lola Nidora rightfully control Yaya Dub’s lovelife?
 
I confessed myself ignorant of the dynamics in Lola Nidora and Yaya Dub’s relationship, so the drinking buddies, whom we will call by their real names upon their own insistence: Donald Singzon and Edward Campos, patiently narrated the whole story to me starting from day 1. At some point, they both reflected with deep veneration on the significance of July 16, 2015, the day AlDub first came to be.
 
I listened with mystified amusement as Donald and Edward excitedly recounted the events that occurred on AlDub’s second “monthsary” last September 16. Apparently, it was thrilling enough in a Sweet Valley High kind of way as to make some guys check if they still had their male appendages firmly attached after having shrieked with unrestrained delight at that day’s romantic highlights in the popular Kalyeserye.
 
As the night wore on and the brandy and vodka-soused duo of Donald and Edward continued to indulge with their libation, they traded excited speculations about what might happen the next day at the scheduled first date of AlDub. Then, they grew concerned about Yaya Dub’s personal safety and legal rights. They debated whether Duhrizz could properly be charged with kidnapping for her scuttled abduction and detention of AlDub even though no ransom was demanded. As one of these guys is a lawyer himself, I can only surmise the alcohol cooked half his brain that night and rendered him temporarily incapable of recalling his Criminal Law.
 
So there I sat serenely enjoying my moscato improperly mixed with orange juice, my grey matter completely unimpaired by hard liquor, thoroughly amused that these mid-lifer dads, one of whom is ready to swear allegiance to Rody Duterte as his next president, are such diehard followers of the current undisputed loveteam ng bayan. Obviously tickled pink and hugely entertained by each new development in the phenomenally popular Kalyeserye with an ensemble cast of comedic geniuses, Donald and Edward gleefully told me they would sometimes even text each other just to ask for AlDub updates if one of them was unable to watch the day’s events.
 
Very well then, for Donald’s and Edward’s peace of (inebriated) mind, here are Yaya Dub’s legal rights vis-a-vis Lola Nidora:
 
As Yaya Dub is already 20 years old, she is an emancipated adult and is no longer subject to parental or substitute parental authority. Thus, Lola Nidora, even as ostensible substitute parent in the absence of Yaya Dub’s father and mother, may no longer forcibly impose her authority on the girl and thus, cannot lawfully restrict her lovelife.
 
However, since Yaya Dub appears to be living with Lola Nidora and presumably benefits from the latter’s largesse in terms of  housing, food, clothing, etc., Yaya Dub is expected to respect the older woman and obey her reasonable instructions and advice. This is in keeping with the Filipino custom and tradition of holding our elders in high regard, especially those with whom we are related.
 
In turn, under the same customary practice, Lola Nidora is expected to support, educate, and instruct Yaya Dub, give her love and affection, and offer her good advice and moral guidance.
 
Other than forcing Yaya Dub to marry Frankie Arenolli for money (which mercifully did not push through), Lola Nidora, with the able support of her sisters, Tidora and Tinidora, seems to be doing her best in providing guidance for Yaya Dub. If the heart-stopping events at AlDub’s first date in the Saturday, September 19 episode are any indication, Lola Nidora appears to have slightly softened her previously rigid stand on the match.
 
So now we come to Duhrizz. Can she be held liable for kidnapping even if no ransom was demanded? Yes, she can. A demand for ransom is not necessary to successfully prove a kidnapping charge. But if the purpose of the kidnapping or detention is the extortion of ransom, it raises the penalty for the crime.
 
This is the extent for now of our legal counselling concerning Yaya Dub because we can’t tell for certain which way her saga will turn next. I made sure to watch the much-awaited AlDub first date, my first time to watch an entire episode of the popular Kalyeserye, in order to get a feel of this incredible multi-platform phenomenon that everyone is thrilling about. What I saw was highly engaging and thoroughly entertaining; the gripping story plays out seamlessly, and the shocking twist at the end of the pair’s lunch date with that horrifying scream and the sound of a car crash must have blindsided even the hardest of hearts. Even the rock-hard biceps and triceps on Donald’s gym-sculpted arms must have turned to jelly at this suspenseful turn of events in the highly-anticipated AlDub story.

Personally, however, I wouldn’t worry too much about it; AlDub is too good to end this way. Something deliriously delightful must still be in store for this gorgeous pair of lovebirds.
 
On a final note, if you’re wondering why two red-blooded, middle-aged Filipino males such as Donald and Edward risk social judgment and possible loss of macho points by openly declaring their allegiance to AlDub, I think one could say these guys have inadvertently discovered one sure path to happiness (besides liquor): Whatever is wholesome that gives you joy, do that daily, regardless of what others say.

Atty. Reeza Singzon is a trial lawyer specializing in family law and civil law. For questions or comments, she may be reached at reeza.singzon@gmail.com.