CIVIL LAW REVIEWER

PRELIMINARY TITLE
EFFECT AND APPLICATION OF LAWS
(Arts. 1-18)
1.

Dene law.

ANS: The term law, in its general sense (derecho), is dened

as the science of moral laws based on the rational nature of man,
which governs his free activity for the realization of his individual
and social ends, and which by its very nature is demandable and reciprocal. (1 Sanchez Roman 3.) In its specic sense (ley), it is dened
as a rule of conduct, just, obligatory, promulgated by legitimate authority, and of common observance and benet. (Ibid.)
2.

Dene Civil Law. (1977)

ANS: Civil law is dened as the mass of precepts which

determines and regulates those relations of assistance, authority
and obedience existing among members of a family as well as
among members of a society for the protection of private interests.
(1 Sanchez Roman 70.)
3.

Dene Civil Code.

ANS: A Civil Code may be dened as a collection of laws,

which regulates the private relations of the members of civil society,
determining their respective rights and obligations, with reference
to persons, things, and civil acts. (1 Tolentino, Civil Code, p. 10.)
4.
What is the physical or mechanical composition of
the Civil Code of the Philippines? (1977)
ANS: The Civil Code of the Philippines consists of 2,270
articles which are divided as follows:
(1)

Preliminary Title Arts. 1-36.

1

Arts. 1-18

PRELIMINARY TITLE
Effect and Application of Laws

(2) Book 1 Persons Arts. 37-51, NCC; Arts. 1-257, FC;

Arts. 305-310, NCC; Arts. 356-396, NCC; and Arts. 407-413, NCC.
(3) Book II Property, Ownership, and its Modications
Arts. 414-711.
(4)
1155.

Book III Modes of Acquiring Ownership Arts. 712-

(5)
2251.

Book IV Obligations and Contracts Arts. 1156-

(6)

Transitional Provisions Arts. 2252-2269.

(7)

Repealing Clause Art. 2270.

5.
What are the sources of the Civil Code of the Philippines? (1977)
ANS: The sources of the Civil Code of the Philippines are:
(1)

Civil Code of Spain of 1889;

(2) Codes and laws of other countries, such as Spain, the

various states of the United States especially California and
Louisiana, France, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland,
England, and Italy;
(3) Judicial decisions of the Supreme Courts of the Philippines, of various states of the United States, of Spain, and of other
countries;
(4) Philippine laws or statutes, such as the Code of Civil
Procedure (Act No. 190), the Rules of Court, the Marriage Law (Act
No. 3613), and the Divorce Law (Act No. 2710);
(5)

Works of jurists and commentators of various nations;

(6)

Filipino customs and traditions; and

(7)

The Code Commission itself.

(Report of the Code Commission, pp. 2-3.)

6.

When do laws in the Philippines take effect?

ANS: Laws shall take effect after 15 days following the

completion of their publication either in the Ofcial Gazette or in
2

PRELIMINARY TITLE
Effect and Application of Laws

Arts. 1-18

a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, unless it is

otherwise provided. (Exec. Order No. 200, dated June 18, 1987,
which repealed Art. 2, NCC.)
7.
When did the Spanish Civil Code take effect in the
Philippines?
ANS: The Spanish Civil Code took effect 20 days (a los veinte
dias) after publication in the ofcial newspaper in the Philippines.
As to actual date of effectivity, there are two (2) views. According to
the majority view, since it was published in the Gaceta de Manila
on Nov. 17, 1889, therefore, it took effect on December 7, 1889.
(Mijares vs. Nery, 3 Phil. 196; Cosio vs. Pili, 10 Phil. 72; Insular
Government vs. Aldecoa, 19 Phil. 505; Barretto vs. Tuazon, 59 Phil.
845.) According to the minority view, the date of effectivity is Dec.
8, 1889. (Benedicto vs. De la Rama, 3 Phil. 43; Veloso vs. Fontanosa,
13 Phil. 79.) It is submitted that the rst view is more in accordance
with the rules of statutory construction.
8.
When did the Civil Code of the Philippines take
effect? Discuss.
ANS: According to several cases decided by the Supreme Court
(SC), the date of effectivity of the Civil Code of the Philippines is
Aug. 30, 1950, which is one year after its publication in the Ofcial
Gazette as required by Art. 2 of the said Code. (Lara vs. Del Rosario,
94 Phil. 778; Raymundo vs. Peas, 96 Phil. 311; Camporedondo vs.
Aznar, 102 Phil. 1055.)
The above date of effectivity of the New Civil Code (NCC), as
pinpointed by the SC, has been the subject of criticism by some of
our leading commentators. It is, of course, clear that Art. 2 of the
NCC expressly provides that the NCC of the Philippines shall take
effect one year after the completion of its publication in the Ofcial
Gazette. Actually, it was published in a Supplement dated June,
1949, which accompanied the June, 1949 issue. However, the Editor
of the said Ofcial Gazette certied that the June, 1949 issue of
the Ofcial Gazette with the Supplement thereto, was released
for circulation on August 30, 1949. Consequently, if the basis for
computing the one-year period is the date of publication, then the
date of effectivity would be June 30, 1950. This was the view upheld
by the majority of commentators. (See 1 Tolentino, Civil Code, p. 17.)
3

To the two thousand and thirteen loves of my life, Nena, my twelve

children and my bar candidates, this
book is affectionately dedicated.

iii

iv

PREFACE TO THE 2009 EDITION

With a deep sense of pride, we are once more bringing out the
revised edition of this book. This edition contains the most recent
Supreme Court decisions on Civil Law, as recent as 2008. It likewise
contains the recent bar questions up to 2007. Through the years,
this Reviewer has remained to be a handy manual on Civil Law for
the bar candidates, law professors, all lawyers actively engaged in
the law practice and even judges. As was observed by our father,
this Reviewer can even be used as a very convenient text for the
Civil Law Review classes. We hope that somehow, this Reviewer
shall continue to be of help to them.
Just like the other books of Justice Jurado, this book is
a product of a hard discipline the discipline of fine, unselfish
scholarship, one that is to be remembered as his masterpiece...a
treasured legacy.
In closing, we wish to acknowledge the assistance of all those
who have supported us, most specially our Manong, Mr. Juanito
F. Fontelera, owner and publisher of the REX BOOK STORE, our
mother Mama Nena and our brother, Richard B. Jurado, for their
encouragement and support.
Quezon City, Philippines, August 23, 2008.
By:
JUSTICE ROLAND B. JURADO
Associate Justice, Sandiganbayan; Former RTC Judge Branch
76, Malolos, Bulacan; Former MTC Judge, Branch 2, Malolos, Bulacan; Former Fourth Assistant City Prosecutor, Caloocan City;
Professor of Law FEU, UE, MLQU and SSC; BSC; Ll.B. (FEU)
ATTY. ROSARIO JURADO-BENEDICTO
Vice-President and Head, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Legal
Services Division; Partner, Benedicto, Verzosa, Burkley & Associv

ates; Former Corporate Secretary/Assistant Corporate Secretary and

Legal Officer of the Filinvest Group of Companies, and the Francisco
V. del Rosario Group of Companies; Private Practitioner, Dizon,
Paculdo, Jurado, Jurado, Vitug and Associates; Former Professor,
F.E.U. School of Business; Former Professor of San Sebastian College of Law; A.B. and Ll.B. (U.P. Diliman)
ATTY. RUDOLF PHILIP B. JURADO
Private Practitioner, The Law Firm of R.P.B. Jurado; Former
Partner, Culvera, Waytan & Jurado Law Offices; Former Trial Lawyer, Coronel Law Office; Professor, MLQU School of Law; Former
Professor U.E. College of Law and Lyceum College of Law; B.S.C.,
Ll.B. (U.E.)
and
ATTY. ROBERT B. JURADO
Consultant, Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council (HUDCC); Private Practitioner; Former Director,
Legislative Bills and Index Services, Senate of the Republic of the
Philippines and HUDCC; Former Consultant to the Office of the
Vice President of the Philippines; Former Trial Lawyer, Marbibi
Law Office, Electrical Engineering (N.U.); Ll.B. (F.E.U.)

vi

PREFACE TO THE 1989 EDITION

Law, including the Civil Law, is always changing. Since the
last edition was published in 1986, many changes have been introduced particularly on the subject of Persons and Family Relations
and Succession with the passage of the Family Code. This edition
incorporates these changes in the field and accounts for its size.
Assistance to bar candidates, law professors and lawyers actively engaged in the practice of law was the objective of the 1986
edition. It is still the objective of this edition. Much of the inspiration that went into this work came from our father the hero, the
Justice, the Professor and the author. Through our relationship with
him, we have learned to hold the assurance that the disappointments which we experience, nay, even his departure, are actually
blessings in disguise to draw us closer to God and to the ideals
which our father committed himself in his lifetime, the love for the
Civil Law being foremost among them. Such love shall always be
remembered as a treasured legacy.
We, the wife and the children of the late Justice Desiderio
P. Jurado, are indebted to a number of persons for help with this
edition. Preeminent among them are Justice Alicia V. Sempio-Diy
of the Court of Appeals, Prof. A. Gutierrez and A. Buencamino. We
are likewise thankful to all those who, in one way or the other, assisted and gave us the support in the preparation of this edition.
Quezon City, Philippines, July 1989.
By
ROLAND (Judge, Municipal Trial Court, Branch 2,
Malolos, Bulacan; Former Fourth Assistant City Prosecutor,
Caloocan City; Former Legal Consultant,
Metro Manila Commission; Professor,
San Sebastian College of Law; BSC; Ll.B. (F.E.U.); and
ROSARIO (Manager, Legal Services Division,
Bank of the Philippine Islands);
Attorney-at-Law, Leonen, Ramirez and Associates;
Former Corporate Secretary and Legal Officer
of the Filinvest Group of Companies
and the Francisco V. del Rosario Group of Companies;
Former Professor, F.E.U. School of Business; AB; Ll.B. (U.P.).
vii

viii

PREFACE TO THE 1981-1982 EDITION

It is with a sense of pride that we are again bringing out a
new edition of this Reviewer.
This edition now contains all of the most important decisions, in summarized or modified form, of the Supreme Court on
Civil Law, whether landmark, illustrative, or even abandoned, up
to 1981. It also contains all of the most important bar questions,
whether oft-repeated or off-beat, up to 1981. It also contains the
salient features of the Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. No. 603,
as amended), the Condominium Act (Rep. Act No. 4726), the Water
Code of the Philippines (P.D. No. 1067), the Decree on Intellectual
Property (P.D. No. 49), the Realty Installment Buyer Protection Act
(Rep. Act No. 6552), the new House Rental Law (Batas Pambansa
Blg. 25) and other laws or decrees which have either repealed or
modified provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines or decisions
of the Supreme Court. In the process, we have added hypothetical
problems, not off-beat, which may help bar examiners in formulating reasonable and fair questions and problems which will really
test the mettle of bar candidates. Additionally, we have included as
appendices the bar questions of 1980 and 1981, some presidential
decrees and some new decisions.
With the above-mentioned additions and interpolations, this
Reviewer has indeed become a handy manual on Civil Law not only
for bar candidates and law professors but also for lawyers actively
engaged in the practice of the law. As a matter of fact, many judges
and law practitioners, who, at some time or another, once listened
to our lectures on Civil Law, have told us that they are using it as
a sort of guide for further research. It can even be used as a very
convenient text for both Civil Law Review 1 and Civil Law Review
2 in the regular law course. In our case, we have been prescribing
it as the basic text not only in our Pre-Bar review courses at the
UP Law Center, Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda College
of Law, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, University of Manila, Manila Review Center and others, but also in
our Civil Law Review 1 & 2 courses at the Schools of Law of San
ix

Beda College, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas,

University of Manila, Lyceum of the Philippines, Philippine Law
School, Adamson University, San Sebastian College and others
where we had the privilege to teach the subjects.
Thus, once again we offer this Reviewer to the bar candidates
who are presently reviewing for the bar examinations as well as
to all lovers of Civil Law, be they judges, lawyers or students. We
pray and hope that it will continue to be of help to them.
Manila, Philippines, March 25, 1982
D. P. JURADO

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
PRELIMINARY TITLE ...........................................................

Effect and Application of Laws ......................................

Human Relations ............................................................

1
33

BOOK I. PERSONS
Title I. CIVIL PERSONALITY ..........................................
CITIZENSHIP AND DOMICILE ...................................

62
67

Title I. MARRIAGE ............................................................

69

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Requisites of Marriage ................................

Marriages Exempt from the License
Requirement .................................................
Void and Voidable Marriages .....................

Title II. LEGAL SEPARATION .........................................

Title III. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS BETWEEN
HUSBAND AND WIFE ..................................................
Title IV. PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN
HUSBAND AND WIFE ..................................................
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

General Provisions.......................................
Donations by Reason of Marriage ..............
System of Absolute Community .................

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4

Section 5

General Provisions ..................................

What Constitutes Community
Property .............................................
Charges Upon and Obligations of the
Absolute Community ........................
Ownership, Administration,
Enjoyment and Disposition
of Community Property ....................
Dissolution of Absolute Community
Regime ...............................................
xi

69
82
87
120
135
139
139
143
151
151
152
153

155
156

Section 6

Chapter 4
Section
Section
Section
Section

Liquidation of the Absolute

Community Assets and
Liabilities ...........................................

158

Conjugal Partnership of Gains ...................

161

General Provisions ..................................

Exclusive Property of Each Spouse........
Conjugal Partnership Property ..............
Charges Upon and Obligations of the
Conjugal Partnership .......................
5 Administration of the Conjugal
Partnership Property ........................
6 Dissolution of Conjugal Partnership
Regime ...............................................
7 Liquidation of the Conjugal
Partnership Assets and
Liabilities ...........................................
Separation of Property of the Spouses
and Administration of Common
Property by One Spouse During
the Marriage ..........................................
Regime of Separation of Property ..............
Property Regime of Unions Without
Marriage.................................................

161
165
173

Title V. THE FAMILY ........................................................

214

Section
Section
Section

Chapter 5

Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

1
2
3
4

187
193
196

197

201
207
208

The Family as an Institution......................

Family Home ................................................

214
215

Title VI. PATERNITY AND FILIATION ..........................

222

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Legitimate Children ....................................

Proof of Filiation ..........................................
Illegitimate Children ...................................
Legitimated Children ..................................

222
230
238
241

Title VII. ADOPTION .........................................................

Title VIII. SUPPORT ..........................................................
Title IX. PARENTAL AUTHORITY ..................................

246
258
267

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

General Provisions.......................................
Substitute and Special Parental
Authority ................................................
Effect of Parental Authority Upon the
Persons of the Children ........................
xii

267
274
277

Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Effect of Parental Authority Upon the

Property of the Children .......................
Suspension or Termination of
Parental Authority ................................

280
282

Title X. EMANCIPATION AND AGE OF

MAJORITY ......................................................................
Title XI. SUMMARY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
IN THE FAMILY LAW...................................................
Title XII. FINAL PROVISIONS ........................................

286
286

PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE AND P.D.

NO. 603 AS AMENDED, WHICH HAVE
NOT BEEN REPEALED BY THE FAMILY CODE.....
FUNERALS ..............................................................................
CARE AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN ..........................
USE OF SURNAMES..............................................................
ABSENCE ................................................................................
CIVIL REGISTER ...................................................................

287
287
288
295
299
301

284

BOOK II. PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP,

AND ITS MODIFICATIONS
Title 1. CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY ....................
Title II. OWNERSHIP ........................................................

308
327

Right of Accession ...........................................................

Quieting of Title ..............................................................

332
362

III. CO-OWNERSHIP ................................................

IV. SOME SPECIAL PROPERTIES ........................
V. POSSESSION ........................................................
VI. USUFRUCT .........................................................
VII. EASEMENTS OR SERVITUDES .....................
VIII. NUISANCE .......................................................

364
380
385
406
415
437

Title
Title
Title
Title
Title
Title

BOOK III. DIFFERENT MODES OF

ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ........................................................
Title I. OCCUPATION .......................................................

442
444

Law .................................................................................
Tradition ..........................................................................

446
447

Title II. INTELLECTUAL CREATION.............................

Title III. DONATION .........................................................

449
453

xiii

Title IV. SUCCESSION ......................................................

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

490

General Provisions.......................................
Testamentary Succession ............................

490
497

Section 1. Wills ...........................................................

Wills in General......................................................
Testamentary Capacity and Intent .......................
Forms of Wills, Witnesses, and Codicils ...............
Revocation, Republication and
Revival of Wills.....................................................
Allowance and Disallowance of Wills ...................
Section 2. Institution of Heirs..................................
Section 3. Substitution of Heirs ...............................
Section 4. Testamentary Dispositions .....................
Section 5. Legitime ...................................................
Reserva Troncal ......................................................
Distribution of Estate if There are Donations .....
Section 6. Disinheritance .........................................
Section 7. Legacies and Devises ..............................

497
497
499
500

Chapter 3

522
530
538
547
554
558
573
592
600
607

Intestate Succession ....................................

614

Section 1. General Provisions ..................................

Representation ........................................................
Section 2 Order of Intestate Succession.................

614
618
627

Chapter 4

Provisions Common to Testate and

Intestate Successions ............................
Accretion ................................................................
Capacity to Succeed By Will or By
Intestacy .........................................................
Acceptance and Repudiation..................................
Collation ..................................................................
Partition and Distribution .....................................

655
655
667
676
679
685

Title V. PRESCRIPTION ...................................................

691

General Provisions ..........................................................

Acquisitive Prescription ..................................................
Extinctive Prescription ...................................................

691
694
697

BOOK IV. OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS

Title I. OBLIGATIONS ......................................................
General Provisions ..........................................................
Nature and Effect of Obligations ...................................
xiv

700
700
702

Kinds of Obligations .......................................................

Pure and Conditional Obligations .........................
Obligations with a Period ......................................
Alternative and Facultative Obligations ..............
Joint and Solidary Obligations ..............................
Divisible and Indivisible Obligations ....................
Obligations with a Penal Clause ...........................
Modes of Extinguishing Obligations .....................
Payment or Performance ...............................
Loss of the Thing Due ...................................
Remission .......................................................
Confusion or Merger ......................................
Compensation .................................................
Novation .........................................................

718
718
729
738
742
757
759
764
765
782
786
789
790
795

Title II. CONTRACTS ........................................................

811

General Provisions ..........................................................

Essential Requisites of Contracts ..................................
Consent....................................................................
Object.......................................................................
Cause .......................................................................
Form of Contracts ...........................................................
Reformation of Instruments ...........................................
Defective Contracts .........................................................
Rescissible Contracts ......................................................
Voidable Contracts ..........................................................
Unenforceable Contracts ................................................
Void or Inexistent Contracts ..........................................

811
829
829
851
854
859
863
868
870
878
887
896

III. NATURAL OBLIGATIONS ................................

IV. ESTOPPEL...........................................................
V. TRUSTS .................................................................
VI. SPECIAL CONTRACTS ......................................
Sales .................................................................................
Title VII. BARTER OR EXCHANGE ................................
Title VIII. LEASE ...............................................................

911
913
918
929
929
1002
1003

General Provisions ..........................................................

Lease of Rural and Urban Lands ..................................
Work and Labor Household Service ..............................
Contract of Labor ...................................................
Contract for a Piece of Work .................................
Common Carriers ...................................................

1003
1004
1023
1023
1024
1026

Title IX. PARTNERSHIP ...................................................

1041

Title
Title
Title
Title

xv

Title X. AGENCY ................................................................

Title XI. LOAN ....................................................................
Title XII. DEPOSIT ............................................................
TItle XIII. ALEATORY CONTRACTS ..............................
Title XIV. COMPROMISES AND ARBITRATIONS ........
Title XV. GUARANTY ........................................................
Title XVI. PLEDGE, MORTGAGE AND
ANTICHRESIS ................................................................

1065
1091
1099
1104
1109
1111

Pledge ...............................................................................
Real Estate Mortgage .....................................................
Antichresis .......................................................................
Chattel Mortgage.............................................................

1121
1127
1135
1139

Title XVII. EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS ....

1147

Quasi-Contracts...............................................................
Quasi-Delicts ...................................................................

1147
1152

Title XVIII. DAMAGES ......................................................

Title XIX. CONCURRENCE AND PREFERENCE
OF CREDITS ...................................................................
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS .............................................
REPEALING CLAUSE............................................................

1183

1121

1225
1231
1233

APPENDIX
A.

COMMON DISTINCTIONS IN CIVIL LAW ................

1234

B.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9523 ............................................

1239

xvi