Republ

i
coft
hePhi
l
ippi
nes

SUPREMECOURT

Mani
l
a

ENBANC

G.
R.No.L-
14070 Mar
ch29,
1961

MARIAGERVACI
OBLAS, MANUELGERVACI
OBLAS,
LEONCI
OGERVACI
OBLASandLODA
GERVACI
OBLAS,pl
aint
if
fs-
appel
l
ant
s,

v
s.

ROSALINASANTOS,i
nhercapaci
tyasSpecialAdmini
str
atr
ixoftheEstat
eoft hedeceased
MAXIMASANTOSVDA.DEBLAS, inSp.Proc.No.2524,CourtofFi
rstI
nstanceofRizal
,
def
endant
s-appel
l
ant
s.MARTAGERVACI OBLASandDR.JOSECHI VI
,def
endants-appel
lant
s.

Teof
il
oSi
sonandNi
canorSi
sonf
orpl
aint
if
fs-
appel
l
ant
s.

Del
osSant
os,
Cal
uag,
Pascal
andFel
i
zar
dof
ordef
endant
s-appel
l
ees.

LABRADOR,
J.:

Thisact i
onwasi nst itutedbypl aint i
ffsagainsttheadmi nistr
ationoft heest ateofMax ima
Santos, tosecur eaj udicial declarationthatone- halfofthepr oper ti
esl ef
tbyMaxi maSant os
Vda.deBl as,thegr eat erbul kofwhi char esetf orthanddescr ibedi ntheprojectofpar tit
ion
presentedi nt hepr oceedi ngsf ortheadmi nist
rationoft heest ateoft hedeceasedSi meonBl as,
hadbeenpr omisedbyt hedeceasedMaxi maSant ostobedel ivereduponherdeat handi nher
willtothepl aint
iff
s, andr equest ingt hatthesai dpr operti
essopr omi sedbeadj udicatedt othe
plai
nt i
ff
s.Thecompl aintal sopr ay sforact ualdamagesi ntheamountofP50, 000.(Recor don
Appeal ,pp.1-65.)Theal legedpr omi seoft hedeceasedMaxi maSant osi scontai
nedi na
documentexecut edbyMaxi maSant osonDecember26, 1936at t
achedt othecompl ai ntas
Annex" H"andi ntroducedatt het r
ial asExhibi
t" A".(I
bid.,pp.258- 259.)Thecompl aintal so
all
egest hatt heplai ntif
f sar eent it
ledt oinheri
tcer tai
npr operti
esenumer at
edi nparagr aph3
thereof,situatedinMal abon, Ri
zal andObando, Bul acan,butwhi chpr opert
ieshaveal readybeen
i
nincl
udedint
heinvent
oryoftheest
ateoft
hedeceasedSi
meonBlasandevi
dent
lypar
ti
ti
oned
andconvey
edtohishei
rsint
heproceedi
ngsfort
headmini
str
ati
onofhi
s(Si
meonBlas)est
ate.

Def endant ,whoi stheadmi nistratrixoft heest at eoft hedeceasedMaxi maSant osVda.deBl as,
fi
ledananswerwi thacount erclaim, andl ater ,
anamendedanswerandacount er claim.Thesai d
amendedansweradmi tstheal l
egat ionsoft hecompl aintast ohercapaci tyasadmi nistratri
x
thedeat hofSi meonBl asonJanuar y3, 1937; thef actthatSi meonBl asandMar taCr uzbegot
threechi ldrenonl yoneofwhom, namel y,EulalioBl as, l
eftlegitimat edescendant s; t
hatSi meon
Blascont ractedasecondmar ri
agewi thMaxi maSant osonJune28, 1898.Shedeni esf orlack
ofsuf fi
cienti nformat ionandbel ief, knowl edgeedgeoft hef i
rstmar riageofSi meonBl asto
Mar taCr uz, theav ermentt hatSi meonBl asandMar taCr uzacqui redpr opertiessi tuat edi n
Obando, Bul acan, thatsaidpr oper t
ieswer eut i
lizedascapi tal
, etc.Asspeci aldef enses, she
allegest hatt hepr oper ti
esoft hespousesBl asandSant oshadbeenset tl
edandl iquidat edin
thepr ojectofpar ti
tionoft heest ateofsai dSi meonBl as; thatpur suantt othepr ojectofpar ti
tion,
plainti
ffsandsomedef endant shadal readyr ecei v
edt her espect ivepr opertiesadj udicatedt o
them; t
hatt hepl aintif
fsandt hedef endant sMar t
aGer aci oandJoseChi viareest oppedf rom
i
mpugni ngt hev ali
dityoft hepr ojectofpar ti
tionoft heest ateoft hedeceasedSi meonBl asand
from quest ioni
ngt heowner shi pi nthepr oper tiesconv eyedi nt hepr ojectofpar titiont oMaxi ma
Sant osasherownexcl usivepr oper ty ;thatthet estamentexecut edbyMax imaSant osi svali
d,
thepl ai
npl aint
iffshav ingnor i
ghtt or ecov eranypor tionofMaxi maSant os' estat enowunder
admi nistrationbyt hecour t.Acount erclaimf ort heamountofP50, 000asdamagesi salso
i
ncl udedi nt hecompl aint,asal soacr oss-clai m agai nstMar t
aGer v acioBlasandJoseChi vi.

TrialofthecasewasConduct edand,t
hereaft
er,
thecourt
,Hon.GustaveVict
oriano,pr
esi
ding,
renderedjudgmentdismissi
ngthecompl ai
nt,wi
thcost
sagainstpl
aint
if
f,anddismissi
ngalso
thecount er
clai
m andcross-
clai
m deci
sion,t
heplai
nti
ff
sfil
edbythedefendants.From t
his
distr
icthaveappealedt
ot hi
sCourt.

Thef act
sessent ial
toanunder standingoft heissuesinvolvedi nthecasemaybebr i
efl
y
summar i
zedasf oll
ows: Si
meonBl ascont ractedaf i
rstmar r
iagewi t
hMar taCr uzsomet ime
before1898.Theyhadt hreechil
dren, onlyoneofwhom, Eulalio,l
eftchi l
dren, namely,Mar i
a
GervacioBlas,oneofthepl ai
nti
ffs, MartaGer vacioBlas,oneoft hedef endant s,andLazar o
GervacioBlas.Lazarodiedin1950, andi ssurvivedbyt hr
eel egit
imat echildrenwhoar e
plai
ntif
fsherein,namely,Manuel Ger vacioBlas,LeoncioGer vacioBl asandLoi daGervacioBlas.
Mar t
aCr uzdiedin1898, andthef oll
owi ngy ear,Si
meonBl ascont ractedasecondmar r
iagewith
MaximaSant os.Atthetimeoft hissecondmar ri
age,noliquidationoft hepr oper t
iesrequir
edby
SimeonBl asandMar t
aCr uzwasmade.Thr eeoft hepropertiesleftaref i
shpondsl ocatedin
Obando, Bulacan.MaximaSant osdoesnotappeart ohav eappor tedpr opertiest ohermar ri
age
withSimeonBl as.
OnDecember26,1936,onlyov
eraweekbefor
eoveraweekbef
orehi
sdeathonJanuary9,
1937,SimeonBl
asexecutedalastwi
l
landt
estament
.Int
hesai
dtest
amentSimeonBlasmakes
thefol
lowi
ngdecl
arat
ions:

2.Sapanahonngakingpangalawangasawa, MAXI MASANTOSDEBLAS, aynagkaroonakoat

nakati
ponngmgakay amanan( bi
enes)atpag-aar
i(propr
iedades)naanglahatnglupa,
pal
aisdaanati
bapangpag-aariayumaabotsahal agangANI M NARAANPI TONGPU' T
WALONGDAANLI BOWALONGDAANWALONGPUNGPI SO( 678,880-
00)sang-
ayonsamga
hal
agasaami l
l
ari
ment o(
valorAmill
arado.
)

I
I

1.Angkalahatinglahatngamingpag-aari,
mat aposmabayar
anangl ahatngaki
ngoamingpag
-kakaut
angnamag- asawa,
kungmay r
oonman, y
ayamanganglahatngitoaykit
asal
oobng
mat r
imonio(bi
enesganacial
es)aybahagi ngparasaakingasawa,MAXI MASANTOSDEBLAS,
sang-ayonsabatas.(Recor
donAppeal ,pp.250-251.
)

Theabov
etest
ament
arypr
ovi
sionsmaybet
ransl
atedasf
oll
ows:

2.Dur
ingmysecondmar r
iagewit
hMaxi maSantosdeBlas,Ipossessedandacqui
redwealth
andproper
ti
es,
consisti
ngoflands,f
ishpondsandotherki
ndsofpr oper
ti
es,t
hetot
alassessed
val
ueofwhichreachedtheamountP678, 880.
00.

I
I

1.One-
hal
fofourpr
oper
ti
es,
aft
ert
hepay
mentofmyandouri
ndebt
edness,
all
thesepr
oper
ti
es
hav
ingbeenacqui
redduri
ngmar r
iage(conj
ugal
proper
ti
es)
,const
it
utest
heshar
eofmywi
fe
MaximaSant
osdeBl as,
accor
dingtothelaw.

Atthet i
meoft heexecut
ionofsaidwil
l
, Andr
esPascualason-i
n-l
awofthetest
ator
,andAveli
na
Pascual andothers,
werepresent
.AndresPascualhadmarr
iedadescendantbythefi
rst
marriage.Thewillwasprepar
edbyAndr esPascual
,wit
hthehelpofhi
snephewAv el
inoPascual
.
Thet est
atoraskedAndresPascualt
opr epar
eadocumentwhi chwaspresent
edincourtas
Exhibit"
A",thus:

Q—Wast
her
eany
bodywhoaskedy
out
opr
epar
ethi
sdocument
?

A—DonSi meonBlasaskedmet
opr
epar
ethi
sdocument(
ref
err
ingt
oExhi
bit"
A")
,(t
.s.
n.,
Sar
mient
oto,P.24).

Thereasonwhythetest
atoror
deredtheprepar
ationofExhibit"
A"wasbecauset heproperti
es
thatt
hetest
atorhadacquir
edduri
nghisfi
rstmarriagewithMartaCr
uzhadnotbeenl i
quidated
andwerenotseparat
edfrom t
hoseacqui
redduringt hesecondmarr
iage.Pascual'
stesti
monyi s
asfol
lows:

Q—Towhom doy
our
eferwi
tht
hewor
d"t
hey
"?

A—Si meonBlasandhisfir
stwife,Mart
aCruz.WhenMart
aCruzdiedtheyhadnotmadea
l
iquidati
onofthei
rconjugalpr
operti
esandsoallt
hosepr
opert
ieswereincludedal
lintheasset
s
ofthesecondmar r
iage,andthatisther
easonwhythi
sdocumentwaspr epared.(
t.
s.n.
,
Sarmiento,
p.36.)

Theabov
etest
imonyi
sful
l
ycor
robor
atedbyt
hatofLeonci
oGer
vaci
o,son-
in-
lawofSi
meon
Bl
as.

Q—Pl
easest
atet
otheCour
t?
A—Mychildr
enwerecl
aimi
ngf
rom thei
rgrandf
atherSi
meonBl
ast
hepr
oper
ti
esl
eftbyt
hei
r
gr
andmot
herMart
aCruzint
heyear1936.

Q—Andwhathappenedwit
hthatcl
aim ofyourchi
l
drenagai
nstSi
meonBlasregardi
ngthe
asset
sorpr
oper
ti
esofthef
ir
stmarr
iagethatwerelef
taf
tert
hedeathofMart
aCr uzin1936?

A—Thecl aim wasnotpushedt hr

oughbecausetheyr
eachedint
oanagr eementwherebyt
he
par
ti
esSimeonBl asMaximaSant os,Mari
aGervaci
oBias,
MartaGervacioBl
asandLazaro
Ger
vaci
oBl asagreedthatSimeonBlasandMaximaBlaswill
giveone-hal
foftheest
ateof
Si
meonBlas.(t.s.
n.,
Sarmiento,
pp.143-144)
.

Thedocumentwhi
chwast
huspr
epar
edandwhi
chi
smar
kedasExhi
bit"
A"r
eadsi
nTagal
og,
thus:

MAUNAWANGSI
NOMANGMAKABABASA:

Naakongsi MAXIMASANTOSDEBLAS, nasahust

onggul
ang,kasalkaySIMEONBLAS,t
aga
bayanngMalabon,Ri
zal
,Phi
l
ippi
nes,
sapamamagitanngkasul
atangitoaymalay
akong
i
pinahahay
ag:

Naakingnabasaatnaunawaangt estamentoathul ingkaloobannani lagdaanngaki ngasawa,

SIMEONBLAS, atipi
nahahayagkosai l
ali
m ngaki ngkarangalanatsahar apngakingasawana
i
gagalangatpagpipi
tagananangl ahatatbawa' ti
sangbahagi ngnabanggi tnatestament oat
i
pinangangakokopasapamamagi tanngkasul at
angitonaangl ahatngmai i
wangpag- aariat
kayamanannami ngmag-asawa, nanauukol atbahagingpar asaaki nsapaggawakonamanng
akingtest
amentoayipagkakaloobkoangkal ahati(
½)samgaher ederosatl egat
arioso
pinamamanahanngaki ngnabanggi tnaasawa, SIMEONBLAS, sakani yangt est
ament o,na
ako'ymakapipi
l
iomakahi hi
rangnakahi tkanginosakani l
angaki ngpagbi bigyanat
pamamanahansang- ayonsapaggal ang,paglil
i
ngkod, atpakikisamanggagawi nsaaki n.

SAKATUNAYANNGLAHATNGI TOaynil
agdaankoangkasul
atangi
tongayonika26ng
Dici
embrengt
aong1936,di
tosaSanFranci
scodelMont
e,SanJuan,Ri
zal
,Phil
i
ppines.(
Exh.
"A",
pp.29-
30—Appel
lant
'
sbr i
ef)
.
(
Fdo.
)MAXI
MASANTOSDEBLAS

andwhi
ch,
transl
atedi
ntoEngl
i
sh,
readsasf
oll
ows:

KNOW ALLMENBYTHESEPRESENTS:

ThatIMAXIMASANTOSDEBLAS,ofl
egal
age,
mar
ri
edt
oSI
MEONBLAS,
resi
dentofMal
abon,
Ri
zal,Phi
l
ippi
nes,
vol
unt
ari
l
yst
ate:

ThatIhav er
eadandknewt hecontentsofthewi l
lsi
gnedbymyhusband, SI
MEONBLAS, (
2)and
Ipromiseonmywor dofhonorint hepresenceofmyhusbandt hatIwi l
lrespectandobeyall
andev erydi
sposit
ionofsaidwill
(3)andf ur
thermore,Ipr
omiseinthisdocumentt hatal
lthe
properti
esmyhusbandandIwi l
lleave,t
hepor t
ionandsharecorrespondingtomewhenImake
mywi ll
,Iwil
lgiv
eone-half(½)totheheirsandlegateesorthebenefi
ciari
esnamedi nthewillof
myhusband, (4)andthatIcanselectorchooseanyoft hem,towhom Iwi l
lgi
vedependingupon
therespect,
servi
ceandt reat
mentaccor dedtome.

I
NWI TNESSWHEREOF,Isi
gnedthi
sdocumentthi
s26thdayofDecember
,1936atSan
Fr
anciscodel
Mont
e,SanJuan,
Rizal
,Phi
li
ppi
nes.(
Exh."
A",pp.30-
31,
Appel
lant
'sbr
ief
).

(
Sgd.
)MAXI
MASANTOSDEBLAS

Thecour tbel
owhel dthatsaidExhibi
t"A"hasnotcreatedanyri
ghtinf av
orofplaint
if
fswhi ch
canser veasbasisforthecompl ai
nt;
thatnei
thercanitbeconsideredasav al
idand
enforceabl
econtractforlackofconsider
ati
onandbecausei tdealswithfut
ureinheri
tance.The
courtalsodecl
aredthatEx hibi
t"A"i
snotawi l
lbecauseitdoesnotcompl ywiththerequisi
tes
fortheexecuti
onofawi l
l
; norcoul
ditbeconsider
edasadonat ion,etc.

Boththecourtbelowi
nitsdecisi
onandtheappel
leesinthei
rbr
iefbefor
eus,arguevehement
ly
thatt
heheirsofSimeonBlasandhiswifeMartaCruzcannolongermakeanycl ai
mf ort
he
unli
quidat
edconjugal
proper
tiesacqui
reddur
ingsaidfi
rstmarr
iage,
becausethesamewer e
al
readyi ncl
udedi nthemassofpr opert
iesconsti
tut i
ngtheestateofthedeceasedSi meonBlas
andi ntheadjudicat
ionsmadebyv i
rt
ueofhi swil
l
, andt hatt
heact i
ontorecoverthesamehas
prescri
bed.Thiscont enti
oniscorrect.Thedescendant sofMar taCruzcannol ongercl
aimthe
conjugal pr
operti
est hatsheandherhusbandmayhav erequir
edduringthei
rmar ri
agealt
hough
noliqui
dat i
onofsuchpr oper
ti
esanddel i
ver
ythereoft otheheirsofMartaCruzhav ebeenmade,
noact i
ont orecoversaidpropert
iedhav ingbeenpr esentedintheproceedi
ngsf ort
he
settl
ementoft heest ateofSimeonBl as.

Butthepr incipalbasisf
ort heplai
nti
ffs'
actioninthecaseatbari sthedocumentExhibit"A"
.Iti
s
notdisput edthatthisdocumentwaspr eparedatthei nstanceofSimeonBl asforthereason
thattheconj ugalproperti
esofmeonBl asforther easonhi sfir
stmarriagehadnotbeen
l
iquidated; t
hatitwaspr eparedatthesamet i
meast hewi l
lofSimeonBl asonDecember26,
1936, attheinstanceoft helat
terhimself.I
tisalsonotdi sputedthatthedocumentwassi gned
byMaxi maSant osandonecopyt hereof,whichwaspr esentedincourtasExhibi
t"A",
waskept
byplainti
ffs'witnessAndr esPascual.

Plai
nt i
ffs-appell
antsar guebef oreust hatExhibi
t"A"isbot hat r
ustagr eementandacont r
actin
thenat ureofacompr omi setoav oidl
iti
gati
on.Def endant s-appell
ees,inanswer ,cl
aimthatitis
neit
herat rustagreementnoracompr omiseaagr eement .Consideringt hatthepr oper
ti
esoft he
fi
rstmar r
iageofSi meonBl ashadnotbeenl iqui
dat edwhenSi meonBl asexecut edhiswillon
December26, 1936',andt hef urt
herfactsuchpr opertieswher eactually, andthef urt
herfact
thatincludedasconj ugal properti
esacquireddur i
ngt hesecondmar ri
age, wefind, ascontended
byplaint i
ffs-
appellantsthatt hepreparati
onandexecut i
onofExhi bit"A"wasor der edbySimeon
Blasev identlytopreventhi sheirsbyhi sfi
rstmar ri
agef rom contestinghi swillanddemandi ng
l
iquidationoft heconj ugal properti
esacquireddur i
ngt hef i
rstmar r
iage, andanaccount ingof
thefruitsandpr oceedst hereoffrom theti
meoft hedeat hofhi sfir
stwi fe.

Exhi
bit"
A",t
her
efore,
appear
stobethecompromisedefi
nedinAr
ticl
e1809oftheCi
vi
lCodeof
Spai
n,infor
ceattheti
meoftheexecut
ionofExhi
bit"
A",
whichpr
ov i
desasf
oll
ows:

Compr omisei
sacont r
actbywhicheachoft hepart
iesi
nint
erest
,bygi
vi
ng,pr
omisi
ng,or
retai
ningsomethi
ngavoidstheprovocat
ionofasuitort
ermi
natesonewhi
chhasalr
eadythe
provocati
onbeeninst
it
uted.(Emphasissuppl
ied.
)

Exhibi
t"A"st
atest
hatthemaker(MaximaSant os)hadreadandknewthecontent
soft hewil
lof
herhusbandreadandknewthecontentsofthewi l
lSi
meonBl as—shewasev i
dentl
yrefer
ri
ng
tothedeclar
ati
onint
hewill
(ofSi
meonBl as)thathispr
opert
iesar
econjugal
propert
iesandone-
halfthereofbelongst oher( Maxi maSant os)ashershar eoft heconj ugal assetsundert helaw.
Theagr eementorpr omi sethatMaxi maSant osmakesi nExhi bit"A"ist oholdone- halfofher
saidshar eintheconj ugal asset si nt r
ustfort hehei r
sandl egat eesofherhusbandi nhiswi l
l,
withtheobl i
gationofconv eyingt hesamet osuchofhi sheirsorl egat eesasshemaychoosei n
herlastwi l
landt estament .Itist obenot edt hattheconj ugal proper ti
esr efer
redt oaret hose
thatwer eactuallyexistingatt hatt i
me, December26, 1936.Si meonBl asdi edonJanuar y9,
1937.OnJune2, 1937, aninv ent oryofthepr opertiesl eftbyhi m, allconsi deredconj ugal,was
submi tt
edbyMaxi maSant osher selfasadmi ni
stratrixofhi sest ate.Al istofsai dproperti
esi s
foundinAnnex" E",thecompl etei nventor
ysubmi ttedbyMaxi maSant osVda.deBl as, i
s
admi ni
stratr
ixoft heest ateofherhusband, datedMar ch10, 1939.Thepr oper t
ieswhi chwer e
giventoMaxi maSant osashershar eintheconj ugal pr operti
esar eal sospeci fiedinthepr oject
ofpar t
it
ionsubmi tt
edbysai dMaxi maSant osher sel fonMar ch14, 1939.( Recor donAppeal ,pp.
195-241.)UnderExhi bit"A",ther efore,MaximaSant oscont ract edt heobl i
gationandpr omised
togiveone- hal
foft heabov eindi catedproper ti
estot hehei rsandl egat eesofSi meonBl as.

Counsel forthedef endant -appelleecl aimsExhi bit"A"isawor t

hlesspi eceofpaperbecausei ti
s
notawi l
lnoradonat ionmor t
iscausanoracont ract.Aswehav ei nindicat edabov e,i
tisa
compr omiseandatt hesamet imeacont ractwi thasuf fi
cientcauseorconsi der ati
on.Itisalso
contendedt hatitdeal swi thfuturei nher i
tance.Wedonott hinkthatExhi bit"A"i sacont racton
futureinheri
tance.itisanobl i
gat ionorpr omi semadebyt hemakert ot ransmi tone-halfofher
sharei ntheconjugal proper ti
esacqui redwi t
hherhusband, whichpr oper t
iesar estatedor
declaredt obeconj ugal propertiesint hewi llofthehusband.Theconj ugal pr oper t
ieswer ein
existenceatt hetimeoft heexecut i
onofExhi bit"A"onDecember26, 1936.Asamat t
eroff act
,
Maxi maSant osi ncludedt hesepr opertiesi nheri nventoryofherhusband' sest ateofJune2,
1937.Thepr omisedoesnotr efert oanypr operti
est hatthemakerwoul di nher ituponthedeat h
ofherhusband, becausei tishershar eint heconj ugalassets.Thatt heki ndofagr eementor
promi secontainedi nExhi bit"
A"i snotv oidunderAr t
icl
e1271oft heol dCi v i
l Code, hasbeen
decidedbyt heSupr emeCour tofSpai ni nitsdeci sionofOct ober8, 19154, thus:

Quesi bienel art.1271del Codi

goci vildisponequesobr elaherenciafuturanosepodr a
celebrarot roscont r
at osqueaquel l
oscuy oobj
ect oseapr act
icarentrevivosladivisiondeun
caudal ,conf or
meal art i
culo1056, estapr ohibi
cionnoesapl i
cableal caso,porquel aobli
gacion
quecont raj
oel recur rencont rat
opr i
v adodeot orgart estamentoei nstit
uirherederaasusubr i
na
del osbi enesqueadqui ri
oenv i
rt
uddeher enci
a,pr ocedentesdesuf inadaconsor tequel e
quedasensobr ant esdespuesdepagarl asdeudas, ydelganacialqueseexpr esa, asicomode
reconocer ,ademas, conal gunacosaaot rossobr i
nos, serefi
ereabi enesconoci dosy
determi nadosexi stent escuandot al compr omisiseot or
go, ynoal auni v
ersali
daddeuna
herenciaque, sequnel art.659del citadoCodi goci vil
,asdeterminaamuer te,const i
tuy
endola
todosl osbi enes, der echosyobl i
gacionesqueporel l
anosehay anext i
nguido: .
..
"(Emphasi s
supplied. )
Itwil
lbenot edthatwhatispr ohibitedtobet hesubjectmat terofacont ractunderAr t
icle1271
oftheCivilCodei s"f
utureinheritance."Tousf ut
urei nherit
anceisanypr opert
yorrightnoti n
exist
enceorcapabl eofdet erminationatthet i
meoft hecont r
act,thataper sonmayi nt he
futur
eacqui rebysuccession.Thepr opert
iessubjectoft hecontractExhibit"A"ar
ewel ldef
ined
propert
ies,exist
ingatthetimeoft heagreement ,
whi chSi meonBl asdecl aresi
nhisst atement
asbelongingt ohiswifeashershar eintheconjugal partnershi
p.Cer t
ainl
yhi swif
e'sact ual
shareintheconj ugal
proper t
iesmaynotbeconsi der edasf utureinheri
tancebecauset heywer e
actual
lyinexistenceatthet i
meExhi bi
t"A"wasexecut ed.

Thet r
ial cour thel dthatt hepl ai
nt i
ffs- appel l
ant sint hecaseatbarar econcl udedbyt he
j
udgementr ender edi nt hepr oceedi ngsf ortheset tlementoft heest ateofSi meonBl asf orthe
reasont hatt hepr oper ti
esl eftbyhi m bel ongedt ohi msel fandhi swi feMaxi maSant os; thatt he
projectofpar t
iti
oni nt hesai dcase, adj udicatingt oMaxi maSant osone- hal fashershar ei nthe
conj ugal pr oper ti
es,isabart oanot heract ionont hesamesubj ectmat ter,Maxi maSant os
hav i
ngbecomeabsol uteowneroft hesai dpr oper ti
esadj udi catedi nherf avor.Asal r
eady
adv ertedt oabov e,thesecont entionswoul dbecor recti fappl iedt ot hecl aim oft hepl aintif
fs-
appel lantst hatsai dpr oper ti
eswer eacqui redwi tht hef i
rstwi feofSi meonBl as, MartaCr uz.But
themai ngr ounduponwhi chpl aintiffsbaset heirpresentact ioni st hedocumentExhi bit" A",
alreadyf ullyconsi der edabov e.Ast hi spr ivatedocumentcont ainst heexpr esspr omi semadeby
Maxi maSant ost oconv eyi nhert est ament ,uponherdeat h, one- halfoft heconj ugalpr oper t
ies
shewoul dr ecei veashershar eint heconj ugal proper ties, t
heact iont oenf orcet hesai dpr omi se
didnotar i
seunt i
landaf terherdeat hwheni twasf oundt hatshedi dnotcompl ywi thherabov e-
ment i
onedpr omi se.( Art.1969, oldCi vilCode. )Thear gumentt hatt hef ailureoft hepl aintif
fs-
appel lantsher eint oopposet hepr ojectofpar ti
ti
oni nt heset t
lementoft heest ateofSi meon
Blas, especi all
yt hatpor tionoft hepr ojectwhi chassi gnedt oMaxi maSant osone- halfofal lthe
conj ugal pr oper ti
esbar st heirpresentact i
on, i
s,ther efore, dev oidofmer i
t.Itmaybeaddedt hat
plaintiffs-appel lantsdi dnotquest iont hev ali
di t
yoft hepr oj
ectofpar titi
onpr eciselybecauseof
thepr omi semadebyMaxi maSant osi nt hecompr omi seExhi bit"A"; t
heyacqui sedi nt he
appr ov alofsai dpr ojectofpar t
iti
onbecauset heywer erelyingont hepr omi semadebyMaxi ma
Sant osi nExhi bit"A", thatshewoul dt ransmi tone- hal foft heconj ugal proper ti
est hatshewas
goingt or ecei veashershar eint heconj ugal partner shipuponherdeat handi nherwi l
l,tothe
heirsandl egat eesofherhusbandSi meonBl as.

Neithercanthecl
aim ofpr
escri
pti
onbeconsideredinfavorofthedefendant s.Therightof
acti
onar oseatt
hetimeofthedeathofMaximaSant osonOct ober5,1956, whenshef ail
edto
compl ywitht
hepromisemadebyherinExhibit"A"
.Thepl ai
nti
ffs-
appel l
antsimmediately
presentedthi
sacti
ononDecember27, 1956,uponlearni
ngofsuchf ailureont hepartof
Maxi maSantostocomplywithsai
dpromise.Thisdefenseis,t
herefore,alsowi t
houtmer i
t.
I
tisnextcontendedbyt hedef endant-
appel l
eet hatMaxi maSant oscompl iedwi t
hherabov e-
mentionedpromise,—t hatAndr esPascual ,TomasaAv eli
no,JustoGarcia, Ludovi
coPi mpi nand
MartaGervacioBlaswer egivensubstancial legaci
esint hewillandtest
amentofMaxi ma
Santos.Todeterminewhet hershehadact ual l
ycompliedwi t
ht hepromisemadei nExhi bit"A"
,
ther
eishereinsetforthalistonlyofthefishpondsandt heirrespect
ivear easascont ainedin
thel
istofpropert
iessheacqui redashershar ei nt
heconj ugalpart
nership,whi chl
istincludes,
besi
desmanyr i
celandsaswel lasresidential l
ots,
thus:

31.Paco,
Obando,
Bul
acan

5.
8396has.

32.Pangj
olo,
Obando

3.
5857 "

34.Bat
angPi
rasuan,
Lubao,
Pampanga

11.
9515 "

35.Cal
angi
an,
Lubao,
Pampanga

30.
2059 "

38.Bakul
i
ng,
Lubao,
Pampanga

215.
4325 "
39.Bakul
i
ng,
Lubao,
Pampanga

8.
3763 "

40.Bangkal
,Si
nubl
i

23.
0730 "

41.Tagul
od,

6.
8692 "

44.Bangkal
Pugad

(
a)

34.
2779 "

(
b)

51.
7919 "

(
c)

2.
5202 "
45.Magt
apatBangkal
,Lubao,
Pampanga

(
a)

18.
0024 "

(
b)

7.
3265 "

(
c)

53.
5180 "

46.Pi
nanganakan,
Lubao,
Pampanga

159.
0078 "

47.Emi
gdi
oLi
ngi
d,Lubao,
Pampanga

34.
5229 "

48.Pr
opi
os,
Lubao,
Pampanga

80.
5382 "
49.Bat
angMabuanbuan,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

43.
3350 "

50.Bi
nat
angMabuanbuan,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

3.
5069 "

51.SapangMagt
ua,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

56,
8242 "

52.KayLi
mpi
n,Sexmoan,
Pampanga

5.
0130 "

53.Cal
i
seMabal
umbum,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

23.
8935 "

54.Messapi
nitKi
neke,
Sex
moan,
Pampanga

(
a)

5.
2972 "
(
b)

5.
9230 "

(
c)

1.
4638 "

(
d)

1.
4638 "

(
e)

2.
8316 "

(
f)

10.
4412 "

(
g)

3.
9033 "

(
h)
11.
9263 "

(
i)

6.
0574 "

55.Dal
ang,
Banga,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

23.
3989 "

62.Al
ami
nos,
Pangasi
nan

147.
1242 "

80.MangasuSexmoan,
Pampanga

10.
000 "

81.DonTomas,
Sexmoan,
Pampanga

21.
6435 "

82.Mat
ikl
i
ng,
Lubao,
Pampanga

16.
0000 "
 Tot
alar
ea.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

1045.
7863 "

(
SeeRecor
donRecor
d,pp.195-
241.
)

Inherwi l
l,MaximaSant osdev i
sedtoMar taGervaci
oBl asthe80- hectarefi
shpondsi tuatedin
Lubao, Pampanga.Thef i
shponddev i
sedisev i
dentl
yt hatdesi
gnat edas" Propios"inLubao,
Pampanga, it
em No.8i ntheli
stofproperti
esadjudicatedtoherint hepr oj
ectofpar t
iti
on.
(RecordonAppeal ,p.215.)Consideri
ngthatthet ot
alareaoft hefishpondsamountt o
1045.7863hect ares,the80hect aresdevisedtoMar taGervacioBlasi snotev enone-tenthof
thetotalareaofthef ishponds.Addt othisthefactthatinthewillshei mposeduponMar ta
GervacioBl asdeChi vianexisti
ngobl i
gati
ononsai dfishponds,namel y,i
tsleasei n1957and
thedutyt opayoutoft herental
sthereofanobl i
gati
ont otheRehabi li
tati
onFinanceCor porati
on
RFC( I
bid.,pp.262-263. )Angeli
naBlaswasgi venonlyal otof150squar emet ersinHulong
Duhat,Mal abon,Rizal,andLeonyBl as,t
hesum ofP300. 00(I
bid.,
p.264. )

Iti
sev identfr
om aconsi derati
onoft heabov efi
guresandf act
st hatMaximaSant osdidnot
compl ywi t
hherobligati
ont odev i
seone-halfofherconjugalproperti
estotheheirsand
l
egateesofherhusband.Shedoesnotst atethatshehadcompl i
edwi thsuchobligat
ioni
nher
will
.Ifsheintendedt ocompl ytherewit
hbygi vi
ngsomeoft heheirsofSimeonBl asthe
propertiesment i
onedabov e,themostt hatcanbeconsideredinherf avoristodeducttheval
ue
ofsaidpr operti
esfrom thetotalamountofpr opert
ieswhichshehadunder takentoconvey
uponherdeat h.

Alltheissuesinthepl eadingsoft hepar ti

esandi ntheirrespecti
vebri
efs,havenowbeenf ul
ly
discussedandconsi dered.Reiterat
ingwhatwehav est atedabov e,wedeclaret hatbyExhi bi
t"A"
,
acompr omisetoav oidlit
igati
on, MaximaSant ospromi sedtodev i
setothehei rsandl egatees
ofherhusbandSi meonBl as,one-halfoftheproperti
essher ecei
vedashershar eintheconj ugal
partnershipofherselfandherhusband, whichshareisspeci fi
edintheprojectofpar t
ition
submi ttedbyherselfonMar ch14, 1939i nthesettl
ementoft heestat
eofherhusband, and
whichi sfoundonpages195t o240oft herecordonappeal andonpages27t o46oft he
projectofparti
ti
on, submi tt
edbyMax i
maSant osher selfbeforetheCourtofFirstInstanceof
Rizal i
nCivil
CaseNo.6707, entit
led"Testament ar
iadel FinadoDonSi meonBl as, Maxima
Sant osVda.deBi as,Admi nistr
ador a";
andt hatshefailedtocompl ywithheraf orement ioned
obl
i
gat
ion.(
Exhi
bit"
A")

WHEREFORE, thejudgmentappeal edfrom isher ebyreversedandt hedef endant -appell

ee,
administ r
atri
xoft heest ateofMaxi maSant os, isorderedt oconv eyanddel i
verone- halfofthe
propertiesadjudicatedoMaxi maSant osashershar eint heconj ugal properti
esi nsai dCivi
l
CaseNo.6707, enti
tled"Test ament ar
iadel FinadoDonSi meonBl as, MaximaSant osVda.de
Blas,Admi nistr
adora" ,
tot heheirsandt helegat eesofherhusbandSi meonBl as.Consi deri
ng
thatallsaidheirsandl egat ees,designatedint hewi llofSimeonBl asast heper sonsf orwhose
benefitExhibit"A"hadbeenexecut ed,havenotappear edi nthesepr oceedings, therecordis
herebyr emandedt othecour tbelow,withinstruct i
onst hat,aft
ert heconv eyanceoft he
propertieshereinabov eorder edhadbeenef fect ed,t
hesai dheir
sandl egatees( ofSimeonBl as)
fi
leadv ersarypleadingst odet erminethepar ticipati
onofeachandev eryoneoft hem i nsai
d
properties.Costsagai nstthedef endant-appel leeRosal inaSant os.

Padi
l
la,
Par
adesandDi
zon,
JJ.
,concur
.

Rey
es,
J.B.
L.andBar
rer
a,JJ.
,concuri
nasepar
ateopi
nion.

Bengzon,
C.J.
,reser
veshi
svot
e.

Concepci
on,
J.,
tooknopar
t.

Separ
ateOpi
nions

REYES,
J.B.
L.,
J.,
concur
ri
ng:

Iconcurint heopini
onofMr .Just
iceLabrador,andwouldonl yaddthatthedoctrineint he
decisi
onof8Oct ober1915oftheSupr emeCour tofSpain,
appl i
edinthemainopi nion,isnota
mer eaccidentnoranisolat
edinst
ance, butoneofaser i
esofdeci si
onsreaff
ir
mi ngt helegal
proposit
iont her
einl
aiddown.Thus, t
hePr esi
dingJusti
ceCast anoftheSpanishTr i
bunal
Supremo, inv ol
ume3ofhi sTreat
iesonCi vi
lLaw( 1951Edit
ion,page344,footnote2) ,obser
ves
that:

(2)I
Asentenci
ade16demay
ode1940decl
arequesegunl
adoct
ri
nasent
adaporelTri
bunal
Supremoensuafal
l
osde8deOct
ubr
ede1915y26deOct ubr
ede1926yporl
aDirect
ionde
l
osRegistrosenaur esolut
ionde19demay ode1917,l
apr ohi
bit
ionconteni
daenel art
.1271se
ref
ier
eunicayexcl usivamentealospaet ossobrel
auniversali
daddeunaher enci
aque, segun
elart
.659,sedetermi nealamuer t
edel causanteconsti
tuyendolatodoslosbi
enes,derechosy
obli
gaci
onesqueporel lanosehay anextingui
doynoal pactosobr ebi
enesconoci
dosy
deter
minados,existentescuandotalcompr omisoseotorgo,enel domini
odelcedente.

Andinalaterdeci
sionof25Apr i
l1951,theSupr
emeCour tofSpai
nonceorei
nsi
stedonthe
rul
ethatasuccessional
agreementconcer ni
ngpr
opert
yalreadyownedbyt
hegrantoratt
he
ti
met hecontr
actwasper f
ectedisnotbannedby,Ar
ti
cle1271oftheSpani
shCiv
ilCode
accor
dingtoArti
cle1847oftheCi v
ilCodeofthePhi
li
ppines):

CONSI DERANDO: Queel tercermot ivedel recursodedoñaM.G.G. , yel sextodel formuladopor

doñaD.G.G. , hacenr ofer enciaal aul timadel ast rescuest ionesquesonobj atodel debateen
ambosr ecursoi nter puest osest oesl adi scutidacesi onquel asher manassenor asG.G. ,
hoy
recurrent es,hicieronadoñaC.A.del ami taddel osbi enesmuebl esei nnueblesquer eci
biesen
porher enci adedoñaM.P. ,procedent esdel adedoñaM.A.P. ,antesN. ,consignadaen
document spr i
vadodef echa2denov i
embr ede1929, fi
rmadoyr econoci dasuaut enti
cidadpor
l
ast ressenor asi nter esadas, cuyav alidezyef i
caci aesobj etodel acuar t
apiezadel os
present eeaut osacumul adosysi seexami nationcondet ermi entoel document oal udidoyel
actoqueenel seconsi gnahabr adeadv ert
irsedemodonot orioquesehal l
aafectadodev icio
denul idadpor quesuobj etosonunosbi enesquecl arament esepet pr esaquehandeent raren
elpatrimoni odel ascendent esmedi ant esunat ransmi ssionher editaria, l
oqueconat i
tuyeel
pactosobr eher enci af ut urapr ohi
bi doporel parraf osegundodel ar ti
cul o1271del CodigoCi vil
,
yaquenoseconcr etasobr ebi enesconoci doydet ermi nados, existent esenel del cedents
cuandoel compr omi sodeot orgo, sinoqueser efiem al auni versalidaddequehabr i
andeadr a
l
amuer tedel causant esent idoenel queconf ormeal aj uri
spr udenci adeest aSal aesdepl ena
apli
caci onl anor maat i
v aant escitada, yal nohaber i
oasi ent endidol aSal adei nstancia,ha
i
ncur ri
doenl ai nfmcci ondei nterpret erer rotoyporel lohahechoapl icaciondei ndebidade
dichopr ecept oypr ecedel aest i
maci ondel osmot i
v oqueapr inci
pioseci t
anyquedenunci anla
estimadai nfraccion, produci endol acasaci ondel asent enci ar ecurridaenel extremoaquel os
dichosmot i
vesser efieren.( Sentenci a25abr i
l1951)( Emphasi sSuppl i
ed)

Itcanthusbeseenthatt heconst antauthori

tati
veininterpret
ati
onofthepr ohi
bit
ionagainst
agreementsinv
olvi
ngf utur
ei nherit
ancerequiresnotonl ythatafut
uresuccessi onbe
contemplat
edbutalsot hatthesubj ectmat t
erofthebar gainshoul
dbeei thertheuniver
salit
yor
complexormassofpr opert
yownedbyt hegrantoratthet i
meofhi sdeath, orel
seanaliquot
porti
onther
eof.Castan,inhisTr eati
esalreadyment i
oned, sumsupt herulingsinthiswise:
Porotr
aparte,sehadeent ender:1.Quel acesi
onoenajenaci
ondelosderechoshereditar
ios
puedebacer
seunav ezfall
ecidoel causant
e,aunquenosehay aent
radoenpossession
matetr
ial
delosbi enes2.Quel aprohibi
ti
onlegalseref
ier
esoloaloscontr
atosconcluidos
sobrel
aherenciami smaoal gunadesuscuot as,nosobreobjet
osaisl
adosque,eventualmente,
hayandeadquiri
rseav i
rtuddelaher enci
a.

I
thasbeencont endedt hatthedoctri
net husstatedconfusesf ut
ur einheritance( herenci
af ut
ura)
withfutureproperty(
bienesf ut
uros).Thisisami sapprehensi
on.Inconst ruingthet erm"future
i
nher i
tance"asthecont i
ngentuniversali
tyorcompl exofproper t
yr ightsandobl igationsthatare
passedt otheheirsupont hedeathoft hegr ant
or,therul
eadv ocatedmer elycor r
elatesthe
prohibit
ionagainstcontract
sov er"f
utureinheri
tance"withthedef init
ionof" inherit
ance"givenin
Arti
cle659oft heSpanishCi vil
Code, whichisnowAr t
icl
e776oft heCi vi
lCodeoft he
Phil
ippines:

ART.776.Theinher
it
anceincl
udesal
lthepr
oper
ty,
right
sandobl
i
gat
ionsofaper
sonwhi
char
e
notext
ingui
shedbyhisdeath.

Theinherit
anceofaper sonmay ,andusual l
ydoes, i
ncludenotonl ypr opert
ythatheal r
eady
ownsatagi v entime,butal sohisfutur eproperty ,
thatistosay ,thepr opert
ythathemay
subsequentlyacquire.Butitmayi ncludeonl yfutureproper t
ywhenev erheshoulddi sposeoft he
presentpropertybeforehedi es.Andf utureinheritancemayi ncludeonl ypropertyhealready
ownsatanygi venmoment , i
fheshoul dt hereafteracquirenoot herpr opert
yuntilhisdeath.In
anycase, t
hei nheri
tanceorest ateconsoft het otali
tyofandl iabili
ti
eshehol dsatthet i
meof
hi
sdemi se,andnotwhatheatanyot hert i
me.I fthequest i
onedcont ractenv i
sagesal lora
fr
actionofthatcont i
ngentmass, theni tisacont r
actov erherenciaf uturall
otherwiseitisnot.
Thest at
utoryprohibit
ion,inotherwor ds, isnotsomuchconcer nedwi ththeprocessoft ransf
er
aswi tht
hesubj ectmat terofthebar gain.Itisaddr essedt o"futureinher i
tance",
not" f
uture
succession".

Ofcour se,itcanbesai dthatev erysingleit

em ofpr opertythatamanshoul dholdatanygi ven
i
nst antofhi sli
femaybecomeapar tofhisi nheri
tancei fhekeepsi tlongenough.Buti sthat
mer epossi bil
it
y(orev enpr obabili
ty)suffi
cienttodouponacont ractov erani ndividualit
em of
existi
ngpr opertytheout lawbr andof" contractov erfutureinher i
tance"?Ifitshoul dev erbe,then
noagr eementconcer ningpr esentpr opert
ycanescapet hel egalban.Nodonat i
oni ntervivos,no
reversionar yclause,nobor rowingofmoney , andnoal i
enation, notev enacont r
actofsal e( or
othercont ractinpraisenti f
orthatmat ter)
,wi thorwi t
houtdef err
eddel iv
er y
, wil
lavoidt he
reproacht hatitconcer nsoraf fectsthegrant or'
s"futureinher i
tance".Iti
sper missibletodoubt
whet hert hel awev ercont emplatedt hesweepi ngawayoft heent ir
econt ractualsy stem so
car
eful
l
yregul
atedi
ntheCode.

Ther estri
cti
vei nt
erpret ati
ongi v
enbyt heSpani shSupr emeCour ttothecodal pr
ohibi t
ionof
agreement sinv ol
vingf uturei nher itanceisjusti
fiednotonl ybythef actthatthepr ohi bit
ionlimits
contractualfreedom ( andt her efor e,shouldnotbegi venext ensiveinterpr
etation),butal so
becauset herei snor eal orsubst ant i
aldi
fferencebet ween( 1)anagr eementwher ebyaper son,
forav aluableconsider ation,agr eest obequeathsomeoft hepr opertyhealreadyowns, and( 2)
acont ractwher ebyhedi sposeoft hatproper t
y, subjecttot hecondi t
ionthathewi l
l beent i
tled
toitsusuf r
uctunt i
lthet i
mehedi es.Thecour thasr epeatedlysanct i
onedev endonat ionsint er
vivoswher einthedonorhasr eser v edtoelfther ighttoenj oythedonat edpr opertyfort he
remainderofhi sday s, andr iderst heactual t
ransf erofont othetimeofhi sdeat h( Guzmanv s.
Ibea67Phi l
.633; Balagui vsDongso, 53Phil.673; Lauretav s.Mat a,44Phil.668).What ever
objecti
oni sraisedagai nstt heef f ectsoft hefir
stki ndofcont ractscanbemadet oappl ytot he
second.

Mat ureref l
ecti
onwi llshowt hatwher epresent( exi sti
ng)pr opertyist heobj ectoft hebar gai
n,al
l
argument sbrandishedagai nstConv enti
onsov erf uturesuccessi on( postmor tem)ar ejustas
applicabletoot hercont r
actsdepr aesent iwithdef erredexecut i
on, t
hev ali
dityofwhi chhas
neverbeenquest ioned.Thus, thel ossoft hepowert obequeat hthebar gainedpr oper t
yto
personsoft hegrant or'
schoice, andt heawakeni ngoft hegr antee'sdesi refort heear lydeathof
thegr antor(theRoman" votum mor tiscaptandae" )inor dertoobt ainpr omptcont rolofthe
contractedgoods, occurinbot hcases.I ntruth,thel attergroundwoul dbarev enacont ractof
l
ifeinsur anceinfav orofast atedbenef iciary.Itmayal sobenot edt hatsi ncet hel aterpartofthe
nineteent hcentury,thecivi
l
istshav erecogni zedt hatt heprogr essinsoci alrelati
onshas
render edsuchobj ect i
onsobsol ete( PuigPeña, Der echoCi vil
,Vol.V, partI,613etseq. ).

Butwher et hecont ractinvolvest heuniversalityoft heest atethatwillbeleftataper son'sdeath

(t
he" herenciaf uture"asunder stoodbyt heSpani shTr i
bunal Supreno), t
hereisanot herreason
whichIbel i
evet obet hetruej ustifi
cati
onfort hel egalinterdicti
on,andi tisthi
s:thatifaman
weret obeal lowedt obargainawayal lthepr oper t
yheexpect stoleavebehi nd(i
.e.,hisestateas
awhol e),hewoul dpr acti
call
yr emai nwithoutanyi ncentivet opracti
cet hri
ftandf r
ugal i
tyorto
conserveandi nvesthi searningsandpr operty .Hewoul dthenbei rresisti
blydrawnt obea
wast ef
ul spend- t
hrift
,asoci alpar asi
te,wit
houtanyr egardf orhisfuture,becausewhat everhe
l
eavesbel ongt oanot herbyv irtueofhiscont ract.Thedi sast rouseffectsuponf ami l
yand
societyifsuchagr eement swer etobehel dbi ndingcanber eadil
yimagi ned.Hence, the
i
nterpretationgi ventoAr ti
cle1271( nowAr t.1347)byt heSupr emeCour tofSpainappear s
ampl ysuppor tedbypr acti
calr easons,andt her eisnogr oundt odenyi tsappli
cation.
Muchemphasi shasbeenpl acedont hepr ov i
sionsoft hecont ractExhibit"A"thatt hewi dow,
Maxi maSant osdeBl as,wouldexecut eat estamenti nf av oroft heappel l
ees.Tomet hisi s
pur elysecondar y,si
ncei ti
smer el ythemet hodsel ectedbyt hepar ti
esf orcar r
y i
ngoutt he
wi dow' sagreementt oconv eyt ot heappel l
eest hepr oper tyinquest i
onwi thoutherl osingi t
s
enj oymentdur inghernat uralli
fe, anddoesnotaf fectthesubst anceort hev ali
di t
yoft he
transact i
on.Toensur ethewi dow' spossessi onoft hepr oper t
yandt heper ceptionofi t
sf r
uit
s
whi leshewasal ivethemeansl ogicallyselectedwast or eturnitbywi l
l,sincesucha
conv eyancecoul donlybeoper ativeaf terdeath.Ther emi ghtbeadoubtast ot hev ali
dityoft hi
s
arrangementi fthewi dowspr omi sehadbeenpur elygratui t
ous, becauset henitcoul dbear gued
thatt hepr omiseinvolvedahy briddonat i
onmor t
iscausay eti
rrevocable;1buther ethe
obl igati
ont oreturni
sconcededl yirr
ev ocabl eandsuppor tedbyadequat econsi derationdul y
recei vedinadv ance.

Sincet heagr eementi nt hei nstantcasedi dnotr efertot hefutureestateofthewi dowofBl as,
butonl ytopar tofherpr esentpr opertyatt hetimet hecont ractwasmade; si
ncet hepromiset o
retransf erone-halfofherconj ugalshar ewassuppor tedbyadequat econsi der
ationasshowni n
themai ndeci sion;sincet hecont r
actobv i
atedprotractedliti
gati
onandcompl i
cat edaccounting
i
nset tl
ingt heconj ugalpar tnershipofBl asandhi sfir
st(deceased)wi fe;andsincet he
testamentt hatt hewi dowpr omi sedtomakewasmer elythemodechosent operformt he
cont ractandcar ryoutt hepr omi seddev ol
utionofthepr oper t
y,bei
ngt husofsecondar y
i
mpor t
ance, Icanseenor easonf ordecl ar
ingtheent irearrangementv iol
ati
veoft helegal
i
nt erdictionofcont ractsov erf utureinher i
tance,anddi sappointthelegiti
mateexpect at
ionheld
byt hehei r
soft hef i
rstwi fedur ingallthesey ears.

BARRERA,
J.,
concur
ri
ng:

Itseemst omecl earthatthedocumentExhi bi

t"A" ,basisoftheactionoft heplaint
iff
s-
appellants,refersspeci fi
callyt oandaf fectssol
elyt heshar eofthegr ant
orMaxi maSant osi n
theconj ugal proper t
iesasdet erminedandspeci f
iedi nthewillofherhusbandSi meonBl as,
whosepr ovi
si ons, whichsheexpr esslyacknowl edgedt ohavereadandunder stood,constit
ute
theraisond' etreofherpr omi setodeliverorconv ey ,bywi l
l
,one-halfofthatspecifi
cshar etothe
heirsandl egat eesnamedi nherhusband' swil
l(whoar ehisheirsbyhi sfi
rstmar ri
age).
Nowher einthedocumentExhi bi
t"A"ist herer
eference, toheredit
aryestatethatsheher self
woul dleavebehi ndatt hetimeofherowndemi sewhi chlegall
ywoul dbeher" future
i
nher i
tance."Fort hisreason, Ibeli
evet hecontractual obli
gati
onassumedbyMaxi maSant osin
vir
tueofExhi bit"A"doesnotcomewi thint heprohibiti
onofAr ti
cle1271oft heSpani shCi vi
l
Code, nowAr ticl
e1347oft heCi vi
lCodeoft hePhi l
ippines.
I
,ther
efor
e,concuri
ntheopi
nionsofJust
icesLabr
adorandRey
es.

BAUTI
STAANGELO,
J.,
dissent
ing:

WhileIagreewi t
hthetheorythatthedocumentExhibit"A"doesnoti nv
olveacontr
actonfutur
e
i
nher i
tancebutapromisemadebyMaxi maSantostot r
ansmi tone-hal
fofhershar
ei nt
he
conjugalpropert
yacquiredduri
nghermar ri
agetoSimeonBl astotheheir
sandlegateesoft
he
l
atter,Iam howeveroftheopinionthather
einappel
lantshav enocauseofact i
onbecause
MaximaSant oshasSubstanti
allycompli
edwithherpromi se.

Itshouldbenotedt hatMaximaSantos'pr
omisetot r
ansmi tispredicatedont hecondi
t i
onthat
shecanf reel
ychooseandsel ectfr
om amongthehei r
sandl egat eesofherhusbandt hoseto
whom shewoul dli
ket ogi
veandbequeathdependingont her espect,servi
ceand
compani onshi
pt hattheymayrendert
oher.Hercommi t
menti snotanabsol utepr
omi setogiv
e
toallbutonlytowhom shemaychooseandsel ect
.Andher ethispromi sehasbeen
substanti
all
ycompl iedwit
h.

Thus,itappearsthatMaximaSant ossel ectedeightsuchhei rsandl egateesinst

it
utedi
nt hewill
ofherhusband.Not ethatappell
antMar t
aGer v
aci oBias, whohasgi venal egacyofonl
y
P38,000.00inthewillofSi
meonBl as,whowasgi venbyheral egacywor tharoundP400,000.00,
appell
antsLoidaGer v
acioBlas(orLudi ngBl as)andLeonci o(Leony )GervacioBl
asweregi vena
l
egacyofP300. 00eachev eryyeart olastdur i
ngt heirli
feti
me; AndLor enzoSantoswasgi vena
l
egacyoft wof i
shpondsandone- tenthoft hewhol eresiduaryestate.Itmaybest atedt
hat
al
thoughappel l
antMar i
aGer v
acioBl aswasnotgi venanyl egacyinMaxi maSant os'wi
ll
,yether
sonSimeonDungaowasgi venalegacyofar esidentiallandinTonsuy a,Malabon.

I,
theref
ore,considernotinkeepingwit
hthenatureofthepledgemadebyMaximaSant ost
he
decisi
onoft hemaj ori
tyi
norderi
ngheradminist
ratri
xtoconveyanddel
iv
erone-
halfofhershare
i
nt heconjugalpropertyt
oallthehei
rsandlegateesofherhusbandSi
meonBlas,becauseonly
suchheirsandl egateesar
eent i
tl
edtoshar
einthepr oper
tyasmaybeselect
edbyMaxi ma
Santos,andt hi
sshehasal r
eadydone.Forthesereasons,Idi
ssent
.
Foot
not
es

REYES,
J.,
concur
ri
ng:

1Not et
hattheor
igi
nal"pactum successori
um"wasessent
ial
l
ygr
atui
tous:
"chee
essenzi
alment
eat i
tul
ogratuit
o"(Stol
fiDir
it
toCi
vi
leVol
.6)