Cang vs. Court of Appeals

128 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Cang vs. Court of Appeals

*
G.R. No. 105308. September 25, 1998.
HERBERT CANG, petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS

and Spouses RONALD V. CLAVANO and MARIA CLARA
CLAVANO, respondents.
Remedial Law; Actions; Jurisdiction; The established rule is

that the statute in force at the time of the commencement of the
action determines the jurisdiction of the court.—Jurisdiction being
a matter of substantive law, the established rule is that the
statute in force at the time of the commencement of the action
determines the jurisdiction of the court. As such, when private
respondents filed the petition for adoption on September 25, 1987,
the applicable law was the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as
amended by Executive Order No. 91.
Civil Law; Adoption; The written consent of the natural parent

to the adoption has remained a requisite for its validity.—It is
thus evident that notwithstanding the amendments to the law,
the written consent of the natural parent to the adoption has
remained a requisite for its validity.
Same; Same; Article 256 of the Family Code provides for its
retroactivity “insofar as it does not prejudice or impair vested or
ac-
_____________
* THIRD DIVISION.
129
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 129
quired rights in accordance with the Civil Code or other laws.”—

During the pendency of the petition for adoption or on August 3,
1988, the Family Code which amended the Child and Youth
Welfare Code took effect. Article 256 of the Family Code provides
for its retroactivity “insofar as it does not prejudice or impair
vested or acquired rights in accordance with the Civil Code or
other laws.” As amended by the Family Code, the statutory
provision on consent for adoption now reads: “Art. 188. The
written consent of the following to the adoption shall be
necessary: (1) The person to be adopted, if ten years of age or over;
(2) The parents by nature of the child, the legal guardian, or the
proper government instrumentality; (3) The legitimate and
adopted children, ten years of age or over, of the adopting parent
or parents; (4) The illegitimate children, ten years of age or over,
of the adopting parents, if living with said parent and the latter’s
spouse, if any; and (5) The spouse, if any, of the person adopting
or to be adopted.” (Italics supplied)
Same; Same; The requirement of written consent can be

dispensed with if the parent has abandoned the child.—As clearly
inferred from the foregoing provisions of law, the written consent
of the natural parent is indispensable for the validity of the decree
of adoption. Nevertheless, the requirement of written consent can
be dispensed with if the parent has abandoned the child or that
such parent is “insane or hopelessly intemperate.” The court may
acquire jurisdiction over the case even without the written
consent of the parents or one of the parents provided that the
petition for adoption alleges facts sufficient to warrant exemption
from compliance therewith. This is in consonance with the
liberality with which this Court treats the procedural aspect of
adoption.
Same; Same; Allegations of abandonment in the petition for

adoption, even absent the written consent of petitioner, sufficiently
vested the lower court with jurisdiction.—The allegations of
abandonment in the petition for adoption, even absent the written
consent of petitioner, sufficiently vested the lower court with
jurisdiction since abandonment of the child by his natural parents
is one of the circumstances under which our statutes and
jurisprudence dispense with the requirement of written consent to
the adoption of their minor children.
Same; Same; The issue of abandonment by the oppositor
natural parent is a preliminary issue that an adoption court must
first
130
confront.—In cases where the father opposes the adoption

primarily because his consent thereto was not sought, the matter
of whether he had abandoned his child becomes a proper issue for
determination. The issue of abandonment by the oppositor
natural parent is a preliminary issue that an adoption court must
first confront. Only upon failure of the oppositor natural father to
prove to the satisfaction of the court that he did not abandon his
child may the petition for adoption be considered on its merits.
Same; Same; Meaning of Abandonment.—In its ordinary

sense, the word “abandon” means to forsake entirely, to forsake or
renounce utterly. The dictionaries trace this word to the root idea
of “putting under a ban.” The emphasis is on the finality and
publicity with which a thing or body is thus put in the control of
another, hence, the meaning of giving up absolutely, with intent
never to resume or claim one’s rights or interests. In reference to
abandonment of a child by his parent, the act of abandonment
imports “any conduct of the parent which evinces a settled
purpose to forego all parental duties and relinquish all parental
claims to the child.” It means “neglect or refusal to perform the
natural and legal obligations of care and support which parents
owe their children.”
Same; Same; Same; Physical estrangement alone, without

financial and moral desertion, is not tantamount to abandonment.
—In the instant case, records disclose that petitioner’s conduct
did not manifest a settled purpose to forego all parental duties
and relinquish all parental claims over his children as to
constitute abandonment. Physical estrangement alone, without
financial and moral desertion, is not tantamount to
abandonment. While admittedly, petitioner was physically absent
as he was then in the United States, he was not remiss in his
natural and legal obligations of love, care and support for his
children. He maintained regular communication with his wife and
children through letters and telephone. He used to send packages
by mail and catered to their whims.
Same; Same; Parental authority cannot be entrusted to a

person simply because he could give the child a larger measure of
material comfort than his natural parent.—In a number of cases,
this Court has held that parental authority cannot be entrusted to
a person simply because he could give the child a larger measure
of material comfort than his natural parent. Thus, in David v.
Court of Appeals, the Court awarded custody of a minor
illegitimate child to his
131
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 131
mother who was a mere secretary and market vendor instead of to

his affluent father who was a married man, not solely because the
child opted to go with his mother.
Same; Same; In awarding custody, the court shall take into

account “all relevant considerations, especially the choice of the
child over seven years of age, unless the parent chosen is unfit.”—
The transfer of custody over the children to Anna Marie by virtue
of the decree of legal separation did not, of necessity, deprive
petitioner of parental authority for the purpose of placing the
children up for adoption. Article 213 of the Family Code states: “. .
. in case of legal separation of parents, parental authority shall be
exercised by the parent designated by the court.” In awarding
custody, the court shall take into account “all relevant
considerations, especially the choice of the child over seven years
of age, unless the parent chosen is unfit.”
Same; Same; Parental authority and responsibility are

inalienable and may not be transferred or renounced except in
cases authorized by law.—Parental authority and responsibility
are inalienable and may not be transferred or renounced except in
cases authorized by law. The right attached to parental authority,
being purely personal, the law allows a waiver of parental
authority only in cases of adoption, guardianship and surrender to
a children’s home or an orphan institution. When a parent
entrusts the custody of a minor to another, such as a friend or
godfather, even in a document, what is given is merely temporary
custody and it does not constitute a renunciation of parental
authority. Even if a definite renunciation is manifest, the law still
disallows the same.
Same; Divorce; A divorce obtained by Filipino citizens after

the effectivity of the Civil Code is not recognized in this jurisdiction
as it is contrary to State policy.—As regards the divorce obtained
in the United States, this Court has ruled in Tenchavez v. Escaño
that a divorce obtained by Filipino citizens after the effectivity of
the Civil Code is not recognized in this jurisdiction as it is
contrary to State policy. While petitioner is now an American
citizen, as regards Anna Marie who has apparently remained a
Filipino citizen, the divorce has no legal effect.
Remedial Law; Appeals; Although the Court is not a trier of

facts, it has the authority to review and reverse the factual
findings of
132
the lower courts if it finds that these do not conform to the evidence
on record.—As a rule, factual findings of the lower courts are final
and binding upon this Court. This Court is not expected nor
required to examine or contrast the oral and documentary
evidence submitted by the parties. However, although this Court
is not a trier of facts, it has the authority to review and reverse
the factual findings of the lower courts if it finds that these do not
conform to the evidence on record.
Same; Same; Exceptions to the rule that factual findings of the

trial court are final and conclusive and may not be reviewed on
appeal.—In Reyes v. Court of Appeals, this Court has held that
the exceptions to the rule that factual findings of the trial court
are final and conclusive and may not be reviewed on appeal are
the following: (1) when the inference made is manifestly
mistaken, absurd or impossible; (2) when there is a grave abuse of
discretion; (3) when the finding is grounded entirely on
speculations, surmises or conjectures; (4) when the judgment of
the Court of Appeals is based on misapprehension of facts; (5)
when the findings of fact are conflicting; (6) when the Court of
Appeals, in making its findings, went beyond the issues of the
case and the same is contrary to the admissions of both appellant
and appellee; (7) when the findings of the Court of Appeals are
contrary to those of the trial court; (8) when the findings of fact
are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they
are based; (9) when the Court of Appeals manifestly overlooked
certain relevant facts not disputed by the parties and which, if
properly considered, would justify a different conclusion and (10)
when the findings of fact of the Court of Appeals are premised on
the absence of evidence and are contradicted by the evidence on
record.
PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the

Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

Rosello & Fernandez Law Office for petitioner.
De Borja, Medialdea, Ata, Bello, Guevarra & Serapio
for private respondents.
133
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 133

ROMERO, J.:
Can minor children be legally adopted without the written

consent of a natural parent on the ground that the latter
has abandoned them? The answer to this interesting query,
certainly not one of first impression, would have to be
reached, not solely on the basis of law and jurisprudence,
but also the hard reality presented by the facts of the case.
This is the question posed before this Court 1 in this
petition for review on certiorari of the Decision of the
Court of Appeals affirming the decree of adoption issued2 by
the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, Branch 14, in
Special Proceedings No. 1744-CEB, “In the Matter of the
Petition for Adoption of the minors Keith, Charmaine and
Joseph Anthony, all surnamed Cang, Spouses Ronald V.
Clavano and Maria Clara Diago Clavano, petitioners.”
Petitioner Herbert Cang and Anna Marie Clavano who
were married on January 27, 1973, begot three children,
namely: Keith, born on July 3, 1973; Charmaine, born on
January 23, 1977, and Joseph Anthony, born on January 3,
1981.
During the early years of their marriage, the Cang
couple’s relationship was undisturbed. Not long thereafter,
however, Anna Marie learned of her husband’s alleged
extramarital affair with Wilma Soco, a family friend of the
Clavanos.
Upon learning of her husband’s alleged illicit liaison,
Anna Marie filed a3 petition for legal separation with
alimony pendente lite with 4the then Juvenile and Domestic5
Relations Court of Cebu which rendered a decision
approving the joint
___________
1 Penned by Associate Justice Serafin E. Camilon and concurred in by

Associate Justices Celso L. Magsino and Artemon D. Luna.
2 Presided by Judge Renato C. Dacudao.
3 Docketed as Civil Case No. JD-707.
4 Presided by Judge Maura C. Navarro.
5 Original Records, pp. 39-40.
134

manifestation of the Cang spouses providing that they

agreed to “live separately and apart or from bed and
board.” They further agreed:
“(c) That the children of the parties shall be entitled to a

monthly support of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00)
effective from the date of the filing of the complaint. This
shall constitute a first lien on the net proceeds of the
house and lot jointly owned by the parties situated at
Cinco Village, Mandaue City;
(d) That the plaintiff shall be entitled to enter into any
contract or agreement with any person or persons, natural
or juridical without the written consent of the husband; or
any undertaking or acts that ordinarily requires
husband’s consent as the parties are by this agreement
6
legally separated” ;
Petitioner then left for the United States where he sought a
divorce from Anna Marie before the Second Judicial
District Court of the State of Nevada. Said court issued the
divorce decree that also granted sole custody of the three
minor children to Anna Marie, reserving “rights of 7
visitation at all reasonable times and places” to petitioner.
Thereafter, petitioner took an American wife and thus
became a naturalized American citizen. In 1986, he
divorced his American wife and never remarried.
While in the United States, petitioner worked in
Tablante8 Medical Clinic earning P18,000.00 to P20,000.00
a month a portion of which was remitted to the Philippines
for his children’s expenses and another, deposited in the
bank in the name of his children.
Meanwhile, on September 25, 1987, private respondents
Ronald V. Clavano and Maria Clara Diago Clavano,
respectively the brother and sister-in-law of Anna Marie,
filed Special Proceedings No. 1744-CEB for the adoption of
the three minor Cang children before the Regional Trial
Court of Cebu.
__________
6 Exh. H-2.
7 Original Records, pp. 5-7.
8 RTC Decision, p. 3.
135
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 135

The petition bears the signature of then 14-year-old Keith

signifying consent to his adoption. Anna Marie likewise
filed an affidavit of consent alleging that her husband had
“evaded his legal obligation to support” his children; that
her brothers and sisters including Ronald V. Clavano, had
been helping her in taking care of the children; that
because she would be going to the United States to attend
to a family business, “leaving the children would be a
problem and would naturally hamper (her) job-seeking
venture abroad”; and that her husband had “long forfeited
his parental rights” over the children for the following
reasons:
The decision in Civil Case No. JD-707 allowed her to enter
1. into any contract without the written consent of her
husband;
2. Her husband had left the Philippines to be an illegal alien
in the United States and had been transferring from one
place to another to avoid detection by Immigration
authorities; and
3. Her husband had divorced her.
Upon learning of the petition for adoption, petitioner

immediately returned to the Philippines and filed an
opposition thereto, alleging that, although private
respondents Ronald and Maria Clara Clavano were
financially capable of supporting the children while his
finances were “too meager” compared to theirs, he could not
“in conscience, allow anybody to strip him of his parental
authority over his beloved children.”
Pending resolution of the petition for adoption,
petitioner moved to reacquire custody over his children
alleging that Anna Marie had transferred to the United
States thereby leaving custody of their children to private
respondents. On January 11, 1988, the Regional Trial
Court of Cebu City, Branch 19, issued an order finding that
Anna Marie had, in effect, relinquished custody over the
children and, therefore, such custody should be transferred
to the father. The court then directed the Clavanos to
deliver custody over the minors to petitioner.
136

On March 27, 1990, the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City,

Branch 14, issued a decree of adoption with a dispositive
portion reading as follows:
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition for adoption of

the minors Keith, Charmaine and Joseph Anthony all surnamed
Cang, by the petitioners-spouses Ronald V. Clavano and Maria
Clara Diago Clavano is hereby granted and approved. These
children shall henceforth be known and called as Keith D.
Clavano, Charmaine D. Clavano and Joseph Anthony D. Clavano
respectively. Moreover, this Decree of Adoption shall:
Confer upon the adopted children the same rights and
(1)
duties as though they were in fact the legitimate children
of the petitioners;
(2) Dissolve the authority vested in the parents by nature, of
the children; and,
(3) Vest the same authority in the petitioners.
Furnish the Local Civil Registrar of Cebu City, Philippines

with a copy of this Decree of Adoption for registration purposes.
SO ORDERED.”
In so ruling, the lower court was “impelled” by these

reasons:
(1) The Cang children had, since birth, developed “close filial
ties with the Clavano family, especially their maternal
uncle,” petitioner Ronald Clavano.
(2) Ronald and Maria Clara Clavano were childless and, with
their printing press, real estate business, export business
and gasoline station and mini-mart in Rosemead,
California, U.S.A., had substantial assets and income.
(3) The natural mother of the children, Anna Marie,
nicknamed “Menchu,” approved of the adoption because of
her heart ailment, near-fatal accident in 1981, and the
fact that she could not provide them a secure and happy
future as she “travels a lot.”
(4) The Clavanos could provide the children moral and
spiritual direction as they would go to church together and
had sent the children to Catholic schools.
(5) The children themselves manifested their desire to be
adopted by the Clavanos—Keith had testified and
expressed the
137
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 137

wish to be adopted by the Clavanos while the two

younger ones were observed by the court to have
“snuggled” close to Ronald even though their
natural mother was around.
On the other hand, the lower court considered the

opposition of petitioner to rest on “a very shaky foundation”
because of its findings that:
(1) Petitioner was “morally unfit to be the father of his

children” on account of his being “an improvident father of
his family” and an “undisguised Lothario.” This conclusion
is based on the testimony of his alleged paramour, mother
of his two sons and close friend of Anna Marie, Wilma
Soco, who said that she and petitioner lived as husband
and wife in the very house of the Cangs in Opao, Mandaue
City.
(2) The alleged deposits of around $10,000 that were of
“comparatively recent dates” were “attempts at
verisimilitude” as these were joint deposits the
authenticity of which could not be verified.
(3) Contrary to petitioner’s claim, the possibility of his
reconciliation with Anna Marie was “dim if not nil”
because it was petitioner who “devised, engineered and
executed the divorce proceedings at the Nevada Washoe
County court.”
(4) By his naturalization as a U.S. citizen, petitioner “is now
an alien from the standpoint of Philippine laws” and
therefore, how his “new attachments and loyalties would
sit with his (Filipino) children is an open question.”
Quoting with approval the evaluation and recommendation

of the RTC Social Worker in her Child Study Report, the
lower court concluded as follows:
“Simply put, the oppositor Herbert Cang has abandoned his

children. And abandonment of a child by its (sic) parent is
commonly specified by statute as a ground for dispensing with his
consent to its (sic) adoption (Re Cozza, 163 Cal. 514 P. 161, Ann.
[As. 1914A, 214]). Indeed, in such case, adoption will be allowed
not only without the consent of the parent, but even against his
opposition (Re McKeag, 141 Cal. 403, 74 P. 1039, 99 Am. St. Rep.
80; Re Camp. 131 Cal. 469, 63 P. 736, 82 Am. St. Rep. 371;
Graham v. Francis, 83 Colo. 346, 265 P. 690, citing R.C.L.;
Seibert, 170 Iowa 561, 153 N.W.
138

160, citing R.C.L.; Stearns v. Allen, 183 Mass. 404, 67 N.E. 349;
97 Am. St. Rep. 441; Wilson v. Otis, 71 N.H. 483, 53 A. 439, 93
Am. St. Rep. 564; Nugent v. Powell, 4 Wyo. 173, 33 P. 23, 20
9
L.R.A. 199, 62 Am. St. Rep. 17.)”
Before the Court of Appeals, petitioner contended that the

lower court erred in holding that it would be in the best
interest of the three children if they were adopted by
private respondents Ronald and Maria Clara Clavano. He
asserted that the petition for adoption was fatally defective
and tailored to divest him of parental authority because: (a)
he did not have a written consent to the adoption; (b) he
never abandoned his children; (c) Keith and Charmaine did
not properly give their written consent; and (d) the
petitioners for adoption did not present as witness the
representative of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development who made the case study report required by
law.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the decree of adoption
stating:
“Article 188 of the Family Code requires the written consent of

the natural parents of the child to be adopted. It has been held
however that the consent of the parent who has abandoned the
child is not necessary (Dayrit vs. Piccio, 92 Phil. 729; Santos vs.
Ananzanso, 16 SCRA 344). The question therefore is whether or
not oppositor may be considered as having abandoned the
children. In adoption cases, abandonment connotes any conduct
on the part of the parent to forego parental duties and relinquish
parental claims to the child, or the neglect or refusal to perform
the natural and legal obligations which parents owe their children
(Santos vs. Ananzanso, supra), or the withholding of the parent’s
presence, his care and the opportunity to display voluntary
affection. The issue of abandonment is amply covered by the
discussion of the first error.
Oppositor argues that he has been sending dollar remittances
to the children and has in fact even maintained bank accounts in
their names. His duty to provide support comes from two judicial
pronouncements. The first, the decision in JD-707 CEB, supra,
obliges him to pay the children P1,000.00 a month. The second is
___________
9 RTC Decision, pp. 7-8.
139
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 139
mandated by the divorce decree of the Nevada, U.S.A. Federal

Court which orders him to pay monthly support of US$50.00 for
each child. Oppositor has not submitted any evidence to show
compliance with the decision in JD-101 CEB, but he has
submitted 22 cancelled dollar checks (Exhs. 24 to 45) drawn in the
children’s names totalling $2,126.98. The last remittance was on
October 6, 1987 (Exh. 45). His obligation to provide support
commenced under the divorce decree on May 5, 1982 so that as of
October 6, 1987, oppositor should have made 53 remittances of
$150.00, or a total of $7,950.00. No other remittances were shown
to have been made after October 6, 1987, so that as of this date,
oppositor was woefully in arrears under the terms of the divorce
decree. And since he was totally in default of the judgment in JD-
707 CEB, the inevitable conclusion is oppositor had not really
been performing his duties as a father, contrary to his
protestations.
True, it has been shown that oppositor had opened three
accounts in different banks, as follows—
Acct. No. Date Balance Name of Bank

Opened
1) 118- July $5,018.50 Great Western Savings,
606437- 23,1985 Daly City, Cal., U.S.A.
4
Oct. 29,
1987
2) 73-166- March 5, 3,129.00 Matewan National Bank
8 1986 of Williamson, West
Virginia, U.S.A.
Oct. 29,
1987
3) 564- December 2,622.19 Security Pacific National
146883 31, 1986 Bank, Daly City, Cal.,
U.S.A.
Oct. 29,
1987
The first and third accounts were opened however in oppositor’s

name as trustee for Charmaine Cang and Joseph Anthony Cang,
respectively. In other words, the accounts are operated and the
amounts withdrawable by oppositor himself and it cannot be said
that they belong to the minors. The second is an ‘or’ account, in
the names of Herbert Cang or Keith Cang. Since Keith is a minor
and in the Philippines, said account is operable only by oppositor
and the funds withdrawable by him alone.
The bank accounts do not really serve what oppositor claimed
in his offer of evidence ‘the aim and purpose of providing for a
10
better future and security of his family.’ ”
____________
10 CA Decision, pp. 16-17. Penned by Justices Serafin E. Camilon, Celso

L. Magsino and Artemon D. Luna, JJ., concurring.
140

Petitioner moved to reconsider the decision of the Court of

Appeals. He emphasized that the decree of legal separation
was not based on the merits of the case as it was based on a
manifestation amounting to a compromise agreement
between him and Anna Marie. That he and his wife agreed
upon the plan for him to leave for the United States was
borne out by the fact that prior to his departure to the
United States, the family lived with petitioner’s parents.
Moreover, he alone did not instigate the divorce
proceedings as he and his wife initiated the “joint
complaint” for divorce.
Petitioner argued that the finding that he was not fit to
rear and care for his children was belied by the award to
him of custody over the children in Civil Case No. JD-707.
He took exception to the appellate court’s findings that as
an American citizen he could no longer lay claim to custody
over his children because his citizenship would not take
away the fact that he “is still a father to his children.” As
regards his alleged illicit relationship with another woman,
he had always denied the same both in Civil Case No. JD-
707 and the instant adoption case. Neither was it true that
Wilma Soco was a neighbor and family friend of the
Clavanos as she was residing in Mandaue City seven (7)
kilometers away from the Clavanos who were residents of
Cebu City. Petitioner insisted that the testimony of Wilma
Soco should not have been given weight for it was only
during the hearing of the petition for adoption that Jose
Clavano, a brother of Ronald, came to know her and went
to her residence in Iligan City to convince her to be a
witness for monetary considerations. Lastly, petitioner
averred that it would be hypocritical of the Clavanos to
claim 11that they could love the children much more than he
could.
His motion for reconsideration having been denied,
petitioner is now before this Court, alleging that the
petition for adoption was fatally defective as it did not have
his written consent as a natural father as required by
Article 31 (2) of Presidential Decree No. 603, the Child and
Youth Welfare Code, and Article 188(2) of the Family Code.
___________
11 Record of CA-G.R. CV No. 27108, pp. 46-53.
141
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 141

Article 31 of P.D. No. 603 provides—
“ART. 31. Whose Consent is Necessary.—The written consent of

the following to the adoption shall be necessary:
(1) The person to be adopted, if fourteen years of age or over;

(2) The natural parents of the child or his legal guardian of
the Department of Social Welfare or any duly licensed
child placement agency under whose care the child may
be;
(3) The natural children, fourteen years and above, of the
adopting parents.” (Italics supplied)
On December 17, 1986, then President Corazon C. Aquino

issued Executive Order No. 91 amending Articles 27, 28,
29, 31, 33 and 35 of the Child and Youth Welfare Code. As
thus amended, Article 31 read:
“ART. 31. Whose Consent is Necessary.—The written consent of

the following to the adoption shall be necessary:
(1) The person to be adopted, if fourteen years of age or over;

(2) The natural parents of the child or his legal guardian after
receiving counselling and appropriate social services from
the Ministry of Social Services and Development or from a
duly licensed child-placement agency;
The Ministry of Social Services and Development or any
(3) duly licensed child-placement agency under whose care
and legal custody the child may be;
(4) The natural children, fourteen years and above, of the
adopting parents.” (Italics supplied)
Jurisdiction being a matter of substantive law, the

established rule is that the statute in force at the time of
the commencement of the 12
action determines the
jurisdiction of the court. As such, when private
respondents filed the petition for adoption on September
25, 1987, the applicable law was
___________
12 Republic v. Court of Appeals and Bobiles, G.R. No. 92326, January

24, 1992, 205 SCRA 356, 362.
142

the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as amended by

Executive Order No. 91.
During the pendency of the petition for adoption or on
August 3, 1988, the Family Code which amended the Child
and Youth Welfare Code took effect. Article 256 of the
Family Code provides for its retroactivity “insofar as it does
not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights in
accordance with the Civil Code or other laws.” As amended
by the Family Code, the statutory provision on consent for
adoption now reads:
“Art. 188. The written consent of the following to the adoption

shall be necessary:
(1) The person to be adopted, if ten years of age or over;

(2) The parents by nature of the child, the legal guardian, or
the proper government instrumentality;
(3) The legitimate and adopted children, ten years of age or
over, of the adopting parent or parents;
(4) The illegitimate children, ten years of age or over, of the
adopting parents, if living with said parent and the
latter’s spouse, if any; and
(5) The spouse, if any, of the person adopting or to be
adopted.” (Italics supplied)
Based on the foregoing, it is thus evident that

notwithstanding the amendments to the law, the written
consent of the natural parent to the adoption has remained
a requisite for its validity. Notably, such requirement is
also embodied in Rule 99 of the Rules of Court as follows:
“SEC. 3. Consent to adoption.—There shall be filed with the

petition a written consent to the adoption signed by the child, if
fourteen years of age or over and not incompetent, and by the
child’s spouse, if any, and by each of its known living parents who
is not insane or hopelessly intemperate or has not abandoned the
child, or if there are no such parents by the general guardian or
guardian ad litem of the child, or if the child is in the custody of
an orphan asylum, children’s home, or benevolent society or
person, by the proper officer or officers of such asylum, home, or
society, or by such per-
143
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 143

sons; but if the child is illegitimate and has not been recognized,
the consent of its father to the adoption shall not be required.”
(Italics supplied)
As clearly inferred from the foregoing provisions of law, the

written consent of the natural parent is indispensable for
the validity of the decree of adoption. Nevertheless, the
requirement of written consent can13
be dispensed with if the
parent has abandoned the child or that such parent is
“insane or hopelessly intemperate.” The court may acquire
jurisdiction over the case even without the written consent
of the parents or one of the parents provided that the
petition for adoption alleges facts sufficient to warrant
exemption from compliance therewith. This is in
consonance with the liberality with which this Court treats
the procedural aspect of adoption. Thus, the Court
declared:
“x x x. The technical rules of pleading should not be stringently

applied to adoption proceedings, and it is deemed more important
that the petition should contain facts relating to the child and its
parents, which may give information to those interested, than
that it should be formally correct as a pleading. Accordingly, it is
generally held that a petition will confer jurisdiction if it
substantially complies with the adoption statute, alleging all facts
14
necessary to give the court jurisdiction.”
In the instant case, only the affidavit of consent of the

natural mother was attached to the petition for adoption.
Petitioner’s consent, as the natural father is lacking.
Nonetheless, the petition sufficiently alleged the fact of
abandonment of the minors for adoption by the natural
father as follows:
“3. That the children’s mother, sister of petitioner RONALD V.

CLAVANO, has given her express consent to this adoption, as
___________
13 AQUINO, CIVIL CODE, Vol. I, 1990 ed., p. 299 citing Santos v. Aranzanso,
123 Phil. 160, 167 (1966).
14 Republic v. Court of Appeals and Bobiles, supra, at p. 365.
144

shown by Affidavit of Consent, Annex ‘A.’ Likewise, the written

consent of Keith Cang, now 14 years of age appears on page 2 of
this petition; However, the father of the children, Herbert Cang,
had already left his wife and children and had already divorced
the former, as evidenced by the xerox copy of the DECREE OF
DIVORCE issued by the County of Washoe, State of Nevada,
U.S.A. (Annex ‘B’) which was filed at the instance of Mr. Cang,
not long after he abandoned his family to live in the United States
15
as an illegal immigrant.”
The allegations of abandonment in the petition for

adoption, even absent the written consent of petitioner,
sufficiently vested the lower court with jurisdiction since
abandonment of the child by his natural parents is one of
the circumstances
16
under which our statutes and
jurisprudence dispense with the requirement of written
consent to the adoption of their minor children.
However, in cases where the father opposes the adoption
primarily because his consent thereto was not sought, the
matter of whether he had abandoned his child becomes a
proper issue for determination. The issue of abandonment
by the oppositor natural parent is a preliminary issue that
an adoption court must first confront. Only upon failure of
the oppositor natural father to prove to the satisfaction of
the court that he did not abandon his child may the
petition for adoption be considered on its merits.
As a rule, factual findings 17of the lower courts are final
and binding upon this Court. This Court is not expected
nor required to examine or contrast the 18 oral and
documentary evidence submitted by the parties. However,
although this Court is not a trier of facts, it has the
authority to review and
____________
15 Exh. A.
16 Duncan v. CFI of Rizal, L-30576, February 10, 1976, 69 SCRA 298;
Santos v. Aranzanso, supra.
17 Del Mundo v. Court of Appeals, 322 Phil. 463, 471 (1996).
18 Imperial v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 102037, July 17, 1996, 259
SCRA 65, 71.
145
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 145

reverse the factual findings of the lower courts if 19it finds

that these do not conform to the 20
evidence on record.
In Reyes v. Court of Appeals, this Court has held that
the exceptions to the rule that factual findings of the trial
court are final and conclusive and may not be reviewed on
appeal are the following: (1) when the inference made is
manifestly mistaken, absurd or impossible; (2) when there
is a grave abuse of discretion; (3) when the finding is
grounded entirely on speculations, surmises or conjectures;
(4) when the judgment of the Court of Appeals is based on
misapprehension of facts; (5) when the findings of fact are
conflicting; (6) when the Court of Appeals, in making its
findings, went beyond the issues of the case and the same
is contrary to the admissions of both appellant and
appellee; (7) when the findings of the Court of Appeals are
contrary to those of the trial court; (8) when the findings of
fact are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on
which they are based; (9) when the Court of Appeals
manifestly overlooked certain relevant facts not disputed
by the parties and which, if properly considered, would
justify a different conclusion and (10) when the findings of
fact of the Court of Appeals are premised on the absence of
evidence and are contradicted by the evidence on record.
This Court finds that both the lower court and the Court
of Appeals failed to appreciate facts and circumstances
21
that
should have elicited a different conclusion on the issue of
whether petitioner has so abandoned his children, thereby
making his consent to the adoption unnecessary.
In its ordinary sense, the word “abandon” means to
forsake entirely, to forsake or renounce utterly. The
dictionaries trace this word to the root idea of “putting
under a ban.” The em-
___________
19 Philippine National Bank v. Court of Appeals, L-43972, July 24,

1990, 187 SCRA 735, 739 citing Ongsiako v. Intermediate Appellate Court,
G.R. No. 69901, July 31, 1987, 152 SCRA 627.
20 258 SCRA 651 [1996].
21 P.M. Pastera Brokerage v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 113657,
January 20, 1997, 266 SCRA 365, 371.
146

phasis is on the finality and publicity with which a thing or

body is thus put in the control of another, hence, the
meaning of giving up absolutely, with 22intent never to
resume or claim one’s rights or interests. In reference to
abandonment of a child by his parent, the act of
abandonment imports “any conduct of the parent which
evinces a settled purpose to forego all parental duties and
relinquish all parental claims to the child.” It means
“neglect or refusal to perform the natural and legal
obligations23
of care and support which parents owe their
children.”
In the instant case, records disclose that petitioner’s
conduct did not manifest a settled purpose to forego all
parental duties and relinquish all parental claims over his
children as to constitute abandonment. Physical
estrangement alone, without financial and24 moral
desertion, is not tantamount to abandonment. While
admittedly, petitioner was physically absent as he was
then in the United States, he was not remiss in his natural
and legal obligations of love, care and support for his
children. He maintained regular communication with his
wife and children through letters and telephone. He used to
send packages by mail and catered to their whims.
Petitioner’s testimony on the matter is supported by
documentary evidence consisting of the following
handwritten letters to him of both his wife and children:
1. Exh. 1—a 4-page undated letter of Menchu (Anna Marie)

addressed to “Dear Bert” on a C. Westates Carbon Phil.
Corp. stationery. Menchu stated therein that it had been
“a long time since the last time you’ve heard from me
excluding that of the phone conversation we’ve had.” She
discussed petitioner’s intention to buy a motorbike for
Keith, expressing apprehension over risks that could be
engendered by Keith’s use of it. She said that in the “last
phone conversation” she had with petitioner on the
birthday of “Ma,” she forgot to tell petitioner that Keith’s
voice had changed; he had be-
___________
22 De la Cruz v. De la Cruz, 130 Phil. 324 (1968).

23 Duncan v. CFI of Rizal, supra at p. 304; Santos v. Aranzanso, supra
at p. 168.
24 De la Cruz v. De la Cruz, supra.
147
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 147

come a “bagito” or a teen-ager with many “fans” who sent

him Valentine’s cards. She told him how Charmaine had
become quite a talkative “almost dalaga” who could carry
on a conversation with her angkong and how pretty she
was in white dress when she won among the candidates in
the Flores de Mayo after she had prayed so hard for it. She
informed him, however, that she was worried because
Charmaine was vain and wont to extravagance as she
loved clothes. About Joeton (Joseph Anthony), she told
petitioner that the boy was smart for his age and “quite
spoiled” being the youngest of the children in Lahug.
Joeton was mischievous but Keith was his idol with whom
he would sleep anytime. She admitted having said so
much about the children because they might not have
informed petitioner of “some happenings and spices of life”
about themselves. She said that it was “just very exciting
to know how they’ve grown up and very pleasant, too, that
each of them have (sic) different characters.” She ended
the letter with the hope that petitioner was “at the best of
health.” After extending her regards “to all,” she signed
her name after the word “Love.” This letter was mailed on
July 9, 1986 from Cebu to petitioner whose address was
P.O. Box 2445, Williamson, West Virginia 25661 (Exh. 1-
D).
2. Exh. 2—letter dated 11/13/84 on a green stationery with
golden print of “a note from Menchu” on the left upper
corner. Anna Marie stated that “we” wrote to petitioner on
Oct. 2, 1984 and that Keith and Joeton were very excited
when petitioner “called up last time.” She told him how
Joeton would grab the phone from Keith just so petitioner
would know what he wanted to order. Charmaine, who
was asleep, was so disappointed that she missed
petitioner’s call because she also wanted something that
petitioner should buy. Menchu told petitioner that
Charmaine wanted a pencil sharpener, light-colored T-
shirts for her walking shorts and a (k)nap sack. Anna
Marie informed petitioner that the kids were growing up
and so were their needs. She told petitioner to be “very
fatherly” about the children’s needs because those were
expensive here. For herself, Anna Marie asked for a
subscription of Glamour and Vogue magazines and that
whatever expenses he would incur, she would “replace”
these. As a postcript, she told petitioner that Keith wanted
a size 6 khaki-colored “Sperry topsider shoes.”
3. Exh. 3—an undated note on a yellow small piece of paper
that reads:
148

“Dear Herbert,
Hi, how was Christmas and New Year? Hope you
had a wonderful one.
By the way thanks for the shoes, it was a nice one.
It’s nice to be thought of at X’mas. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Menchu”
4. Exh. 4—a two-page undated letter of Keith on stationery

of Jose Clavano, Inc. addressed to “Dear Dad.” Keith told
his father that they tried to tell their mother “to stay for a
little while, just a few weeks after classes start(s)” on June
16. He informed petitioner that Joeton would be in Kinder
I and that, about the motorbike, he had told his mother to
write petitioner about it and “we’ll see what you’re (sic)
decision will be.” He asked for chocolates, nuts, basketball
shirt and shorts, rubber shoes, socks, headband, some
clothes for outing and perfume. He told petitioner that
they had been going to Lahug with their mother picking
them up after Angkong or Ama had prepared lunch or
dinner. From her aerobics, his mother would go for them
in Lahug at about 9:30 or 10:00 o’clock in the evening. He
wished his father “luck and the best of health” and that
they prayed for him and their other relatives. The letter
was ended with “Love Keith.”
5. Exh. 5—another undated long letter of Keith. He thanked
his father for the Christmas card “with $40.00, $30.00 and
$30.00” and the “card of Joeton with $5.00 inside.” He told
petitioner the amounts following his father’s instructions
and promise to send money through the mail. He asked
his father to address his letter directly to him because he
wanted to open his own letters. He informed petitioner of
activities during the Christmas season—that they enjoyed
eating, playing and giving surprises to their mother. He
apprised him of his daily schedule and that their mother
had been closely supervising them, instructing them to
fold their blankets and pile up their pillows. He informed
petitioner that Joeton had become very smart while
Charmaine, who was also smart, was very demanding of
their mother. Because their mother was leaving for the
United States on February 5, they would be missing her
like they were missing petitioner. He asked for his
“things” and $200.00. He told petitioner more anecdotes
about Joeton like he would make the sign of the cross even
when they would pass by the Iglesia ni Cristo church and
his insistence that Aquino was not dead because
149
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 149

he had seen him on the betamax machine. For Keith,

Charmaine had become “very maldita” who was not
always satisfied with her dolls and things but Joeton was
full of surprises. He ended the letter with “Love your son,
Keith.” The letter was mailed on February 6, 1985 (Exh. 5-
D).
6. Exh. 6—an undated letter of Charmaine. She thanked
petitioner for the bathing suit, key chain, pencil box,
socks, half shirt, pencil sharpener and $50.00. She
reminded him of her birthday on January 23 when she
would turn 9 years old. She informed him that she wore
size 10 and the size of her feet was IM. They had fun at
Christmas in Lahug but classes would start on January 9
although Keith’s classes had started on January 6. They
would feel sad again because Mommy would be leaving
soon. She hoped petitioner would keep writing them. She
signed, “Love, Charmaine.”
7. Exh. 7—an undated letter of Keith. He explained to
petitioner that they had not been remiss in writing letters
to him. He informed him of their trip to Manila—they
went to Malacañang, Tito Doy Laurel’s house, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the executive house, Tagaytay
for three days and Baguio for one week. He informed him
that he got “honors,” Charmaine was 7th in her class and
Joeton had excellent grades. Joeton would be enrolled in
Sacred Heart soon and he was glad they would be together
in that school. He asked for his “reward” from petitioner
and so with Charmaine and Joeton. He asked for a
motorbike and dollars that he could save. He told
petitioner that he was saving the money he had been
sending them. He said he missed petitioner and wished
him the best. He added that petitioner should call them on
Sundays.
8. Exh. 8—a letter from Joeton and Charmaine but
apparently written by the latter. She asked for money
from petitioner to buy something for the school and
“something else.” She promised not to spend so much and
to save some. She said she loved petitioner and missed
him. Joeton said “hi!” to petitioner. After ending the letter
with “Love, Joeton and Charmaine,” she asked for her
prize for her grades as she got seventh place.
9. Exh. 9—undated letter of Keith. He assured petitioner
that he had been writing him; that he would like to have
some money but he would save them; that he learned that
petitioner had called them up but he was not around; that
he would be going to Manila but would be back home May
3; that his Mommy had just arrived Thursday afternoon,
and that he would be the “official altar boy.” He asked
petitioner to write them soon.
150

10. Exh. 10—Keith thanked petitioner for the money he sent.

He told petitioner that he was saving some in the bank
and he was proud because he was the only one in his
group who saved in the bank. He told him that Joeton had
become naughty and would claim as his own the shirts
sent to Keith by petitioner. He advised petitioner to send
pants and shirts to Joeton, too, and asked for a pair of
topsider shoes and candies. He informed petitioner that he
was a member of the basketball team and that his mom
would drive for his group. He asked him to call them often
like the father of Ana Christie and to write them when he
would call so that they could wait for it. He informed
petitioner that they had all grown bigger and heavier. He
hoped petitioner would be happy with the letter that had
taken him so long to write because he did not want to
commit any mistakes. He asked petitioner to buy him
perfume (Drakkar) and, after thanking petitioner, added
that the latter should buy something for Mommy.
11. Exh. 11—a Christmas card “For My Wonderful Father”
dated October 8, 1984 from Keith, Charmaine and Joeton.
12. Exh. 12—another Christmas card, “Our Wish For You”
with the year ‘83 written on the upper right hand corner of
the inside page, from Keith, Charmaine and Joeton.
13. Exh. 13—a letter of Keith telling petitioner that he had
written him even when their Mom “was there” where she
bought them clothes and shoes. Keith asked petitioner for
$300.00. Because his mother would not agree to buy him a
motorbike, he wanted a Karaoke unit that would cost
P12,000.00. He informed petitioner that he would go to an
afternoon disco with friends but their grades were all good
with Joeton receiving “stars” for excellence. Keith wanted
a bow and arrow, Rambo toys and G.I. Joe. He expressed
his desire that petitioner would come and visit them
someday.
14. Exh. 14—a letter of Keith with one of the four pages
bearing the date January 1986. Keith told his father that
they had received the package that the latter sent them.
The clothes he sent, however, fitted only Keith but not
Charmaine and Joeton who had both grown bigger. Keith
asked for grocery items, toys and more clothes. He asked,
in behalf of his mother, for low-heeled shoes and a dress to
match, jogging pants, tights and leotards that would make
her look sexy. He intimated to petitioner that he had
grown taller and that he was already ashamed to be
asking for things to buy in the grocery even though his
mother had told him not to be shy about it.
151
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 151

Aside from these letters, petitioner also presented

certifications of banks in the U.S.A. showing that even
prior to the filing of the petition for adoption, 25
he had
deposited amounts for the benefit of his children. Exhibits
24 to 45 are copies of checks sent by petitioner to the
children from 1985 to 1989.
These pieces of evidence are all on record. It is,
therefore, quite surprising why the courts below simply
glossed over these, ignoring not only evidence on financial
support but also the emotional exchange of sentiments
between petitioner and his family. Instead, the courts
below emphasized the meagerness of the amounts he sent
to his children and the fact that, as regards the bank
deposits, these were “withdrawable by him alone.” Simply
put, the courts below attached a high premium to the
prospective adopters’ financial status but totally brushed
aside the possible repercussion of the adoption on the
emotional and psychological well-being of the children.
True, Keith had expressed his desire to be adopted by
his uncle and aunt. However, his seeming steadfastness on
the matter as shown by his testimony is contradicted by his
feelings towards his father as revealed in his letters to him.
It is not at all farfetched to conclude that Keith’s testimony
was actually the effect of the filing of the petition for
adoption that would certainly have engendered confusion
in his young mind as to the capability of his father to
sustain the lifestyle he had been used to.
The courts below emphasized respondents’ emotional
attachment to the children. This is hardly surprising for,
from the very start of their young lives, the children were
used to their presence. Such attachment had persisted and
certainly, the young ones’ act of snuggling close to private
respondent Ronald Clavano was not indicative of their
emotional detachment from their father. Private
respondents, being the uncle and aunt of the children,
could not but come to their succor when they needed help
as when Keith got sick and private respondent Ronald
spent for his hospital bills.
__________
25 Exhs. 15 to 17.
152

In a number of cases, this Court has held that parental

authority cannot be entrusted to a person simply because
he could give the child a larger measure of material comfort
than his26 natural parent. Thus, in David v. Court of
Appeals, the Court awarded custody of a minor
illegitimate child to his mother who was a mere secretary
and market vendor instead of to his affluent father who
was a married man, not solely because the child opted to go
with his mother. The Court said:
“Daisie and her children may not be enjoying a life of affluence

that private respondent promises if the child lives with him. It is
enough, however, that petitioner is earning a decent living and is
able to support her children according to her means.”
27
In Celis v. Cafuir where the Court was confronted with
the issue of whether to award custody of a child to the
natural mother or to a foster mother, this Court said:
“This court should avert the tragedy in the years to come of

having deprived mother and son of the beautiful associations and
tender, imperishable memories engendered by the relationship of
parent and child. We should not take away from a mother the
opportunity of bringing up her own child even at the cost of
extreme sacrifice due to poverty and lack of means; so that
afterwards, she may be able to look back with pride and a sense of
satisfaction at her sacrifices and her efforts, however humble, to
make her dreams of her little boy come true. We should not forget
that the relationship between a foster mother and a child is not
natural but artificial. If the child turns out to be a failure or
forgetful of what its foster parents had done for him, said parents
might yet count and appraise (sic) all that they have done and
spent for him and with regret consider all of it as a dead loss, and
even rue the day they committed the blunder of taking the child
into their hearts and their home. Not so with a real natural
mother who never counts the cost and her sacrifices, ever
treasuring memories of her associations with her child, however
unpleasant and disappointing. Flesh and blood count. x x x.”
____________
26 250 SCRA 82 [1995].

27 86 Phil. 554, 559-560 (1950).
153
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 153

28
In Espiritu v. Court of Appeals, the Court stated that “(I)n
ascertaining the welfare and best interests of the child,
courts are mandated by the Family Code to take into
account all relevant considerations.” Thus, in awarding
custody of the child to the father, the Court said:
“A scrutiny of the pleadings in this case indicates that Teresita, or

at least, her counsel are more intent on emphasizing the ‘torture
and agony’ of a mother separated from her children and the
humiliation she suffered as a result of her character being made a
key issue in court rather than the feelings and future, the best
interests and welfare of her children. While the bonds between a
mother and her small child are special in nature, either parent,
whether father or mother, is bound to suffer agony and pain if
deprived of custody. One cannot say that his or her suffering is
greater than that of the other parent. It is not so much the
suffering, pride, and other feelings of either parent but the
welfare of the child which is the paramount consideration.”
29
(Italics supplied)
Indeed, it would be against the spirit of the law if financial

consideration were to be the paramount consideration in
deciding whether to deprive a person of parental authority
over his children. There should be a holistic approach to
the matter, taking into account the physical, emotional,
psychological,
30
mental, social and spiritual needs of the
child. The conclusion of the courts below that petitioner
abandoned his family needs more evidentiary support other
than his inability to provide them the material comfort that
his admittedly affluent in-laws could provide. There should
be proof that he had so emotionally abandoned them that
his children would not miss his guidance and counsel if
they were given to adopting parents. The letters he
received from his children prove that petitioner maintained
the more important emotional tie between him and his
children. The children needed him not only because he
could cater to their whims but also because he was
____________
28 312 Phil. 431 (1995).

29 Ibid., at p. 439.
30 See: Perez v. Court of Appeals, 325 Phil. 1014, 1020 (1996).
154

a person they could share with their daily activities,

problems and triumphs.
The Court is thus dismayed that the courts below did
not look beyond petitioner’s “meager” financial support to
ferret out other indications on whether petitioner had in
fact abandoned his family. The omission of said courts has
led us to examine why the children were subjected to the
process of adoption, notwithstanding the proven ties that
bound them to their father. To our consternation, the
record of the case bears out the fact that the welfare of the
children was not exactly the “paramount consideration”
that impelled Anna Marie to consent to their adoption.
In her affidavit of consent, Anna Marie expressly said
that leaving the children in the country, as she was wont to
travel abroad often, was a problem that would naturally
hamper her job-seeking abroad. In other words, the
adoption appears to be a matter of convenience for her
because Anna Marie herself 31
is financially capable of
supporting her children. In his testimony, private
respondent Ronald swore that Anna Marie had been out of
the country
32
for two years and came home twice or three
times, thereby manifesting the fact that it was she who
actually left her children to the care of her relatives. It was
bad enough that their father left their children when he
went abroad, but when their mother followed suit for her
own reasons, the situation worsened. The Clavano family
must have realized this. Hence, when the family first
discussed the adoption of the children, they decided that
the prospective adopter should be Anna Marie’s brother
Jose. However, because he had children of his own, the
family decided33
to devolve the task upon private
respondents.
This couple, however, could not always be in Cebu to
care for the children. A businessman, private respondent
Ronald Clavano commutes between Cebu and Manila while
his wife,
__________
31 TSN, November 17, 1987, p. 38.

32 Ibid., p. 22.
33 RTC Decision, pp. 1-2.
155
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 155

private respondent
34
Maria Clara, is an international flight
stewardess. Moreover, private respondent Ronald claimed
that he could
35
“take care of the children while their parents
are away,” thereby indicating the evanescence of his
intention. He wanted to have the children’s surname
changed to Clavano for the reason that he wanted to take
them to the United States as it would be difficult for them
36
to get a visa if their surname were different from his. To
be sure, he also testified that he wanted to spare the
children the stigma of being products of a broken home.
Nevertheless, a close analysis of the testimonies of
private respondent Ronald, his sister Anna Marie and their
brother Jose points to the inescapable conclusion that they
just wanted to keep the children away from their father.
One of the overriding considerations for the adoption was
allegedly the state of Anna Marie’s health—she was a
victim of an almost fatal accident and suffers from a heart
ailment. However, she herself admitted that her health
condition was37not that serious as she could still take care of
the children. An eloquent evidence of her ability to
physically care for them was her38 employment at the
Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles —she could not have
been employed if her health were endangered. It is thus
clear that the Clavanos’ attempt at depriving petitioner of
parental authority apparently stemmed from their notion
that he was an inveterate womanizer. Anna Marie in fact
expressed fear that her children
39
would “never be at ease
with the wife of their father.”
Petitioner, who described himself as single in status,
denied
40
being a womanizer and father to the sons of Wilma
Soco. As to whether he was telling the truth is beside the
_________
34 TSN, February 3, 1988, p. 13.

35 TSN, November 17, 1987, p. 24.
36 Ibid., pp. 28-29.
37 TSN, January 12, 1988, p. 10.
38 Ibid.
39 Ibid., p. 6.
40 TSN, December 8, 1987, p. 12.
156

point. Philippine society, being comparatively conservative

and traditional, aside from being Catholic in orientation, it
does not countenance womanizing on the part of a family
man, considering the baneful effects such irresponsible act
visits on his family. Neither may the Court place a
premium on the inability of a man to distinguish between
siring children and parenting them. Nonetheless, the
actuality that petitioner carried on an affair with a
paramour cannot be taken as sufficient basis for the 41
conclusion that petitioner was necessarily an unfit father.
Conventional wisdom and common human experience show
that a “bad” husband does not necessarily make a “bad”
father. That a husband is not exactly an upright man is
not, strictly speaking, a sufficient ground to deprive him as
a father of
42
his inherent right to parental authority over the
children. Petitioner has demonstrated his love and
concern for his children
43
when he took the trouble of
sending a telegram to the lower court expressing his
intention to oppose the adoption immediately after learning
about it. He traveled back to this country to attend to the
case and to testify about his love for his children and his 44
desire to unite his family once more in the United States.
Private respondents themselves explained why
petitioner failed to abide by the agreement with his wife on
the support of the children. Petitioner was an illegal alien
in the United States. As such, he could not have procured
gainful employment. Private respondents failed to refute
petitioner’s testimony that he did not 45
receive his share
from the sale of the conjugal home, pursuant to their
manifestation/compromise agreement in the legal
separation case. Hence, it can be reasonably presumed that
the proceeds of the sale redounded to the benefit of his
family, particularly his children. The proceeds may not
have lasted long but there is ample evidence to
___________
41 Silva v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 114742, July 17, 1997.

42 Chua v. Cabangbang, 137 Phil. 204 (1969).
43 Exh. 18.
44 TSN, December 8, 1987, pp. 47-48; February 11, 1988, p. 6.
45 TSN, December 8, 1987, p. 20.
157
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 157

show that thereafter, petitioner tried to abide by his

agreement with his wife and sent his family money, no
matter how “meager.”
The liberality with which this Court treats matters
leading to adoption insofar as it carries out the beneficent
purposes of the law to ensure the rights and privileges of
the adopted child arising therefrom, ever mindful that the
paramount consideration is the overall benefit and interest
of the adopted child, should be understood in its proper
context and perspective. The Court’s position should not be
misconstrued or misinterpreted as to extend to inferences 46
beyond the contemplation of law and jurisprudence. The
discretion to approve adoption proceedings is not to be
anchored solely on best interests of the child but likewise,
with due 47regard to the natural rights of the parents over
the child.
In this regard, this Court notes private respondents’
reliance on the manifestation/compromise agreement
between petitioner and Anna Marie which became the
basis of the decree of 48legal separation. According to private
respondents’ counsel, the authority given to Anna Marie
by that decree to enter into contracts
49
as a result of the legal
separation was “all embracing” and, therefore, included
giving her sole consent to the adoption. This conclusion is
however, anchored on the wrong premise that the authority
given to the innocent spouse to enter into contracts that
obviously refer to their conjugal properties, shall include
entering into agreements leading to the adoption of the
children. Such conclusion is as devoid of a legal basis as
private respondents’ apparent reliance on the decree of
legal separation for doing away with petitioner’s consent to
the adoption.
The transfer of custody over the children to Anna Marie
by virtue of the decree of legal separation did not, of
necessity,
___________
46 Republic v. Hernandez, 323 Phil. 606 (1996).

47 Republic v. Court of Appeals and Bobiles, supra.
48 Atty. Ricardo Padilla.
49 TSN, November 17, 1987, p. 37.
158

deprive petitioner of parental authority for the purpose of

placing the children up for adoption. Article 213 of the
Family Code states: “. . . in case of legal separation of
parents, parental authority shall be exercised by the parent
designated by the court.” In awarding custody, the court
shall take into account “all relevant considerations,
especially the choice of the child over seven years of age,
unless the parent chosen is unfit.”
It should be noted, however, that the law only confers on
the innocent spouse the “exercise” of parental authority.
Having custody of the child, the innocent spouse shall
implement the sum of parental rights with respect to his
rearing and care. The innocent spouse shall have the right
to the child’s services and earnings, and the right to direct
his activities and make decisions regarding
50
his care and
control, education, health and religion.
In a number of cases, this Court has considered parental
authority, the joint
51
exercise of which is vested by the law
upon the parents, as
“x x x a mass of rights and obligations which the law grants to

parents for the purpose of the children’s physical preservation and
development, as well as the cultivation of their intellect and the
education of their hearts and senses. As regards parental
authority, ‘there is no power, but a task; no complex of rights, but
a sum of duties; no sovereignty but a sacred trust for the welfare
of the minor.’
Parental authority and responsibility are inalienable and may
not be transferred or renounced except in cases authorized by law.
The right attached to parental authority, being purely personal,
the law allows a waiver of parental authority only in cases of
adoption, guardianship and surrender to a children’s home or an
orphan institution. When a parent entrusts the custody of a minor
to another, such as a friend or godfather, even in a document,
what is given is
__________
50 Dissenting Opinion of Justice Felix V. Makasiar in Luna v. Intermediate

Appellate Court, (G.R. No. 68374, June 18, 1985, 137 SCRA 7) citing 59 Am. Jur.
2d 107.
51 Art. 211, Family Code.
159
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 159
merely temporary custody and it does not constitute a

renunciation of parental authority. Even if a definite renunciation
is manifest, the law still disallows the same.
The father and mother, being the natural guardians of
unemancipated children, are duty-bound and entitled to keep
52
them in their custody and company.” (Italics supplied)
As such, in instant case, petitioner may not be deemed as

having been completely deprived of parental authority,
notwithstanding the award of custody to Anna Marie in the
legal separation case. To reiterate, that award was arrived
at by the lower court on the basis of the agreement of the
spouses.
While parental authority may 53 be waived, as in law it
may be subject to a compromise, there was no factual
finding in the legal separation case that petitioner was
such an irresponsible person that he should be deprived of
custody of his children or that there are grounds under the
law that could deprive him of parental authority. In fact, in
the legal separation case, the court thereafter ordered the
transfer of custody over the children from Anna Marie back
to petitioner. The order was not implemented because of
Anna Marie’s motion for reconsideration thereon. The
Clavano family also vehemently objected to the transfer of
custody to the petitioner, such that the
54
latter was forced to
file a contempt charge against them.
The law is clear that either parent may lose parental
authority over the child only for a valid reason. No such
reason was established in the legal separation case. In the
instant case for adoption, the issue is whether or not
petitioner had abandoned his children as to warrant
dispensation of his consent to their adoption. Deprivation
of parental authority is
__________
52 Sagala-Eslao v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 116773, January 16, 1997,

266 SCRA 317, 322-323 citing Santos, Sr. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No.
113054, March 16, 1995, 242 SCRA 407.
53 TOLENTINO, CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Vol. V, 1992
ed., p. 491 citing 4 Salvat 383.
54 TSN, February 11, 1988, pp. 9-12.
160

55
one of the effects of a decree of adoption. But there cannot
be a valid decree of adoption in this case precisely because,
as this Court has demonstrated earlier, the finding of the
courts below on the issue of petitioner’s abandonment of his
family was based on a misappreciation that was
tantamount to non-appreciation, of facts on record.
As regards the divorce obtained in the United 56
States,
this Court has ruled in Tenchavez v. Escaño that a
divorce obtained by Filipino citizens after the effectivity of
the Civil Code is not recognized in this jurisdiction as it is
contrary to State policy. While petitioner is now an
American citizen, as regards Anna Marie who has
apparently remained a Filipino citizen, the divorce has no
legal effect.
Parental authority is a constitutionally protected State
policy borne out of established customs and 57
tradition of our
people. Thus, in Silva v. Court of Appeals, a case involving
the visitorial rights of an illegitimate parent over his child,
the Court expressed the opinion that:
“Parents have the natural right, as well as the moral and legal
duty, to care for their children, see to their upbringing and
safeguard their best interest and welfare. This authority and
responsibility may not be unduly denied the parents; neither may
it be renounced by them. Even when the parents are estranged
and their affection for each other is lost, the attachment and
feeling for their offsprings invariably remain unchanged. Neither
the law nor the courts allow this affinity to suffer absent, of
course, any real, grave and imminent threat to the well-being of
the child.”
Since the incorporation of the law concerning adoption in

the Civil Code, there has been a pronounced trend to place
emphasis in adoption proceedings, not so much on the need
of childless couples for a child, as on the paramount
interest of a child who needs the love and care of parents.
After the pas-
___________
55 Cervantes v. Fajardo, G.R. No. 79955, January 27, 1989, 169 SCRA
575, 579.
56 122 Phil. 752 (1965).
57 Supra.
161
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 161

sage of the Child and Youth Welfare Code and the Family
Code, the discernible trend has impelled the enactment58
of
Republic Act No. 8043 on Intercountry Adoption and
Republic Act No. 8552 establishing59 the rules on the
domestic adoption of Filipino children.
The case at bar applies the relevant provisions of these
recent laws, such as the following policies in the “Domestic
Adoption Act of 1998”:
(a) To ensure that every child remains under the care and
custody of his/her parent(s) and be provided with love,
care, understanding and security towards the full and
60
harmonious development of his/her personality.
(b) In all matters relating to the care, custody and adoption of
a child, his/her interest shall be the paramount
consideration in accordance with the tenets set forth in
the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the
61
Child.
(c) To prevent the child from unnecessary separation from
62
his/her biological parent(s).
Inasmuch as the Philippines is a signatory to the United

Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the
government and its officials are duty bound to comply with
its mandates. Of particular relevance to instant case are
the following provisions:
“States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties

of parents . . . to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving
capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance
___________
58 The law was approved on June 7, 1995.

59 The law was approved on February 25, 1998.
60 Art. 1, Sec. 2(a), R.A. No. 8552.
61 Art. 1, Sec. 2(b), Ibid.; adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Nations on November 20, 1989 and ratified by the Philippines in July 1990 by
virtue of Senate Resolution No. 109.
62 Art. 1, Sec. 2(c), ii, Ibid.
162

in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present

63
Convention.”
“States Parties shall respect the right of the child who is
separated from one or both parents to maintain personal relations
and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis, except if
64
it is contrary to the child’s best interests.”
“A child whose parents reside in different States shall have the
right to maintain on a regular basis, save in exceptional
circumstances personal relations and direct contacts with both
65
parents . . .”
“States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the
parents . . . to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his
or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of
66
the child.”
Underlying the policies and precepts in international

conventions and the domestic statutes with respect to
children is the overriding principle that all actuations
should be in the best interests of the child. This is not,
however, to be implemented in derogation of the primary
right of the parent or parents to exercise parental authority
over him. The rights of parents vis-à-vis that of their
children are not antithetical to each other, as in fact, they
must be respected and harmonized to the fullest extent
possible.
Keith, Charmaine and Joseph Anthony have all grown
up. Keith and Charmaine are now of legal age while Joseph
Anthony is approaching eighteen, the age of majority. For
sure, they shall be endowed with the discretion to lead lives
independent of their parents. This is not to state that this
case has been rendered moot and academic, for their
welfare and best interests regarding their adoption, must
be determined
67
as of the time that the petition for adoption
was filed. Said peti-
__________
63 Art. 5, Convention on the Rights of the Child.

64 Art. 9, parag. 3, ibid.
65 Art. 10, parag. 2, Ibid.
66 Art. 14, parag. 2, Ibid.
67 See: Espiritu v. Court of Appeals, supra at p. 441.
163
VOL. 296, SEPTEMBER 25, 1998 163

People vs. Leachon, Jr.
tion must be denied as it was filed without the required

consent of their father who, by law and under the facts of
the case at bar, has not abandoned them.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition for review on
certiorari is hereby GRANTED. The questioned Decision
and Resolution of the Court of Appeals, as well as the
decision of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu, are SET
ASIDE thereby denying the petition for adoption of Keith,
Charmaine and Joseph Anthony, all surnamed Cang, by
the spouse respondents Ronald and Maria Clara Clavano.
This Decision is immediately executory.
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa (C.J., Chairman), Kapunan and Purisima,

JJ., concur.
Petition granted, judgment and resolution set aside.
——o0o——
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128 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED