The Family Code of the Philippines History

Flashcards covering the historical origins, key figures, and legislative development of the Family Code of the Philippines.

Executive Order No. 209

The formal legal designation for the Family Code of 1987 enacted by President Corazon Aquino.

Código Civil

The Spanish-era civil code that remained in effect through the American Occupation and influenced Philippine family law.

Republic Act No. 386

The Civil Code of the Philippines that took effect in 1950 and handled family relations until 1988.

Quezon Commission

A commission formed in 1940 by the Commonwealth Government to draft a new, distinctly Filipino code.

President Manuel Luis Quezon

The leader of the Commonwealth Government who tasked a Commission with drafting a new Code in 1940.

1945 Battle of Manila

The event during which the Allied bombing destroyed the records of the Quezon Commission's legal reform work.

Justice Flerida Ruth Romero

The jurist who chaired the first drafting committee for what would eventually become the Family Code.

Justice J.B.L. Reyes

A respected civil law expert who chaired the second committee that completed the drafting of the Family Code.

July 6, 1987

The date President Corazon Aquino signed Executive Order No. 209 into law.

August 3, 1988

The common effectivity date of the Family Code, occurring one year after its signing to allow for publication.

Freedom Constitution

The legal framework under which President Aquino exercised legislative powers to sign the Family Code as an Executive Order.

Book I of the Civil Code

The specific portion of the 1950 Civil Code that formerly governed persons and family relations.

Executive Order No. 227

An amendment issued in 1987 shortly after the Code was signed to refine key provisions before they took effect.

Article 26

The Family Code provision regarding the recognition of foreign divorce obtained by an alien spouse.

Article 36

The provision that established psychological incapacity as a ground for the nullity of marriage.

Article 39

The provision of the Family Code concerning the prescription period for nullity actions.

Filiation

One of the core areas covered by the Family Code relating to the relationship between parents and children.

Support

A legal area covered by the Family Code concerning the provision of necessities among family members.

Parental Authority

The legal scope of responsibility and power parents have over their children, as defined in the Family Code.

Property Relations Between Spouses

The legal framework and rules governing the assets and finances of a married couple.

1979

The year the drafting process for the provisions of the Family Code officially began.

1950

The year the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) took effect.

1940

The year the Quezon Commission was formed to begin codification efforts.

Republic Act No. 9225

One of the legislative acts from 1998 used to further refine and amend provisions of the Family Code.

Adoption

A field of significant public interest and core area of regulation within the Family Code.

Marriage

The primary field of significant public interest extensively covered by the Family Code.

President Corazon C. Aquino

The president who signed the Family Code into law using legislative powers pending the convening of a new Congress.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

The judicial position later held by Justice Flerida Ruth Romero after her work on the drafting committee.

Manila, Philippines

The location where the Family Code of 1987 was signed into law on July 6, 1987.

Foreign-Sourced Provisions

One of the core problems of the old Civil Code was that these were often unsuitable to Filipino culture.