ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF LAW
Conflict of Laws
Syllabus
Aris L. Gulapa
3-D
Second Semester 2013-2014

Grading:
Recitation and quizzes
Fishbowl sessions
Midterms
Finals

30%
10%
20%
40%

Rules:
1. Fishbowl sessions. At the start of the semester, the professor will ask the
students to memorize the main legal provisions that form part of Philippine
Conflict of Laws rules in preparation for the scheduled fishbowl session(s).
During such session(s), the professor will call each student to recite a
provision that the latter will randomly pick from a fishbowl.
2. No materials allowed in class.
No books and photocopy of cases,
reviewers and notes, except for each students own handwritten notes in
relation to the assigned readings, will be allowed in class. Any student
violating this rule will be given a 70 as his recitation grade for the relevant
session.
I.

First Fishbowl Session

Assignment:
CONSTITUTION, arts. IV(1)-(5)
CIVIL CODE, arts. 14, 15, 16, 17, 815, 816, 818, 819, 829, 1039, 1319, and 1753
CORPORATION CODE, secs. 123, 129, and 133
FAMILY CODE, arts. 10, 21, 26, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 80
REVISED PENAL CODE, art. 2.
Rules of Court, Rule 4, sec. 2; Rule 8, sec. 6; Rule 11, sec. 2; Rule 14, sec. 12, 14,
15 & 16; Rule 23, secs. 11 & 12; Rule 39, sec. 48; Rule 73, sec. 1; Rule 77, sec. 1;
Rule 92, sec. 1; Rule 131, sec. 3(n); Rule 132, secs. 19(a) & 24.

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II.

Introduction to Conflict of Laws/Private International Law

Nature, Definition and Scope

Subject
Elements of a Conflict of Laws Question
Importance and Function
Distinguished from Domestic Law
Distinguished from Public International Law
Assignment:
JOVITO R. SALONGA, PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW 1-11 (1995)
III.

Historical Development and Sources

History
Sources of Private International Law
Assignment:
SALONGA, at 15-44
IV.

Jurisdiction and Choice of Law

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 44-66
CASE LAW
Choice of Forum
Sweet Lines, Inc. v. Teves, et al., G.R. No. L-37750 (19 May 1978)
HSBC v. Jack Robert Sherman, et al., G.R. No. 72494 (11 August 1989)
Choice of Law
Bellis v. Bellis, G.R. No. L-23678 (6 June 1967)
Tayag Renato vs. Benguet Consolidated, Inc., G.R. No. 23145 (29 November 1968)
Pakistan International Airlines vs. Ople, 190 SCRA 1990, G.R. No. 61594 (28
September 1990)
Zalamea vs. Court of Appeals and Transworld Airlines, Inc., G.R. No. 104235 (18
November 1993)
Cadalin vs. POEA Administrator, supra
United Airlines Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124110 (20 April 2001)
Asiavest Merchant Bankers vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 110263 (20 July 2001)
Garcia vs. Recio, G.R. No. 138322 (2 October 2001)
Corpuz v. Sto. Tomas, G.R. No. 186751 (11 August 2010)
Raytheon International v. Rouzie, G.R. No. 162894 (26 February 2008)
Minimum Contact
HSBC v. Sherman, G.R. No. 72494 (11 August 1989)
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA, G.R. No. 122191 (8 October 1998)
Hasegawa v. Kitamura, G.R. No. 149177 (23 November 2007)
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Jurisdiction over the Person

International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310 (1945)
Perkins v. Benguet Consolidated Mining Co, 342 U.S. 437, 72 S. Ct. 413 96 (1952)
World-Wide Volkswagen Corp vs. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286 (1980)
Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783 (1984)
Philsec Investment et al v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 103493 (June 19, 1997)
Pantaleon v. Asuncion, 1105 Phil. 761 (1959)
Santos v. PNOC, G.R. No. 170943 (23 September 2008).
Jurisdiction over the Res
El Banco-Espanol-Filipino v. Palanca, 37 Phil. 921 (1918)
Perkins v. Dizon, 69 Phil. 186 (1939)
Travelers Health Assn. vs. Virginia, 339 U.S. 643 (1950)
Act of State Doctrine
French vs. Banco National de Cuba, 295 NY 2d, 422-423 (1968)
In Re: Philippine National Bank v. United States District Court for the District of
Hawaii, No. 04-71843, D.C. No. MDL-00840-MLR
Republic v. Marcos, 862 F.2d 1355, 1361 (9th Cir. 1988) (en banc), cert. denied, 490
U.S. 1035, 109 S.Ct. 1933, 104 L.Ed.2d 404 (1989)
Assumption of jurisdiction v. forum non-conveniens
Gulf Oil Corporation vs. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501 (1947)
K.K. Shell Sekiyu Osaka Hatsubaisho and Fu Hing Oil Co., Ltd. v. Court of Appeals,
G.R. Nos. 90306-07 (30 July 1990)
Communications Materials and Design v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 102223 (22
August 1996)
First Philippine International Bank v. Court of Appeals, 322 Phil. 280 (1996)
Manila Hotel Corp v. NLRC, G.R. No. 120077 (13 October 2000)
Pacific Consultants v. Schonfeld, G.R. No. 166920 (19 February 2007)
Which/what law the assuming court will apply
Aznar v. Christensen-Garcia, G.R. No. L-16749 (31 January 1963)
Bellis v. Bellis, supra
Cadalin vs. POEA Administrator, 238 SCRA 721, 774-775 (1994)
V.

Foreign Law

Application of Foreign Law and Choice of Law Theories

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 67-95
Ascertainment and Proof of Foreign Law; Doctrine of Processual Presumption
Assignment:
SALONGA, at 96-109
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CASE LAW
Sy Joc Lieng v. Sy Quia, 16 Phil 137 (1910)
In re Estate of Johnson, 39 Phil. 156 (1918)
Fluemer v. Hix, 54 Phil. 610 (1930)
Williamette v. Muzzal, 61 Phil. 471 (1935)
CIR v. Fisher, G.R. Nos. L-11622 (28 January 1961)
Pardo v. Republic, 85 Phil. 323 (1950)
Philippine Commecial and Industrial Bank v. Escolin, 56 SCRA 266 (1974)
Zalamea vs. Court of Appeals and Transworld Airlines, supra
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. v. Guerrero, G.R. No. 136804 (19 February 2003)
Crescent Problem v. M/V Lok Maheshwari, G.R. No. 155014 (11 November 2005)
EDI-Staff Builders International Inc. v. NLRC, G.R. No. 145587 (26 October 2007)
Exceptions to the Application of Foreign Law
Assignment:
SALONGA, at 110-134
CASE LAW
Dacanay v. Florendo, R.R. No. L-2071 (19 September 1950)
Yao Kee, et al. v. Sy-Gonzales, G.R. No. L-55960 (24 November 1988)
Bank of America v. American Realty Corporation, G.R. No. 133876 (29 December
1999)
VI.

Nature of Conflicts Rules, the Problem of Characterization, and Renvoi

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 135-152; 217-237
CASE LAW
In the Matter of the Testate Estate of Edward E. Christensen, G.R. No. L-16749 (31
January 1963)
Aznar v. Christensen-Garcia, supra
Bellis v. Bellis, supra
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA, supra
Llorente v. CA, G.R. No. 124371 (23 November 2000)
VII.

Property

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 474-500
CASE LAW
Laurel v. Garcia, G.R. No. 92013 (25 July 1990)
Holy See v. Rosario, G.R. No. G.R. No. 101949 (December 1, 1994)
Salvacion v. Central Bank, G.R. No. 94723 (21 August 1997)
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VIII. Personal Law, Nationality and Domicile

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 153-216
Republic Act No. 9225, Retention and Reacquisition of Citizenship Act (2003)
CASE LAW
Templeton v. Government, 59 Phil. 293 (1933)
Alcanta v. Secretary of Interior, 61 Phil. 459 (1935)
Vellila v. Posadas, 62 Phil. 624 (1935)
Gallego v. Vera, 73 Phil. 450 (1941)
Villhermosa v. Commissioner of Immigration, G.R. No. L-1663 (21 March 1948)
In re: Robert Cu, G.R. No. L-3018 (18 July 1951)
Philippine Trust v. Bohanan, G.R. No. L-12105 (30 January 1960)
Caraballo v. Republic, G.R. No. L-15080 (25 April 1962)
Aznar v. Christensen-Garcia, supra
Lao Chay v. Galang, G.R. No. L-19977 (30 October 1964)
Zita Ngo Burca v. Republic, G.R. No. L-24252 (30 January 1967)
Mo Ya Yim Yao v. CIR, G.R. No. L-21289, 41 SCRA 292 (1971)
Llorente v. CA, supra
Saludo v. American Express, G.R. No. 159507 (19 April 2006)
IX.

Marriage, Adoption and Family Relations

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 255-335
Domestic Adoption Act of 1998
Inter-country Adoption Act of 1995
CASE LAW
Adpong v. Cheong Seng Gee, 43 Phil. 43 (1922)
Ramirez v. Gmur, 42 Phil. 855 (1918)
Hix v. Fluemer, 55 Phil. 851 (1931)
Barretto v. Gonzales, 58 Phil. 67 (1933)
Arca v. Javier, 50 O.G. 3538 (1954)
Wong Woo Yui v. Vivo, 13 SCRA 552 (1965)
Tenchavez v. Escano, G.R. No. L-19671 (29 November 1965)
Van Dorm v. Romillo, 139 SCRA 139 (1985)
De Leon v. CA, 186 SCRA 347 (1990)
Ballados v. CA, G.R. No. 95718 (19 November 1990)
Yao Kee, et al. v. Sy-Gonzales, supra
Eugenio v. Velez, 185 SCRA 435 (1990)
Board of Commissioners v. Dela Rosa, G.R. Nos. 95122-23 (31 May 1991)

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X.

Succession

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 503-534
CASE LAW
In re Estate of Johnson, supra
Miciano v. Brimo, 50 Phil. 867 (1924)
Valera v. Calderon, 57 Phil. 280 (1918)
Gibbs v. Government, 59 Phil. 293 (1933)
Philippine Trust v. Bohanan, supra
Aznar v. Christenses-Garcia, supra
Bellis v. Bellis, supra
Bilbao v. Bilbao, 87 Phil. 144 (1950)
Enriquez v. Abadia, 95 Phil. 627 (1954)
Cayetano v. Leonidas, 129 SCRA 522 (1984)
XI.

Contracts

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 336-387
CASE LAW
Molina v. dela Riva, 6 Phil. 12 (1906)
Insular Government v. Frank, 13 Phil. 236 (1909)
Ibanez v. Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, 30 Phil. 228 (1915)
Companie de Commerce v. Hamburg-Amerika, 36 Phil. 590 (1917)
King Mau Wu v. SyCip, 94 Phil. 784 (1954)
Shewaram v. Philippine Airlines, 17 SCRA 606 (1966)
Ong Yiu v. CA, 91 SCRA 223 (1979)
Pan American World Airways v. IAC, 164 SCRA 268 (1988)
Pakistan International Airlines v. Ople, 190 SCRA 90 (1990)
Triple Eight Integrated Services v. NLRC, G.R. No. 129584 (3 December 1998)
Phil. Export and Foreign Loan Guarantee Corp. v. V.P. Eusebio Construction Inc. (2004)
XII.

Tort and Crimes

Assignment:
SALONGA, at 388-29
CASE LAW
SS Lotus Case, P.C.I.J. Ser. A, No. 10, p. 4 (1927)
Filartiga v. Pens-Irala, 630 F. 2d 876 (2d Cir, 1980)
In re Estate of Ferdinand Marcos, 1994 U.S. App. Lexis 14796 (9th Circ., 1994)
Trajano v. Marcos, 113 S. Ct. 2959 (1993)
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA, supra
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XIII. Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgment and Foreign Arbitral

Awards
Assignment:
SALONGA, at 217-237
1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards
Republic Act No. 9285, The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act (2004), secs. 42-48
CASE LAW
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh v. Stolt-Nielsen Philippines,
Inc., G.R. No. 87958 (26 April 1990)
Querubin vs. Querubin, G.R. No. L-3693 (29 July 1950)
Borthwick vs. Castro Bartolome, 152 SCRA 229 (1987)
Philippine International Shipping vs. CA, 172 SCRA 810 (1989)
Northwest Orient Airlines, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, 241 SCRA 192 (1995)
PHILSEC vs. CA, G.R. 103493, (19 June 1997)
Philippine Aluminum Wheels Inc. vs. FASGI Enterprises, G.R. No. 137378 (12
October 2000)
Priscilla C. Mijares et al., v. Hon. Santiago Javier Ranada et al., G.R. No. 139325 (12
April 2005)
Asiavest Merchant Bankers vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 110263 (20 July 2001)
Republic v. Gingoyon, G.R. No. 166429 (1 February 2006)
Jorge Gonzales, et al. v. Climax Mining Ltd., et al., G.R. No. 161957 (22 January
2007)
Korea Technologies Co. Ltd. v. Lerma, G.R. No. 143581 (7 January 2008)
XIV. Cyber-era
Panavision International vs. Dennis Toeppen, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 9755467 (1998) CompuServe vs. Patterson, 89 F. 3d 1257 (1996)
Yahoo!, Inc. vs. La Ligue Contre Le Racisme et LAntisemitisme United States District
Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division Case No. C-00-21275
JF [Docket No. 170] (2001)
America Online, Inc., v. Superior Court, 90 Cal.App.4th 1, 108 Ca. Rptr. 2d 699
(2001)
XV.

Second Fishbowl Session (one-on-one)

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