What it is: the person who gives the power. If you sign a Special Power of Attorney, you are the principal — and the document works in your name.
Why it matters: the principal’s signature, notarization, and (for Philippine use) apostille are the chain of validity. If you change your mind, only the principal (in most cases) can revoke the SPA — check what your document says.
What the principal controls: exactly which acts are authorized, who the attorney-in-fact is, and any limits (deadlines, caps, conditions). Write the scope tightly.
Watch out for: once the SPA is apostilled and sent to the Philippines, revoking it takes another formal step — you generally must execute a revocation, notarize and apostille it, and notify the attorney-in-fact and the relevant institutions. Don’t assume “I changed my mind” stops them; revoke formally.