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THIRDDIVISION

[G.R.No.148311.March31,2005]

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF STEPHANIE NATHY ASTORGA

GARCIA
HONORATOB.CATINDIG,petitioner.
DECISION
SANDOVALGUTIERREZ,J.:

May an illegitimate child, upon adoption by her natural father, use the surname of her
naturalmotherashermiddlename?Thisistheissueraisedintheinstantcase.
Thefactsareundisputed.
[1]
OnAugust31,2000,HonoratoB.Catindig,hereinpetitioner,filedapetition toadopthis
minor illegitimate child Stephanie NathyAstorga Garcia. He alleged therein, among others,
[2]
thatStephaniewasbornonJune26,1994 thathermotherisGemmaAstorgaGarciathat
Stephanie has been using her mothers middle name and surname and that he is now a
widower and qualified to be her adopting parent. He prayed that Stephanies middle name
Astorga be changed to Garcia, her mothers surname, and that her surname Garcia be
changedtoCatindig,hissurname.
[3]
OnMarch23,2001, thetrialcourtrenderedtheassailedDecisiongrantingtheadoption,
thus:
Afteracarefulconsiderationoftheevidencepresentedbythepetitioner,andintheabsenceofany
oppositiontothepetition,thisCourtfindsthatthepetitionerpossessesallthequalificationsandnoneof
thedisqualificationprovidedforbylawasanadoptiveparent,andthatassuchheisqualifiedto
maintain,careforandeducatethechildtobeadoptedthatthegrantofthispetitionwouldredoundtothe
bestinterestandwelfareoftheminorStephanieNathyAstorgaGarcia.TheCourtfurtherholdsthatthe
petitionerscareandcustodyofthechildsinceherbirthuptothepresentconstitutemorethanenough
compliancewiththerequirementofArticle35ofPresidentialDecreeNo.603.
WHEREFORE,findingthepetitiontobemeritorious,thesameisGRANTED.Henceforth,Stephanie
NathyAstorgaGarciaisherebyfreedfromallobligationsofobedienceandmaintenancewithrespectto
hernaturalmother,andforcivilpurposes,shallhenceforthbethepetitionerslegitimatechildandlegal
heir.PursuanttoArticle189oftheFamilyCodeofthePhilippines,theminorshallbeknownas
STEPHANIENATHYCATINDIG.
UponfinalityofthisDecision,letthesamebeenteredintheLocalCivilRegistrarconcernedpursuantto
Rule99oftheRulesofCourt.
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LetcopyofthisDecisionbefurnishedtheNationalStatisticsOfficeforrecordpurposes.
[4]

SOORDERED.

[5]
OnApril20,2001,petitionerfiledamotionforclarificationand/orreconsideration praying
thatStephanieshouldbeallowedtousethesurnameofhernaturalmother(GARCIA)asher
middlename.
[6]
On May 28, 2001, the trial court denied petitioners motion for reconsideration holding
that there is no law or jurisprudence allowing an adopted child to use the surname of his
biologicalmotherashismiddlename.
Hence, the present petition raising the issue of whether an illegitimate child may use the
surnameofhermotherashermiddlenamewhensheissubsequentlyadoptedbyhernatural
father.
Petitioner submits that the trial court erred in depriving Stephanie of a middle name as a
consequenceofadoptionbecause:(1)thereisnolawprohibitinganadoptedchildfromhaving
amiddlenameincasethereisonlyoneadoptingparent(2)itiscustomaryforeveryFilipinoto
haveasmiddlenamethesurnameofthemother(3)themiddlenameorinitialisapartofthe
nameofaperson(4)adoptionisforthebenefitandbestinterestoftheadoptedchild,hence,
her right to bear a proper name should not be violated (5) permitting Stephanie to use the
middlenameGarcia(hermotherssurname)avoidsthestigmaofherillegitimacyand(6)her
continued use of Garcia as her middle name is not opposed by either the Catindig or Garcia
families.
TheRepublic,throughtheOfficeoftheSolicitorGeneral(OSG),agreeswithpetitionerthat
Stephanieshouldbepermittedtouse,ashermiddlename,thesurnameofhernaturalmother
forthefollowingreasons:
First,itisnecessarytopreserveandmaintainStephaniesfiliationwithhernaturalmother
becauseunderArticle189oftheFamilyCode,sheremainstobeanintestateheirofthelatter.
Thus,topreventanyconfusionandneedlesshardshipinthefuture,herrelationshiporproofof
thatrelationshipwithhernaturalmothershouldbemaintained.
Second,thereisnolawexpresslyprohibitingStephanietousethesurnameofhernatural
motherashermiddlename.Whatthelawdoesnotprohibit,itallows.
Last, it is customary for every Filipino to have a middle name, which is ordinarily the
surnameofthemother.ThiscustomhasbeenrecognizedbytheCivilCodeandFamilyCode.
In fact, the Family Law Committees agreed that the initial or surname of the mother should
immediatelyprecedethesurnameofthefathersothatthesecondname,ifany,willbebefore
[7]
thesurnameofthemother.
Wefindmeritinthepetition.
UseOfSurnameIsFixedByLaw
Forallpracticalandlegalpurposes,aman'snameisthedesignationbywhichheisknown
andcalledinthecommunityinwhichhelivesandisbestknown.Itisdefinedasthewordor
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combinationofwordsbywhichapersonisdistinguishedfromotherindividualsand,also,asthe
labelorappellationwhichhebearsfortheconvenienceoftheworldatlargeaddressinghim,or
[8]
inspeakingofordealingwithhim. Itisbothofpersonalaswellaspublicinterestthatevery
personmusthaveaname.
The name of an individual has two parts: (1) the given or proper name and (2) the
surnameorfamilyname.Thegivenorpropernameisthatwhichisgiventotheindividualat
birthoratbaptism,todistinguishhimfromotherindividuals.Thesurnameorfamilynameisthat
whichidentifiesthefamilytowhichhebelongsandiscontinuedfromparenttochild.Thegiven
namemaybefreelyselectedbytheparentsforthechild,butthesurnametowhichthechildis
[9]
entitledisfixedbylaw.
Thus,Articles 364 to 380 of the Civil Code provides the substantive rules which regulate
[10]
theuseofsurname
ofanindividualwhatevermaybehisstatusinlife,i.e.,whetherhemay
belegitimateorillegitimate,anadoptedchild,amarriedwomanorapreviouslymarriedwoman,
orawidow,thus:
Art.364.Legitimateandlegitimatedchildrenshallprincipallyusethesurnameofthefather.
Art.365.Anadoptedchildshallbearthesurnameoftheadopter.
xxx
Art.369.Childrenconceivedbeforethedecreeannullingavoidablemarriageshallprincipallyusethe
surnameofthefather.
Art.370.Amarriedwomanmayuse:
(1)Hermaidenfirstnameandsurnameandaddherhusband'ssurname,or
(2)Hermaidenfirstnameandherhusband'ssurnameor
(3)Herhusband'sfullname,butprefixingawordindicatingthatsheishiswife,suchasMrs.
Art.371.Incaseofannulmentofmarriage,andthewifeistheguiltyparty,sheshallresumehermaiden
nameandsurname.Ifsheistheinnocentspouse,shemayresumehermaidennameandsurname.
However,shemaychoosetocontinueemployingherformerhusband'ssurname,unless:
(1)Thecourtdecreesotherwise,or
(2)Sheortheformerhusbandismarriedagaintoanotherperson.
Art.372.Whenlegalseparationhasbeengranted,thewifeshallcontinueusinghernameandsurname
employedbeforethelegalseparation.
Art.373.Awidowmayusethedeceasedhusband'ssurnameasthoughhewerestillliving,in
accordancewithArticle370.
Art.374.Incaseofidentityofnamesandsurnames,theyoungerpersonshallbeobligedtousesuch
additionalnameorsurnameaswillavoidconfusion.
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Art.375.Incaseofidentityofnamesandsurnamesbetweenascendantsanddescendants,theword
Juniorcanbeusedonlybyason.Grandsonsandotherdirectmaledescendantsshalleither:
(1)Addamiddlenameorthemother'ssurname,
(2)AddtheRomannumeralsII,III,andsoon.
xxx
LawIsSilentAsToTheUseOf
MiddleName
Ascorrectlysubmittedbybothparties,thereisnolawregulatingtheuseofamiddlename.
[11]
Even Article 176
of the Family Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 9255, otherwise
knownasAnActAllowingIllegitimateChildrenToUseTheSurnameOfTheirFather,issilent
astowhatmiddlenameachildmayuse.
The middle name or the mothers surname is only considered in Article 375(1), quoted
above,incasethereisidentityofnamesandsurnamesbetweenascendantsanddescendants,
inwhichcase,themiddlenameorthemotherssurnameshallbeadded.
Notably,thelawislikewisesilentastowhatmiddlenameanadopteemayuse.Article
365 of the Civil Code merely provides that an adopted child shall bear the surname of the
adopter. Also, Article 189 of the Family Code, enumerating the legal effects of adoption, is
likewisesilentonthematter,thus:
"(1)Forcivilpurposes,theadoptedshallbedeemedtobealegitimatechildoftheadoptersandboth
shallacquirethereciprocalrightsandobligationsarisingfromtherelationshipofparentandchild,
includingtherightoftheadoptedtousethesurnameoftheadopters
xxx
However,ascorrectlypointedoutbytheOSG,themembersoftheCivilCodeandFamily
LawCommitteesthatdraftedtheFamilyCoderecognizedtheFilipinocustomofaddingthe
surnameofthechildsmotherashismiddlename.IntheMinutesoftheJointMeetingofthe
CivilCodeandFamilyLawCommittees,themembersapprovedthesuggestionthattheinitial
orsurnameofthemothershouldimmediatelyprecedethesurnameofthefather,thus
JusticeCaguioacommentedthatthereisadifferencebetweentheusebythewifeofthesurnameandthat
ofthechildbecausethefatherssurnameindicatesthefamilytowhichhebelongs,forwhichreason
hewouldinsistontheuseofthefatherssurnamebythechildbutthat,ifhewantsto,thechildmay
alsousethesurnameofthemother.
JusticePunoposedthequestion:Ifthechildchoosestousethesurnameofthemother,howwillhisname
bewritten?JusticeCaguioarepliedthatitisuptohimbutthathispointisthatitshouldbemandatory
thatthechildusesthesurnameofthefatherandpermissiveinthecaseofthesurnameofthe
mother.
Prof.BavieraremarkedthatJusticeCaguioaspointiscoveredbythepresentArticle364,whichreads:
Legitimateandlegitimatedchildrenshallprincipallyusethesurnameofthefather.
JusticePunopointedoutthatmanynameschangethroughnochoiceofthepersonhimselfprecisely
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becauseofthismisunderstanding.Hethencitedthefollowingexample:AlfonsoPonceEnrilescorrect
surnameisPoncesincethemotherssurnameisEnrilebuteverybodycallshimAtty.Enrile.JusticeJose
GutierrezDavidsfamilynameisGutierrezandhismotherssurnameisDavidbuttheyallcallhimJustice
David.
JusticeCaguioasuggestedthattheproposedArticle(12)bemodifiedtotheeffectthatitshallbe
mandatoryonthechildtousethesurnameofthefatherbuthemayusethesurnameofthemother
bywayofaninitialoramiddlename.Prof.Balanestatedthattheytakenoteofthisforinclusioninthe
ChapteronUseofSurnamessinceintheproposedArticle(10)theyarejustenumeratingtherightsof
legitimatechildrensothatthedetailscanbecoveredintheappropriatechapter.
xxx
JusticePunoremarkedthatthereislogicinthesimplificationsuggestedbyJusticeCaguioathatthe
surnameofthefathershouldalwaysbelastbecausetherearesomanytraditionsliketheAmerican
traditionwheretheyliketousetheirsecondgivennameandtheLatintradition,whichisalsofollowed
bytheChinesewhereintheyevenincludetheClanname.
xxx
JusticePunosuggestedthattheyagreeinprinciplethatintheChapterontheUseofSurnames,
theyshouldsaythatinitialorsurnameofthemothershouldimmediatelyprecedethesurnameof
thefathersothatthesecondname,ifany,willbebeforethesurnameofthemother.Prof.Balane
[12]

addedthatthisisreallytheFilipinoway.TheCommitteeapprovedthesuggestion.
supplied)

(Emphasis

Inthecaseofanadoptedchild,thelawprovidesthattheadoptedshallbearthesurnameof
[13]
theadopters.
Again,itissilentwhetherhecanuseamiddlename.Whatitonlyexpressly
allows, as a matter of right and obligation, is for the adoptee to bear the surname of the
[14]
adopter,uponissuanceofthedecreeofadoption.
TheUnderlyingIntentof
AdoptionIsInFavorofthe
AdoptedChild
Adoptionisdefinedastheprocessofmakingachild,whetherrelatedornottotheadopter,
[15]
possess in general, the rights accorded to a legitimate child.
It is a juridical act, a
proceeding in rem which creates between two persons a relationship similar to that which
[16]
resultsfromlegitimatepaternityandfiliation.
Themoderntrendistoconsideradoptionnot
merelyasanacttoestablisharelationshipofpaternityandfiliation,butalsoasanactwhich
[17]
endows the child with a legitimate status.
This was, indeed, confirmed in 1989, when the
Philippines,asaStatePartytotheConventionoftheRightsoftheChildinitiatedbythe
UnitedNations,acceptedtheprinciplethatadoptionisimpressedwithsocialandmoral
[18]
responsibility, and that its underlying intent is geared to favor the adopted child.
[19]
RepublicAct No. 8552, otherwise known as the DomesticAdoptionAct of 1998,
secures
[20]
theserightsandprivilegesfortheadopted.
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Oneoftheeffectsofadoptionisthattheadoptedisdeemedtobealegitimatechildofthe
[21]
adopterforallintentsandpurposespursuanttoArticle189
oftheFamilyCodeandSection
[22]
[23]
17
ArticleVofRA8552.
Beingalegitimatechildbyvirtueofheradoption,itfollowsthatStephanieisentitled
toalltherightsprovidedbylawtoalegitimatechildwithoutdiscriminationofanykind,
including the right to bear the surname of her father and her mother, as discussed
above.ThisisconsistentwiththeintentionofthemembersoftheCivilCodeandFamilyLaw
Committeesasearlierdiscussed.Infact,itisaFilipinocustomthattheinitialorsurnameofthe
mothershouldimmediatelyprecedethesurnameofthefather.
Additionally, as aptly stated by both parties, Stephanies continued use of her mothers
surname(Garcia)ashermiddlenamewillmaintainhermaternallineage.Itistobenotedthat
[24]
Article189(3)oftheFamilyCodeandSection18
,Article V of RA 8552 (law on adoption)
provide that the adoptee remains an intestate heir of his/her biological parent. Hence,
Stephaniecanwellassertorclaimherhereditaryrightsfromhernaturalmotherinthefuture.
Moreover, records show that Stephanie and her mother are living together in the house
builtbypetitionerforthemat390Tumana,SanJose,Baliuag,Bulacan.Petitionerprovidesfor
all their needs. Stephanie is closely attached to both her mother and father. She calls them
MamaandPapa.Indeed,theyareonenormalhappyfamily.Hence,toallowStephanietouse
hermotherssurnameashermiddlenamewillnotonlysustainhercontinuedlovingrelationship
withhermotherbutwillalsoeliminatethestigmaofherillegitimacy.
LiberalConstructionof
AdoptionStatutesInFavorOf
Adoption
It is a settled rule that adoption statutes, being humane and salutary, should be liberally
[25]
construedtocarryoutthebeneficentpurposesofadoption.
Theinterestsandwelfareofthe
[26]
adopted child are of primary and paramount consideration,
hence, every reasonable
intendment should be sustained to promote and fulfill these noble and compassionate
[27]
objectivesofthelaw.
Lastly,Art.10oftheNewCivilCodeprovidesthat:
Incaseofdoubtintheinterpretationorapplicationoflaws,itispresumedthatthelawmakingbody
intendedrightandjusticetoprevail.
This provision, according to the Code Commission, is necessary so that it may tip the
scales in favor of right and justice when the law is doubtful or obscure. It will strengthen the
determinationofthecourtstoavoidaninjusticewhichmayapparentlybeauthorizedbysome
[28]
wayofinterpretingthelaw.
Hence,sincethereisnolawprohibitinganillegitimatechildadoptedbyhernaturalfather,
like Stephanie, to use, as middle name her mothers surname, we find no reason why she
shouldnotbeallowedtodoso.
WHEREFORE,thepetitionisGRANTED.TheassailedDecisionispartlyMODIFIEDinthe
sense that Stephanie should be allowed to use her mothers surname GARCIA as her middle
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name.
Letthecorrespondingentryofhercorrectandcompletenamebeenteredinthedecreeof
adoption.
SOORDERED.
Panganiban,(Chairman),Corona,CarpioMorales,andGarcia,JJ.,concur.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]

[9]

Rolloat3436.
AnnexC,id.at33.
AnnexF,id.at4143.
Rolloat4243.
AnnexG,id.at4448.
AnnexH,id.at49.
MinutesoftheJointMeetingoftheCivilCodeandFamilyLawCommittees,August10,1985,p.8.
Republicvs.CourtofAppealsandMaximoWong,G.R.No.97906,May21,1992,209SCRA189,citing38Am
Jur,Name594595.
Republicvs.Hon.Hernandez,etal.,G.R.No.117209,February9,1996,253SCRA509,citingTolentino,A.M.,
CivilCodeofthePhilippines,CommentariesandJurisprudence,Vol.I,1993ed.,672.

[10]
[11]

Republicvs.CourtofAppealsandMaximoWong,supra.

Art.176.Illegitimatechildrenshallusethesurnameandshallbeundertheparentalauthorityoftheirmother,and
shallbeentitledtosupportinconformitywiththisCode.However,illegitimatechildrenmayusethesurname
of their father if their filiation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth
appearinginthecivilregister,orwhenanadmissioninapublicdocumentorprivatehandwritteninstrument
is made by the father. Provided, the father has the right to institute an action before the regular courts to
prove nonfiliation during his lifetime.The legitime of each illegitimate child shall consist of onehalf of the
legitimeofalegitimatechild.

[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]

MinutesoftheJointMeetingoftheCivilCodeandFamilylawCommittees,August10,1985,pp.1618.
Article365oftheNewCivilCode.
Republicvs.Hon.Hernandez,etal.,supraRepublicvs.CourtofAppealsandMaximoWong,supra.
Paras,CivilCodeofthePhilippinesAnnotated,Vol.I,FifteenthEdition,2002,p.685.
Pineda,TheFamilyCodeofthePhilippinesAnnotated,1989Edition,p.272273,citing4Valverde,473.
Paras,supra,citingPrasnickvs.Republic,98Phil.665.
Lahom vs. Sibulo, G.R. No. 143989, July 14, 2003, 406 SCRA 135, citing United Nation General
Assembly/44/49(1989).

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[19]

[20]
[21]

[22]
[23]
[24]

[25]

[26]
[27]

[28]

IntheMatteroftheAdoptionofStephanieNathyAstorgaGarcia:148311:March31,2005:J.SandovalGutierrez:ThirdDivision:Decision

Sec.17.Legitimacy.Theadopteeshallbeconsideredthelegitimateson/daughteroftheadopter(s)forallintents
and purposes and as such is entitled to all the rights and obligations provided by law to legitimate
sons/daughtersborntothemwithoutdiscriminationofanykind.Tothisend,theadopteeisentitledtolove,
guidanceandsupportinkeepingwiththemeansofthefamily.
Id.
Art. 189. (1) For civil purposes, the adopted shall be deemed to be a legitimate child of the adopters and
both shall acquire the reciprocal rights and obligations arising from the relationship of parent and child,
includingtherightoftheadoptedtousethesurnameoftheadopters
Supra.
DomesticAdoptionActof1998.
Sec. 18. Succession.In legal and intestate succession, the adopter(s) and the adoptee shall have reciprocal
rights of succession without distinction from legitimate filiation. However, if the adoptee and his/her
biologicalparent(s)hadleftawill,thelawontestamentarysuccessionshallgovern.
Republic of the Philippines vs. Court ofAppeals, et al., G.R. No. 92326, January 24, 1992, 205 SCRA 356,
citing2AmJur2d,Adoption,865.
RepublicofthePhilippinesvs.CourtofAppeals,etal.,id.,citing2AmJur2d,Adoption,910.
RepublicofthePhilippinesvs.CourtofAppeals,etal.,id.,citingBobanovic,etal.vs.Montes,etc.,etal.,142
SCRA485(1986).
Paras,supra,p.91.

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