PRELIMINARY TITLE Article 2 Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their publication

n either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, unless it is otherwise provided. Article 3 Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. Article 14 Penal laws and those of public security and safety are obligatory upon all who live or sojourn in Philippine Territory, subject to the principles of public international law and to treaty stipulations. Article 15 Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity are binding upon citizens of the Philippines even though living abroad. Article 16 Real property as well as personal property are subject to the law of the country where it is situated. However, intestate and testamentary successions, both with respect to the order of succession and to the amount of successional rights and to the intrinsic validity of testamentary provisions shall be regulated by the national law of the person whose succession is under consideration whatever may be the nature of the property and regardless of the country where the property may be found. Article 17 The forms and solemnities of contracts, wills and other public instruments shall be governed by the laws of the country in which they are executed. When the acts referred to are executed before the diplomatic and consular officials of the Republic of the Philippines in a foreign country, the solemnities established by Philippine laws shall be observed in their execution. HUMAN RELATIONS Article 19 - Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith. Article 20 Every person who, contrary to law, willfully or negligently causes damage to another, shall indemnify the latter for the same. Article 21 Any person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage. Article 26 Every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons. The following and similar acts, though they may not constitute a criminal offense, shall produce a cause of action for damages, prevention and other relief: 1. 2. 3. 4. Prying into the privacy of anothers residence Meddling with or disturbing the private life or family relations of another Intriguing to cause another to be alienated from his friends Vexing or humiliating another on account of his religious beliefs, lowly station in life, place of birth, physical defect or other personal condition

Article 36 Prejudicial questions, which must be decided before any criminal prosecution may be instituted or may proceed, shall be governed by rules of court which the Supreme Court shall promulgate and which shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this Code. Article 40 Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all purposes that are favorable to it, provided, it be born later with the conditions specified in the following article. Article 41 For civil purposes, the fetus is considered born if it is alive at the time it is completely delivered from the mothers womb. However, if the fetus had an intra-uterine life of less than seven months, it is not deemed born if it dies within twenty-four hours after its complete delivery from the maternal womb. Article 48 The following are citizens of the Philippines: 1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution 2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines 3. Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and 4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.