Tranquilino Rubis v. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes

Summary

Tranquilino Rubis sued the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes to recover P1,000 prize for a winning ticket he claimed to own but lost. The sweepstakes ticket contained a condition requiring surrender of the ticket to claim prizes. Both the trial court and Supreme Court ruled that secondary evidence could not be used to prove ownership when the contract specifically required presentation of the physical ticket. The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal, establishing that contractual conditions precedent must be strictly followed, and the surrender requirement was a valid stipulation in this aleatory contract. This case reinforced the principle that parties must comply with agreed contractual terms for performance, particularly in gaming and sweepstakes contracts where physical possession serves as proof of entitlement.