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ARTICLE 414.

All things which are or may be the as real property those “real rights over
object of appropriation are considered either: immovable property”
3. in the provision of paragraph 1 of Article 417
1.   Immovable or real property; or of the New Civil Code which classifies as
personal property “obligations and actions
which have for their object movables or
2.   Movable or personal property. (333) demandable sums.”

PROPERTY, in general; B. CONCEPT OF PROPERTY


- Derived from the Latin word proprius, - In our civil code, the concept of property
meaning belonging to one or one’s own. is not confined to things which are
- Considered as an object is that which is, or already appropriated or possessed by
may be, appropriated. man but also extends to those not yet
- Branch of civil law which classifies and appropriated.
defines the different kinds of appropriable
objects provides for their acquisition and - In connection with art. 414, “all things
loss, and in general, treats of the nature and which are or may be the object of
consequences of real rights appropriation”

A. CONCEPT OF THING Classification of Property


- Thing is synonymous with property. 1. Mobility and non-mobility
- Thing is broader in scope for it includes both a. Moveable or personal
appropriable and non-appropriable objects. b. Immovable or real
- Examples: the planets, the stars, the sund 2. Ownership
for example, are things but cannot be a. Public dominion
appropriated, therefore, they are not b. Private dominion
property. 3. Alienability
a. Within the commerce of men
Classification of THINGS: b. Outside the commerce of man
1. Res nullius 4. Existence
- belonging to no one a. Present property
- they have not yet been appropriated. b. Future property
5. Materiality or Immateriality
2. Res communes
a. Tangible or corporeal (objects
- belonging to everyone
which can be seen or touched)
- Their use and enjoyment are given to all
b. Intangible or incorporeal (right or
of mankind
credits)
3. Res alicujus 6. Dependence or Importance
- belonging to someone a. Principal
- Owned privately. b. Accessory
7. Capability of Substitution
While the human person may not be considered as a. Fungible (capable of substitution)
property, his conduct or acts, to a certain extent, may b. Non-fungible (incapable of
give rise to enforceable rights in favor of other person substitution)
if such act or conduct is considered by law as a 8. Nature or Definiteness
source of obligation. a. Generic
b. Specific
Things are objects external to man. But the civil code 9. Custody of the court or free
does not limit it to corporeal objects, it also extends to a. Custodia legis
those which have only intellectual or juridical b. Free property
existence. The concept of things in our Civil Code
embraces both material objects and rights. Not all things may be considered as property.
To illustrate: C. REQUISITES OF PROPERTY (UAS or
1. in Article 414, the law considers all things USA)
susceptible of appropriation as property, 1. Utility for the satisfaction of moral or
which may either be real or personal. economic wants
2. In Articles 415 and 416, on the other hand, 2. susceptibility of appropriation
rights are likewise considered as property. 3. individuality or substantivity (i.e., it can exist
This is exemplified in the provision of by itself, and not merely as a part of a
paragraph 10 of Article 415 which classifies whole). (Hence, the human hair becomes
property only when it is detached from the

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owner.) a donation acceptance are be valid; it
required to be in must be in a
Example: when a diamond stone is attached to a ring, writing public
the ring and the stone constitute a single property document
since they now form a single object. However, when Extrajudicial Only movable It cannot
the stone is removed from the ring it will be regarded deposit things may be the
as a separate property from the ring to which it has object of
once been attached. extrajudicial
deposit
It is essential that a thing must be susceptible of Crimes of Only personal can Crime of
appropriation before it can be considered as theft, be object of the usurpation
property. Things which cannot be subjected to human robbery and crimes of theft and can be
control by reason of sheer physical impossibility are usurpation robbery committed
not considered as property. only to a real
property
Examples: the sun, the stars, and the ocean, lightning Determining Can be Real property,
and rain the venue in commenced it must be
remedial law where the plaintiff filed in the
Susceptibility to appropriation v. outside the or the defendant court wherein
commerce of man resides, at the the property
election of the is situated
- Things which are outside the commerce plaintiff
of men may not be the object of contact,
they are not necessarily disqualified
from being considered as property.
- Example: properties of public dominion
It is only the LAW which may consider certain real
pertaining to the State, being outside the
property (like growing crops) as personal property (for
commerce of man, cannot be the object
the purpose of making a chattel mortgage).
of contracts. However, they are
considered property under the Code.

MOVABLE v. IMMOVABLE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY


Art. 415. The following are immovable property:
MOVABLE IMMOVABLE (1) Land, buildings, roads and constructions of all
Rules of Ownership of Real rights kinds adhered to the soil;
acquisitive movables over (2) Trees, plants, and growing fruits, while they are
prescriptio prescribes through immovable attached to the land or form an integral part of an
n uninterrupted are acquired immovable;
possession for 4 by ordinary (3) Everything attached to an immovable in a fi xed
years in good faith prescription manner, in such a way that it cannot be separated
or uninterrupted through therefrom without breaking the
possession for 8 possession of material or deterioration of the object;
years, with any 10 years or (4) Statues, reliefs, paintings or other objects for use
other condition 30 years, or ornamentation, placed in buildings or on lands by
without need the owner of the immovable in such a manner that it
of title or reveals the intention to attach them permanently to
good faith. the tenements;
Propriety of Only movables Only (5) Machinery, receptacles, instruments or
the object of can be the object immovables implements intended by the owner of the tenement for
the contract of the contracts of can be the an industry or works which may be carried on in a
of pledge, pledge and chattel object of a building or on a piece of land, and which tend directly
chattel, mortgage real estate to meet the needs of the said industry or works;
mortgage mortgage (6) Animal houses, pigeon-houses, beehives, fi sh
and real contract. ponds or breeding places of similar nature, in case
estate their owner has placed them or pre-
mortgage serves them with the intention to have them
and real permanently attached to the land, and forming a
estate permanent part of it; the animals in these places are
mortgage included;
Determining Donation exceeds Donation of (7) Fertilizer actually used on a piece of land;
the 5,000, the an immovable (8) Mines, quarries and slug dumps, while the matter
formalities of donation and property may thereof

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forms part of the bed, and waters either running or - The adherence to the solid must not be
stagnant; of provision or temporary character but
(9) Docks and structures which, though floating, are fixed or integral.
intended by their nature and object to remain at a - the steel towers constructed by the
fixed place on a river, lake, or coast; Manila Electric Company were not
(10) Contracts for public works, and servitudes and considered as real properties because
other real rights over immovable property. (334a) they were “removable and merely
attached to a square metal frame by
CONCEPT OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY means of bolts, which when
- Art. 415 does not define immovable but unscrewed could easily be
enumerates what are considered as dismantled and moved from place to
such. place.”
- This word is not used in its etymological - the pipeline system in question is
or grammatical meaning but in its indubitably a construction adhering to
juridical meaning the soil. It is attached to the land in such
a way that it cannot be separated
Kinds of immovable property. (NIDA) therefrom without dismantling the steel
1. Immovable by NATURE pipes which were welded to form the
- By their essence of nature are pipeline.
immovable or cannot be moved from -
one place to another 3. Immovable by DESTINATION
- Examples: trees and plants - Those which are essentially movable,
but by the purpose for they have been
2. Immovable by INCORPORATION place in an immovable, partake of the
- Those which are treated as immovable nature of the latter
by reason of their attachment or - Examples: machinery plabed by the
incorporation to an immovable in such owner of tenement on it for direct use in
manner as to be an integral part. an industry to be carried on therein)
- Example: buildings and constructions
adhered to the soil, trees, plants and Par. 4 “Statues, reliefs, paintings or other objects
fruits. for use or ornamentation ...”
- These are real properties by destination.
- The NCC classifies buildings as - REQUISITES must concur:
immovables, the “building” referred to is
that which substantially adheres to the 1. they must be placed in
land and not one which is merely buildings or on lands by the
superimposed on the soil. owner of the immovable or by
his agent; and
- building treated separately from the land 2. the attachment must be
on which it stood is immovable property intended to be permanent.
and the mere fact that the parties to a
contract seem to have dealt with it PARAGRAPH 4 v. PARAGRAPH 3
separate and apart from the land on - In par. 4 the incorporation must be
which it stood in no wise changed its made by the owner of the immovable
character as immovable property. either personally or through an agent;
- In par. 3, it is immaterial as to who
- The law makes no distinction as to makes the incorporation.
whether or not the owner of the land
is or is not the owner of the building. - the incorporation in par. 3 must be such
that separation is impossible;
The classification of property into real or personal - whereas, in par. 4 separation is
is provided for by law and may not, therefore, be possible without deterioration of the
changed by the agreement of the parties. As such, immovable or destruction of the
even if the parties may treat as personal property that material.
which under the law is a real property, that agreement
does not in any way alter the character of the property
as an immovable or real property.

- To be immovable, the construction must


be attached permanently to the land.

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Par. 6 “Animal houses, pigeon houses”
- are immovable, it requires that they be
placed by the owner of the land in
order to acquire the same nature of
consideration of real property.

- However, these animals will be


considered as personal property under
laws which so provide for them pursuant
to the second paragraph of Article 416

Par. 7 “Fertilizers”
Par. 5 “Machineries, receptacles, instruments or
- it must actually be used on the land,
implements ...”
fertilizer kept in the farmhouse are not
- are essentially movables but by reason
immovable.
of their purpose — they being destined
for use in the industry or work in the Par. 8 “Mines,quarries,slag,dumps,waters”
tenement — they are converted into real
- they are considered immovable
properties.
property, once separated they are no
- REQUISITES:
longer mines but minerals and
1. They must be machinery,
considered personal.
receptacles, instruments or
implements;
- Waters referred here are those found in
2. They must be placed by the
their natural beds such as flowing
owner of the tenement or by
streams, rivers or canals.
his agent;
3. There must be an industry or
Par. 9 “Docks and structures”
work carried in such building or
- they are considered as immovables as
on the piece of land; and
long as they are intended by their nature
4. They must tend directly to
and object to remain at a fixed place.
meet the needs of said
industry work.
4. Immovable by ANALOGY or LAW
General Rule: the Supreme Court held that machinery
which is movable by nature becomes immobilized - Rights as property provided that the
when placed by the owner of the tenement, property same is patrimonial in nature:
or plant, but not so when placed by tenant, - “patrimonial” owned by the state in its
usufructuary, or any other person having only a private capacity.
temporary right, unless such person acted as the 1. Real Rights- the owner belonging to a
agent of the owner. person over a specific thing, it is enforceable
against the whole world (contract)
Exception: if in the contract of lease it is stipulated 2. Personal Rights- power belonging to one
that such machinery, receptacles, instruments or person to demand of another, the fulfillment
implements placed there by the lessee will become, of a prestation to give, to do or not to do.
at the termination of the lease, the property of the (obligation)
lessor for in that case they will be considered as
immovable property since in placing them the lessee Whether a right is personal or real property shall
will just be merely acting as an agent of the lessor. depend on:
a. whether it is a personal or real RIGHT, and
- it is necessary that they must be b. whether the SUBJECT MATTER thereof is a
“essential” and “principal” elements of personal or real property.
the industry or works without which such - With respect to personal rights, it will
industry or works would be unable to fall under personal property regardless
function or carry on the industrial of the subject matter thereof.
purpose for which it was established.
- With respect to real rights - depends on
its subject matter
a. Aside from the element of essentiality, 1. If the subject matter of the real
b. paragraph 5 of Article 415 also requires that right is a real property, then
the industry or works be carried on in a such real right is a real
building or on a piece of land. property.

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2. On the other hand, if the Chose of Action
subject matter of the real right - is personal property and it is an
is a personal property, as in intangible or incorporeal right. A “chose
the case of chattel mortgage, in action” means, literally, a thing in
such real right is classified as action, and is the right of bringing an
personal property. action, or a right to recover a debt or
money
MOVABLE PROPERTY
Art. 416. The following things are deemed to be Obligation
personal property: - creates a personal right on the part of
(1) Those movables susceptible of appropriation the creditor to demand for its fulfillment
which are not included in the preceding article; or performance. The right to demand for
(2) Real property which by any special provision of the performance of the obligation is, by
law is considered as personalty; itself, a property.
(3) Forces of nature which are brought under control
by science; and Art. 418. Movable property is either consumable or
(4) In general, all things which can be transported non-consumable. To the first class belong those
from place to place without impairment of the real movables which cannot be used in a manner
property to which they are fi xed. appropriate to their without their being consumed; to
the second class belong all the others. (337)
Art. 417. The following are also considered as
personal property: Classification of Movables
(1) Obligations and actions which have for their object 1. Consumable
movablesor demandable sums; and 2. Non-Consumable
(2) Shares of stock of agricultural, commercial and
industrial enti- - A consumable is a movable which
ties, although they may have real estate. (336a) cannot be used in a manner appropriate
to its nature without itself being
- Thus, under our law, all properties which consumed.
are not real are PERSONAL.
- For example, a cigarette cannot be used
- Hence, while certain property may, by its in a manner appropriate to its nature,
nature, be moved from one place to i.e., for smoking, without itself being
another, it will not be considered as consumed.
movable property if it is classified as
immovable property under the - A non-consumable, on the other hand,
provisions of Article 415 because of the is a movable which can be used in a
purpose for which it has been placed in manner appropriate to its nature without
an immovable, in which case, it shall itself being consumed.
partake of the nature of the latter and
shall be classified as an immovable - An example of a non-consumable is
property by destination. table which can be used in the manner
appropriate to its nature and, yet, it will
- In general, all things susceptible of not be consumed.
appropriation which can be transported
from place to place without impairment - the basis of the classification of
of the real property to which they are movables into fungible or non-fungible is
fixed and not included in the simply the intention of the parties. The
enumeration in Article 415 are classified movable is classified as fungible if, by
as “personal” or “movable” property. the intention of the parties, it can be
replaced by another of the same kind;
Forces of Nature otherwise, it is a non- fungible.
- However, paragraph (3) of Article 416
clarifies that if these forces of nature are
brought under the control of man PROPERTY IN RELATION TO THE PERSON TO
through the help of science, thereby WHOM IT BELONGS
becoming appropriable, they are now
considered as property and classified as Art. 419. Property is either of public dominion or of
personal property. Hence, gas and private ownership.
electricity are considered personal
property under this provision. Classifications:
1. Public Dominion

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2. Private Ownership provisions of Article 422 of the New Civil
Code.

Patrimonial properties of the State Public Ownership v. State Ownership


- are not exactly in the same category as - In public ownership, not even the State
ordinary private properties. Private may make them the object of
properties can be acquired thru adverse commerce. Hence, they cannot be
possession while the adverse leased, donated, sold or be the object of
possession of the former cannot ipso any contract.
facto ripen into ownership as it is an
iron-clad dictum that prescription can - With respect to natural resources, they
never lie against the State. are not, however, totally outside the
- “iron-clad dictum” – absolute rule commerce of man as the Constitution
allows the State to enter into co-
In relation to the State production, joint venture or production-
- its properties are either of public sharing agreements with private
dominion or patrimonial properties; individuals or corporations for their
exploration, development and utilization.
In relation to the political subdivisions (provinces,
cities and municipalities) - With respect to fishponds, for example,
- their properties are either of public which are likewise owned by the State,
dominion (for public use) or patrimonial they may be leased although they may
proper- ties; not be alienated.

In relation to persons and entities other than the State For a property of the State to fall under public
and its political subdivisions (or private persons, dominion, it is not necessary that the same be
either individually or collectively), actually used for some public use or for some
- their properties are denominated as that public service.
of private ownership
An intention to devote it to public use is sufficient
Art. 420. The following things are property of public and it is not necessary that it must actually be used as
dominion: such.
(1) torrents, ports and bridges constructed by the
State, banks, shores, road- steads, and others of
similar character; Public Use v. Public Service
(2) Those which belongs to the State, without being - public use which is not confined to
for public use, and are intended for some public privileged individuals, but is open to the
service or for the development of indefinite public. Public use may be
the national wealth. (339a) used indiscriminately by the public.
- While the public service although used
CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLIC DOMINION for the benefit of the public, cannot be
There are three kinds of property of public dominion: used indiscriminately by anyone but only
1. those that are intended for public use; by those that are authorized by proper
2. those that are intended for some public authority.
service; and
3. those that are intended for the The “roads” referred to under Article 420(1) of the
development of national wealth. New Civil Code are the national highways and roads
constructed and maintained by the national
“PUBLIC DOMINION” government through the Department of Public
- is to be viewed as referring to public Worksand Highways. Provincial, city and municipal
ownership in relation to the properties of roads and streets.
the State intended for public use or for
some public service mentioned in On the other hand, are properties of public dominion
paragraph numbers (1) and (2) of Article of the local government unit concerned and are
420. governed by Article 424 of the Civil Code andthe
- Since the ownership of these properties provisions of the Local Government Code.
belong to the public in general and not
to the State, the latter may not make
them the object of commerce unless The term “ports” in Article 420(1) of the New Civil
they are properly converted into Code includes seaports and airports. The MIAA
patrimonial. properties pursuant to the Airport Lands and Buildings constitute a “port”
constructed by the State. Hence, they are properties

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of public dominion and thus owned by the State or the
Republic of the Philippines. Since property of public dominion is outside the
commerce of man and not susceptible to private
Foreshore lands are part of the public dominion. appropriation and acquisitive prescription, the adverse
possession which may be the basis of a grant of title
Natural lakes and lagoons and their beds belong to in the confirmation of an imperfect title under the
the State and are part of public dominion. Public Land Act refers only
to alienable or disposable portions of the public
Lakes and lagoons naturally occurring on private domain.
lands also belong to the State. Hence, lakes and
lagoons developed by a private person on private It is only after the Government has declared the land
lands are of private ownership. to be alienable and disposable agricultural lands that
the year of entry, cultivation and exclusive and
The Laguna de Bay has long been recognized as a adverse possession can be counted for purposes of
lake. As such, the accretion occurring therein, by an imperfect title.
mandate of Article 84 of the Spanish Law of Waters of
1866, belongs to the owner of the land contiguous From the foregoing, it appears that agricultural public
thereto. lands are classified as patrimonial property of the
State as soon as they are made available for
All properties of the State that are devoted or intended alienation or disposition.
for some public service are likewise part of the
PUBLIC DOMINION. Prior to the reclassification of public lands into
agricultural lands and prior to their being made
As earlier explained, these properties cannot be used available for alienation and disposition, they form part
indiscriminately by anyone but only by those that are of the property of public dominion,
authorized by proper authority.
Characteristics:
Property of public dominion pertaining and/or 1. They are outside the commerce of man
belonging to the State refers not only to property - Properties of public dominion are
devoted to public use or to some public service, but outside the commerce of man.
also to property devoted to the development of the - Being outside the commerce of man, it
national wealth. cannot be alienated or leased or
otherwise be the subject matter of
This class of property constituted property of public contracts.
dominion although employed for some economic or - Hence, the right of the public to use
commercial activity to increase the national wealth. public property may not be bargained
away through contract.
Under the Regalian Doctrine, all lands not otherwise - EXCEPTION: With respect to natural
appearing to be clearly within private ownership are resources, however, the Constitution
presumed to belong to the allows the State to enter into co-
State. production, joint venture or production-
sharing agreements with private
Under Section 3 of Article XII of the 1987 Philippine individuals or corporations for their
Constitution, lands of the public domain are classified exploration, development and utilization.
into:
1. agricultural 2. They Are Not Susceptible To Private
2. forest Appropriation and Acquisitive
3. timber Prescription
4. mineral lands
5. national parks. 3. They are not subject to attachment and
execution
Mineral and timber or forest lands are not subject - Properties of public dominion, being for
to private ownership unless they are first reclassified public use, are not subject to levy,
as agricultural lands and so released for alienation. encumbrance or disposition through
public or private sale.248 Any
Agricultural public lands may be defined as those encumbrance, levy on execution or
alienable portions of the lands of the public domain auction sale of any property of public
which are not forest or timber, mineral, or national dominion is void for being contrary to
parks. public policy.
- Hence, it was held in one case that the
Only agricultural lands are allowed, however, to be City of Parañaque cannot foreclose and
alienated. compel the auction sale of the 600-

Salih, Shella Hannah J.| 2I AY 2020-2021


hectare runway of the MIAA for non- - Property of public dominion, when no
payment of real estate tax since the longer intended for public use or for
Airport Lands and Buildings of MIAA are public service, shall form part of the
properties of public dominion. patrimonial property ofthe State.

4. They cannot be burdened with voluntary Art. 423. The property of provinces, cities, and
easements municipalities isdivided into property for public use
and patrimonial property. (343)
Art. 421. All other property of the State, which is not
of the character stated in the preceding article, is Property for public use and patrimonial property.
patrimonial property. (340a) - The first consists of the provincial roads,
city streets, municipal streets, squares,
- All other property of the State, which is fountains, public waters, promenades,
not of the character stated in Article 420 and public works for public service paid
of the New Civil Code, is patrimonial for by said provinces, cities or
property. municipalities.
- It is considered as a property of the - All other property possessed by said
State in what may be called the private provinces, cities or municipalities is
sense. patrimonial.
- It is said that over this kind of property - The nature of properties owned by cities
the State has the same rights and has (municipalities and provinces) in this
the same power of disposition as private country is determined by the character
individuals subject, of course, to existing of the use or service for which they are
rules and regulations. intended or devoted.
- Examples of Patrimonial Prop: - Properties which are intended for public
1. Friar Lands use or for some public service are
2. Alienable and disposable lands properties for public use.
of the public domain
3. Lands covered by RA 7227 All others are patrimonial properties.
- It was held in Laurel v. Garcia, that any
conveyance of a real property falling It matters not that the property is not actually devoted
under the patrimonial property of the for public use or for some public
State must be authorized and service.
approved by a law enacted by the
Congress. Art. 424. Property for public use, in the provinces,
- Hence, in the case of Laurel, the Court cities, and municipalities, consists of the provincial
held that even if the Roppongi property roads, city streets, municipal streets,the squares,
is patrimonial property of the State, then fountains, public waters, promenades, and public
President Corazon Aquino could not sell works for public service paid for by said provinces,
it since there was no law authorizing her cities, or municipalities.
to do so.
All other property possessed by any of them is
- Consequently, unless the law patrimonial and shall be governed by this Code,
expressly provides, a patrimonial without prejudice to the provisions of special
property of the State is not subject to laws. (344a)
acquisitive prescription.
- An example of a law that allows the - The property of provinces, cities and
acquisition of patrimonial properties of municipalities for public use is governed
the State by way of acquisitive by the same principles as property of
prescription is Commonwealth Act No. public dominion ofthe same character.
141 which authorizes confirmation of
imperfect title. - Hence, the following jurisprudence or
- The adverse possession which may be principles are applicable to properties of
the basis of a grant of title in the political subdivisions (provinces,
confirmation of im- perfect title cases, cities and municipalities) for public use:
however, applies only to alienable
lands of the public domain— which 1. They are outside the
fall under the patrimonial properties of commerce of man.Being
the State. outside the commerce of man,
it cannot be alienated or leased
or otherwise be the subject
matter of contracts.

Salih, Shella Hannah J.| 2I AY 2020-2021


2. Local governments have no
authority whatsoever to control
or regulate the use of public
properties, like roads and
streets, unless specific
authority is vested upon them
by Congress.

- Thus, in that case the Supreme Court


held that the withdrawal of an existing
road from public use was valid thereby
converting the withdrawn property into
patrimonial property which can be the
object of an ordinary contract.

- Town or public plazas are properties of


public dominion, to be devoted to public
use and to be made available to the
public in general.

- They are beyond the commerce of man


and so cannot be the subject of lease or
any other contractual undertaking.

PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

Art. 425. Property of private ownership, besides the


patrimonial property of the State, provinces, cities and
municipalities, consists of all property belonging to
private persons, either individually or collectively.

- Private properties may belong to the


State, to provinces, cities and
municipalities or may belong to the
private individuals either individually or
collectively.
- Such properties when they belong to the
State, provinces, cities and
municipalities are called “patrimonial
property;” and when they belong to
private entities or individuals, they are
called “properties of private
ownership.”
- All lands are presumed, however, to be
public lands until the contrary is
established.

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Salih, Shella Hannah J.| 2I AY 2020-2021

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