Ma. Vs. Fernandez Jr. G.R. No.

183133 July 26,2010

Facts: Petitioners are the sons and daughters of a Filipino mother and a father who is a Taiwanese. Said petitioners are governed by the 1935 Constitution as to their citizenship. Commonwealth Act No. 625 provides for the procedure as to hoe the petitioners comply with the statutory formalities of electing Philippine citizenship. The first two requirements where complies except for the third which is the registration of their election of Philippine citizenship to the nearest civil registry.

Issue: What is the importance and effects of registration?

Held: This court cited a comparable jurisprudence in a contract of partnership, the purpose of registration is to give notice to third parties. Failure to register the contract does not affect the liability of partnership and of the partners of third persons. Neither does such failure affect the partnerships juridical personality. Unregistered contract of partnership is valid among the partners so long as it has the essential requisites. Registration is not a requirement for the validity of the contract, by analogy in the case at bar. Registration is only a means of confirming the fact that the citizenship had been claimed and serves as a notice to the whole world, the court stressed that we even allow late registration of the fact of birth and marriages. Wherefore, the petitioner is given 90 days from notice to comply with the requirements. Decision of the Court of Appeals is set aside.