Quilala vs. Alcantara G.R. No. 132681 ;December 3, 2001 FA !

"# A "Donation of Real Property Inter Vivos" was executed in favor of Violeta Quilala in 1981 over a parcel of land located in Sta !ru"# $anila It was re%istered in &er na'e under t&e Re%ister of Deeds of $anila (&e "Donation of Real Property Inter Vivos" consists of two pa%es (&e first pa%e contains t&e deed of donation itself# and is si%ned on t&e )otto' portion )y !atalina Quilala as donor# Violeta Quilala as donee# and two instru'ental witnesses (&e second pa%e contains t&e Ac*nowled%'ent# w&ic& states 'erely t&at !atalina Quilala personally appeared )efore t&e notary pu)lic and ac*nowled%ed t&at t&e donation was &er free and voluntary act and deed (&ere appear on t&e left+&and 'ar%in of t&e second pa%e t&e si%natures of !atalina Quilala and one of t&e witnesses# and on t&e ri%&t+&and 'ar%in t&e si%natures of Violeta Quilala and t&e ot&er witness (&e trial court found t&at t&e deed of donation# alt&ou%& si%ned )y )ot& !atalina and Violeta# was ac*nowled%ed )efore a notary pu)lic only )y t&e donor# !atalina !onse,uently# t&ere was no acceptance )y Violeta of t&e donation in a pu)lic instru'ent# t&us renderin% t&e donation null and void (&e !ourt of Appeals rendered a decision affir'in% wit& 'odification t&e decision of t&e trial court )y dis'issin% t&e co'plaint for lac* of cause of action wit&out pre-udice to t&e filin% of pro)ate proceedin%s of !atalina.s alle%ed last will and testa'ent $%&D# (&e !ourt finds t&at t&e second pa%e of t&e deed of donation# on w&ic& t&e Ac*nowled%'ent appears# was si%ned )y t&e donor and one witness on t&e left+&and 'ar%in# and )y t&e donee and t&e ot&er witness on t&e ri%&t &and 'ar%in Surely# t&e re,uire'ent t&at t&e contractin% parties and t&eir witnesses s&ould si%n on t&e left+&and 'ar%in of t&e instru'ent is not a)solute (&e intend'ent of t&e law 'erely is to ensure t&at eac& and every pa%e of t&e instru'ent is aut&enticated )y t&e parties (&e re,uire'ent is desi%ned to avoid t&e falsification of t&e contract after t&e sa'e &as already )een duly executed )y t&e parties /ence# a contractin% party affixes &is si%nature on eac& pa%e of t&e instru'ent to certify t&at &e is a%reein% to everyt&in% t&at is written t&ereon at t&e ti'e of si%nin% Si'ply put# t&e specification of t&e location of t&e si%nature is 'erely directory (&e fact t&at one of t&e parties si%ns on t&e wron% side of t&e pa%e does not invalidate t&e docu'ent (&e purpose of aut&enticatin% t&e pa%e is served# and t&e re,uire'ent in t&e a)ove+,uoted provision is dee'ed su)stantially co'plied wit&