Parks vs Province of Tarlac

March 25, 2016

FACTS

In 1910, Concepcion Cirer and James Hill donated parcels of land to the municipality of Tarlac on the
condition that it be used absolutely and exclusively for the erection of a central school and public
parks, the work to commence within six months. The president of the municipality of Tarlac accepted
and registered the donation. In 1921, Cirer and Hill sold the same property to George
L. Parks.Later on the, the municipality of Tarlac transferred their rights in the property to the Province
of Tarlac.

Parks filed a complaint seeking the annulment of the donation and asking that he be declared the
absolute owner of the property. Parks allege that the conditions of the donation were not complied
with.

ISSUE

Whether or not the donation was coupled with a condition precedent? W/N the action to revoke has
prescribed?

HELD

No. The condition to erect a school within six months is not a condition precedent. The characteristic
of a condition precedent is that the acquisiito of the right is not effected while said condition is mot
complied with or is not deemed complied with. Meanwhile nothing is acquired and there is only an
expectancy of a right. Consequently, when a condition is imposed, the compliance of which cannot be
effected except when the right is deemed acquired, such condition cannot be a condition precedent.
In the present case the condition that a public school be erected and a public park be made of the
donated land could not be complied with except after giving effect to the donation.

The action to revoke the donation has prescribed. The prescriptive periods are: 5 years for the
revocation by the subsequent birth of children, 1 year if by reason of ingratitude. If no special period is
prescribed, 10 years, for an onerous donation following the law of contracts and general rules on
prescriptions. The donation was made in 1910, the cause of action accrued in 1911, while the action
to revoke was filed 1924, twenty three years later.