CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Articles 1-18 Effect and Application of Laws

Article 1- This act shall be known as the Civil Code of the Philippines
Article 2- Laws shall take effect after 15 days of completion of publication in the Official Gazette or
Newspaper of General Circulation
Article 3- Ignorance of the law excuses no one
Article 4- Laws should not take a retroactive effect
Article 5- Acts executed against the provisions of mandatory or prohibitory laws shall be void
Article 6- Rights may be waived unless the rights are contrary to law
Article 7- Laws are repealed only by subsequent ones
Article 8- Judicial Decisions shall take form in the legal system of the Philippines
Article 9- No Judge or Court shall refuse to render judgment for the reason of silence, and
insufficiency of laws
Article 10- In case of doubt in the interpretation of the application of laws, it is presumed that the
lawmaking body intends for right and justice to prevai
Article 11- Customs that are contrary to law shall not be countenanced
Article 12- Customs should be proven as fact in the rules of evidence
Article 13- When the law speaks of Years, Months, and days, One year is 365 days, One month 30
days, One Day 24 hours and nights from sunset to sunrise.
Article 14- Penal laws shall be subjected to all persons living or sojourn in the Philippine teritorry
Article 15- Citizens of the Philippines shall be subjected to laws of family rights and duties even if they
are living abroad
Article 16- Real property or personal property are subjected to the laws of the particular territory
where they are stipulated
Article 17- The forms and solemnities of contracts and other public instruments shall be subject to
laws of the country where they are executed
Article 18- In laws where it is governed by the Code of Commerce and special laws, it will be it’s
defficiency shall be supplied by this Code.

Articles 19-36 Human Relations

Article 19- Every person, in his exercise of his rights must act with justice and give everyone his due
and must observe honesty and good faith
Article 20- Every person who willfully or negligently causes damage to another must indemnify the
latter for the same
Article 21- Every person who willfully causes loss or damage to another in manner that is contrary to
morals, good customs and public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage
Article 22- Every person who through and act or performance of another acquired or come into
possession of a property with just and legal ground shall return the same
Article 23- Any act or event that causes loss or damage to another’s property not due to fault or
negligence shall be liable if he benefitted from it
Article 24- In all contractual or property or other relations the person is at a handicap the courts must
be vigilant in protecting him