NATURE & EFFECTS OF OBLIGATIONS Possible Impossible

Capable of realization according to law, Not capable of realization according to law,

ARTICLE 1156. An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do or not to do. morals, good customers, public order or morals, good customers, public order or
public policy public policy
ARTICLE 1157. Obligations arise from: Positive Negative
(1) Law; Some event will happen Some event will not happen
(2) Contracts; Divisible Indivisible
(3) Quasi-contracts; Susceptible of partial realization Not susceptible of partial realization
(4) Acts or omissions punished by law; and
Conjunctive Alternative
(5) Quasi-delicts.
Several conditions which must be all Several but only one must be realized.
realized.
ARTICLE 1163. Every person obliged to give something is also obliged to take care of it with
the proper diligence of a good father of a family, unless the law or the stipulation of the parties Express Implied
requires another standard of care. Expressly stated Tacitly stated

ARTICLE 1164. The creditor has a right to the fruits of the thing from the time the obligation to
deliver it arises. However, he shall acquire no real right over it until the same has been
delivered to him.
ARTICLE 1189. When the conditions have been imposed with the intention of suspending the
ARTICLE 1169. Those obliged to deliver or to do something incur in delay from the time the efficacy of an obligation to give, the following rules shall be observed in case of the
obligee judicially or extrajudicially demands from them the fulfillment of their obligation. improvement, loss or deterioration of the thing during the pendency of the condition:

However, the demand by the creditor shall not be necessary in order that delay may (1) If the thing is lost without the fault of the debtor, the obligation shall be extinguished;
exist:
(2) If the thing is lost through the fault of the debtor, he shall be obliged to pay damages; it is
(1) When the obligation or the law expressly so declare; or understood that the thing is lost when it perishes, or goes out of commerce, or disappears in
such a way that its existence is unknown or it cannot be recovered;
(2) When from the nature and the circumstances of the obligation it appears that the
designation of the time when the thing is to be delivered or the service is to be rendered (3) When the thing deteriorates without the fault of the debtor, the impairment is to be borne
was a controlling motive for the establishment of the contract; or by the creditor;

(3) When demand would be useless, as when the obligor has rendered it beyond his (4) If it deteriorates through the fault of the debtor, the creditor may choose between the
power to perform. rescission of the obligation and its fulfillment, with indemnity for damages in either case;

In reciprocal obligations, neither party incurs in delay if the other does not comply or is (5) If the thing is improved by its nature, or by time, the improvement shall inure to the benefit
not ready to comply in a proper manner with what is incumbent upon him. From the of the creditor;
moment one of the parties fulfills his obligation, delay by the other begins.
(6) If it is improved at the expense of the debtor, he shall have no other right than that granted
to the usufructuary.
ARTICLE 1170. Those who in the performance of their obligations are guilty of fraud,
negligence, or delay, and those who in any manner contravene the tenor thereof, are liable
for damages.
Obligations with a period
1. Fraud – Deliberate or intentional evasion of the normal fulfillment of an obligation. ARTICLE 1193. Obligations for whose fulfillment a day certain has been fixed, shall be
demandable only when that day comes.Obligations with a resolutory period take effect at
once, but terminate upon arrival of the day certain. A day certain is understood to be that
 Incidental fraud – committed in the performance of the obligation already existing which must necessarily come, although it may not be known when. If the uncertainty consists
because of contract. in whether the day will come or not, the obligation is conditional, and it shall be regulated by
 Causal fraud – committed in the execution of a contract. the rules of the preceding Section.

ARTICLE 1198. The debtor shall lose every right to make use of the period:
2. Negligence – Failure to observe degree of care, precaution and vigilance. (1) When after the obligation has been contracted, he becomes insolvent, unless he gives a
Fault or negligence of the obligor by virtue of: guaranty or security for the debt;
(2) When he does not furnish to the creditor the guaranties or securities which he has
promised;
 Contractual negligence – Unable to perform his obligation arising from a pre- (3) When by his own acts he has impaired said guaranties or securities after their
existing contract. establishment, and when through a fortuitous event they disappear, unless he immediately
 Civil negligence – Failure to observe require diligence to the obligation causes gives new ones equally satisfactory;
damage to another. (4) When the debtor violates any undertaking, in consideration of which the creditor agreed to
the period;

 Criminal negligence – Results to a crime.

(5) When the debtor attempts to abscond.

3. Delay – Non-fulfillment of an obligation with respect to time. Alternative Obligations Facultative Obligations
There is more than one object, and the Only one object or prestation has been
fulfillment of one is sufficient. agreed upon by the parties to the obligation,
 Mora solvendi – Delay on the part of the debtor. (DDP) but which may be complied with by the
 Mora accipiendi – Delay on the part of the creditor. (PCR) delivery of another or the performance of
another prestation in substitution.

 Compensation morae – delay of the parties in a reciprocal obligation.

ARTICLE 1205. When the choice has been expressly given to the creditor, the obligation
shall cease to be alternative from the day when the selection has been communicated to the
4. Contravention of tenor – any illicit act or omission which impairs the strict faithful fulfillment debtor.
of the obligation and every kind of any defective performance. Until then the responsibility of the debtor shall be governed by the following rules:
(1) If one of the things is lost through a fortuitous event, he shall perform the obligation by
ARTICLE 1174. Except in cases expressly specified by the law, or when it is otherwise delivering that which the creditor should choose from among the remainder, or that which
declared by stipulation, or when the nature of the obligation requires the assumption of risk, remains if only one subsists;
no person shall be responsible for those events which could not be foreseen, or which, (2) If the loss of one of the things occurs through the fault of the debtor, the creditor may
though foreseen, were inevitable. claim any of those subsisting, or the price of that which, through the fault of the former, has
disappeared, with a right to damages;
Liable even in cases of Fortuitous Events: (3) If all the things are lost through the fault of the debtor, the choice by the creditor shall fall
upon the price of any one of them, also with indemnity for damages.
The same rules shall be applied to obligations to do or not to do in case one, some or all of
a) Law specifies; the prestations should become impossible.
b) Contract specifies;
c) There’s delay;
d) There is assumption of risk; Joint Obligations Solidary Obligations
e) When the obligor promises to deliver to two or more persons who doe not have The whole obligation is to be paid or fulfilled Each one of the debtors is bound to render,
the same interest. proportionately by different debtors or and/or each one of the creditors has a right
demanded proportionately by different to demand entire compliance with the
creditors. (Art. 1208) prestation. (Art. 1207)
Elements of Force Majeure
Divisible Obligations Indivisible Obligations
Those which have as their object a Those which have as their object a
1. The event must be independent of human will; prestation which is susceptible of partial prestation which is not susceptible of partial
2. The occurrence must render it impossible for the debtor to fulfill the obligation in performance without the essence of performance, otherwise, the essence of the
a normal manner; obligation changed. obligation will be changed.

3. The obligor be free of participation, or in aggravation of, the injury to the creditor. Obligations with a Penal Clause
An obligation to which an accessory undertaking (penal clause or penalty) is attached for the
purpose of insuring its performance by virtue of which the obligor is bound to pay a stipulated
DIFFERENT KINDS OF OBLIGATION indemnity or perform a stipulated prestation in case of breach.

Pure Obligations Conditional Obligations EXTINGUISHMENT OF OBLIGATIONS

Demandable at once. There are no Acquisition of a right of the extinguishment or
conditions imposed, except if they are loss of those already acquired shall depend Extinguishment of Obligations
resolutory. upon the happening of an event which 1. Novation
constitutes the condition. 2. Compensation
3. Confusion or Merger
Kinds of Condition 4. Rescission
Suspensive Resolutory 5. Payment or Performance
When the fulfillment of the condition results When the fulfillment of the condition results 6. Loss of the thing due
in the acquisition of rights arising out of the in the extinguishment of rights arising out of 7. Prescription
obligation the obligation 8. Remission or Condonation
9. Fulfillment of a resolutory condition
Potestative Casual
10. Annulment
Depends upon the will of one of the Depends exclusively upon the chance or will
contracting parties of a third person, or other factors and not
Other forms of extinguishment not under Art. 1231
upon the will of the contracting parties.
1. Fortuitous events
Mixed 2. Compromise
Depends upon the will of one of the contracting parties and other circumstances. 3. Mutual desistance or withdrawal
4. Arrival of resolutory period
5. Impossibility of fulfillment of condition
6. Death, in cases of personal or intransmissible obligations

Dation in payment Payment by Cession

One creditor Plurality of creditors
Debtor is not necessarily in state of financial Debtor must be partially or relatively
difficulty insolvent
Thing delivered is as equivalent of Universality of property debtor is what ceded
performance
Extinguishes obligation to the extent of the Merely releases debtor for net proceeds of
value of the thing delivered as agreed upon, thing ceded or assigned, unless there is
proved or implied from the conduct of the contrary intention
creditor
Does not involve all properties of debtor Involves all the properties of the debtor
Creditor becomes owner of property of Creditor does not become the owner;
debtor Possession is only transmitted.