Sections 1 and 2, Rule 4 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure provide an answer to

the issue of venue.[16] Actions affecting title to or possession of real property

or an interest therein (real actions) shall be commenced and tried in the proper
court that has territorial jurisdiction over the area where the real property is
situated. On the other hand, all other actions (personal actions) shall be
commenced and tried in the proper courts where the plaintiff or any of the
principal plaintiffs resides or where the defendant or any of the principal
defendants resides.
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G.R. No. 199595 April 2, 2014

PHILIPPINE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, INC., vs. TEODORO R. YANGCO 2ND AND
3RD GENERATION HEIRS FOUNDATION, INC.,

It has been held that the jurisdiction of a court over the subject matter of a
particular action is determined by the plaintiffs allegations in the complaint and
the principal relief he seeks in the light of the law that apportions the
jurisdiction of courts.30 Jurisdiction should be determined by considering not only
the status or the relationship of the parties but also the nature of the issues or
questions that is the subject of the controversy.31