OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS TITLE 1 - OBLIGATION • Art. 1156. An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do or not to do. (n) • neither party may unilaterally evade his obligation in the contract, unless: a. Contract authorizes it b. Other party assents Parties may freely enter into any stipulations provided they are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order or public policy
CHAPTER 1. – GENERAL PROVISIONS See Arts. 1156 - 1162 ELEMENTS OF AN OBLIGATION: 1. Active subject (obligee/creditor): one in whose favor the obligation is constituted 2. Passive subject (obligor/debtor): one who has the duty of giving, doing or not doing 3. Object: prestation; the conduct which has to be observed by the debtor/obligor REQUISITES 1. it must be licit (otherwise it is void) 2. it must be possible, physically and juridically (otherwise it is void) 3. it must be determinate or determinable (otherwise it is void) 4. it must have pecuniary value a. Vinculum Juris: juridical/legal tie; binds the parties to the obligation b. Causa (causa debendi/causa obligationes): why obligation exists SOURCES OF OBLIGATION
QUASI-CONTRACT (OBLIGATION EX QUASICONTRACTU) • Juridical relation resulting from lawful, voluntary and unilateral acts, which has for its purpose, the payment of indemnity to the end that no one shall be unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of another. • Distinguished from other Sources 1. act giving rise to a quasi contract must be LAWFUL distinguishing it from delict; 2. act must be VOLUNTARY distinguishing it from quasi-delict which is based on fault or negligence; 3. act must be UNILATERAL distinguishing it from contract which is based on agreement. (Tolentino, Volume IV, p. 68) KINDS OF QUASI-CONTRACT • Negotiorum gestio: unauthorized management; arises whenever a person voluntarily takes charge of the agency or management of another’s abandoned business or property without the