<?php

class foo {
	protected $bar;
	
	public function setBar ($val) {
		$this->bar = $val;
	}
	
	public function __get ($var) {
		return $this->$var;
	}
}

$obj = new foo ();
$obj->setBar ('Hello World');

var_dump($obj->bar);
var_dump(empty($obj->bar)); //fucking brilliant!