It would appear that the spouses Delos Santos paid all the expenses attendant the second spinal operation as well as for the subsequent medical treatment. Petitioners demand for reimbursement of these expenses was rejected by respondent for the reason that all the sickness benefits of Delos Santos under the Social Security System (SSS) Law had already been paid. Thus, on 25 January 1997, petitioner filed a complaint[6] with the Arbitration Branch of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) against respondent and Aboitiz Shipping for recovery of disability benefits, and sick wage allowance and reimbursement of hospital and medical expenses. She also sought payment of moral damages and attorneys fees. After due proceedings, the labor arbiter rendered, on 08 January 1999, judgment finding for petitioner and ordering respondent and Aboitiz Shipping to jointly and severally pay the former the following: [7] (1) P119,536.01, representing reimbursement of medical, surgical and hospital expenses; (2) P9,000, representing reasonable cost of board and lodging; (3) P500,000, representing moral damages; (4) US$60,000, representing disability benefits corresponding to Total Permanent Disability; (5) US$2,452, representing Sick Wage allowance; (6) P62,853.60, representing attorneys fees; and, (7) US$6,245.20, also representing attorneys fees. On appeal, the NLRC, in a decision[8] dated 29 August 2000, modified that of the labor arbiter, as follows: WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is MODIFIED to the extent that respondents Jebsen Maritime, Inc., and Aboitiz Shipping Company are hereby ordered jointly and severally liable to pay Gil delos Santos through Amelia