San Beda Collega Alabang – School of Law

Persons and Family Relations

Atty. Charlton Jules P. Romero
Email: RomeroLaw88@yahoo.com

Civil Code
Preliminary Title (Arts. 1 to 18)
Art. 1
Civil Code
Art. 2
When do laws take effect? How to compute 15-day period.
When did the Civil Code take effect (R.A.386)? What about the Family
Code (E.O. 209)?
Why is the date of effectivity important?
 Tañada v Tuvera; G.R. No. 63915 April 24, 1985 and Dec. 29, 1986.
 De Roy v CA; G.R. No. 80718 Jan. 29, 1988.
Filing w/ the U.P. Law Center National Administrative Register (Secs. 3 &
4, Chap. 2, Book VII, Admin Code of 1987)
What need not be published in O.G./newspaper and filed with Nat’l Admin
Register (see Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. Energy Regulatory
Commission, G.R. No. 180642, February 3, 2016).
Art. 3
Ignorance of the law. Ignorance or mistake of facts.
Applies to SC decisions?
 Mirallosa v Carmel Dev’t.; G.R. No. 194538 Nov 27, 2013.
Art. 4
Gen rule. Exceptions to retroactivity. (See Art. 22 RPC)
Art. 5. Exceptions
Art. 6
What is waiver? How to have a valid waiver.
Exceptions
 Cui v Arellano University; L-15127 May 30, 1961.
Art. 7
Art. 8
Are judicial decisions law?
 Floresca v Philex L-30642 June 30, 1985 (see section B of decision)
Decisions of Court of appeals (see Vda. de Miranda v Imperial 77 Phil
1066; GR No. L-49090. February 28, 1947.
See also Mirallosa case.
Art. 9
What is doctrine of stare decisis?
Art. 10
Conflict between law and rule or regulation that implements it.
 Tayug Rural Bank v Central Bank; G.R. No. 46158; Nov. 28, 1986.
Art. 11 & 12
Definition of customs. How proven.
Art. 13
Computation of period. (see Sec. 31 E.O 292 Admin Code of 1987)
Arts. 14
Penal laws. Territoriality. Generality. Exceptions.
Art. 15
Nationality principle.
 Tenchavez v Escano; G.R. No. L-19671. November 29, 1965.
 Del Socorro v Van Wilsen; G.R. No. 193707. December 10, 2014.
 Lavadia v Heirs of Luna; G.R. No. 171914 July 23, 2014.
 Bayot v CA; G.R. No. 155635. November 7, 2008.
 Garcia v Recio G.R. No. 138322. October 2, 2001.
 Van Dorn v Romillo; G.R. No. L-68470. October 8, 1985. (n.b.
decided before the Family Code was enacted).
 Republic v Orbecido; G.R. No. 154380 Oct. 5, 2005.
 Pilapil v Ibay-Somera G.R. No. 80116 June 30, 1989.

Arts. 16 to 17
Conflict of law rules. Lex rei sitae.
Renvoi doctrine; Processual presumption; forum non conveniens.
May courts take judicial notice of foreign law? Proof of foreign law, foreign
judgments.
 San Luis v San Luis; G.R. No. 133743. February 6, 2007.
  Barretto Gonzalez v Gonzalez; G.R. No. 37048. March 7, 1933.
 Bellis v Bellis; G.R. No. L-23678. June 6, 1967.
 Miciano v. Brimo, G.R. No. 22595, November 1, 1924.
 In re: Edward Christensen G.R. No. L-16759; Jan. 31, 1963.
Art. 18
Special laws. Laws of general application. Statutory construction.
(to be continued)