Serapio Tabar v. Feliciano Becada

Summary

This case involved a dispute over a donation contract where godparents promised their goddaughter half of their property as compensation for services. In 1912, Feliciano Becada and Placida Endab signed a document promising Urbana Tabar, their goddaughter whom they had raised since infancy, half of their property whether she married, left them, or they died. When Urbana married in 1916 and later left in 1918, she and her family sued to enforce the donation. The defendants claimed the document was fictitious. Both the trial court and Supreme Court validated the document as a legitimate donation con causa onerosa governed by Civil Code contract provisions. The Supreme Court affirmed, finding Urbana's conduct demonstrated acceptance of the contract terms and that no legal obstacle prevented enforcement of this unusual but valid contractual arrangement.