BUENAVENTURA V CA

FACTS:
The Joaquin Spouses had many children. They sold to some of their children 6 subdivision lots evidenced
by corresponding Deeds of Sale; the other children, interested in protecting their inheritance, sought to
have the deeds of sale declared null and void for prejudicing their legitimes, lack of consideration, and
gross inadequacy of price. The plaintiff children say that their siblings did not actually pay the prices
stated in the Deeds of Sale; thus the same should be declared void for being simulated.

ISSUE:
W/N the sale was valid

HELD:
At the onset, their rights to the legitimes are merely immature and vest only upon the death of their
parents; thus they have no legal interest therefor. Payment of the price has nothing to do w/ the
perfection of the contract of sale; it was perfected by mere consent. Failure to pay consideration cannot
be equated w/ lack of consideration w/c prevents the existence of a valid contract. The former only
results to the right to demand payment or cancellation. There was already a meeting of the minds as to
the price w/c was reflected in the Deed of Sale and that was sufficient. In fact, evidence suggests that
the purchase prices have indeed been paid. The Sales are thus valid.
Gross inadequacy of price does not affect the validity of a sale, unless it indicates either (1) a vice of
consent or (2) that the parties intended a donation or some other contract. No evidence suggests such
circumstances. The price need not be the exact value of the property. In fact, all the parties to the sale
believed that they received the commutative value of what they paid or gave.