Nais kong humingi ng payo patungkol sa sitwasyon ng aking step-daughter. Siya ay anak ng aking asawa sa panahon na kami ay magkahiwalay. Ngayon ay buo na muli ang aking pamilya at kasama niyang bumalik ang kanyang anak simula pa noong 2012. Ang katanungan ko po ay patungkol sa apelyido ng bata na kung saan ang kanyang dinadala ay ang apelyido ng kanyang ama. Yun din po ang nakasaad sa kanyang birth certificate. Nais ko sana na habang bata pa ay maisunod sa apelyido ng aming pamilya ang apelyido ng bata. Upang hindi naman sya magtaka na magkaiba sila ng apelyido ng ate nya. Sya po ay nasa 6 na taong gulang na at nag-aaral. Ako din po ang nagpapa-aral sa bata at wala naman silang komunikasyon ng kanyang tunay na ama na sa kuwento sa akin ng aking asawa ay isang pulis. Ano po ang mga legal na hakbang na puede kong gawin para mapalitan ang apelyido ng bata? Marami pong salamat.
Question: I have a stepdaughter, who is the daughter of my wife when we had been separated. Now, my wife and I are back together again since 2012. I would like to inquire about the surname of my stepdaughter, who is using the surname of her biological father. That is also what is written on her birth certificate. I would like to have my stepdaughter also have the same surname as ours. This is so that she would not wonder why her surname is different from that of her sister's, when she grows up. My stepdaughter is now 6 years old and studying. I am also supporting her school tuition fees, etc., and she does not have any communication with her biological father, who is a police officer, according to my wife. What legal actions can I take, so that the surname of my stepdaughter could be changed to my surname?
