Article 1356

Contracts shall be obligatory, in whatever form they may have been entered into, provided all the essential requisites for their validity are present. However, when the law requires that a contract be in some form in order that it may be valid or enforceable, or that a contract be proved in a certain way, that requirement is absolute and indispensable. In such cases, the right of the parties stated in the following article cannot be exercised. (1278a)

Ang mga kontrata ay dapat na magpapasunod, sa kung anumang porma na maaring maipasok nila dito, maliban na lahat ng pangunahing kailangan para sa bisa nito ay makikita. Gayunman, kapag hinihingi ng batas na ang kotrata ay sa ibang kaanyuan para ito ay maging maybisa o maipaguutos o ang kontrata ay mapapatunayan sa ibang paraan, na ang takdang kailangan ay makapangyarihan at lubhang mahalaga. Sa naturang kalagayan, ang karapatan ng mga partido na nakasaad sa mga sumusunod na artikulo ay hindi magagamit.

Discussion:

Contracts are binding upon the contracting parties in whatever form they may have been entered into as long as all the essential requisites for their validity are present. However, when can we consider form as essential requisite of a contract?

The form of a contract is essential:

1. When the law requires that a contract be in certain form for its validity; (refers to solemn or formal contracts).
2. When the law requires that a contract be in certain form for its enforceability. (refers to the agreements covered by the Statute of Frauds. (Art. 1403, par 2.)

Article 1357

If the law requires a document or other special form, as in the acts and contracts enumerated in the following article, the contracting parties may compel each other to observe that form, once the contract has been perfected. This right may be exercised simultaneously with the action upon the contract. (1279a)

Kung hinihingi ng batas, ang isang dokumento o iba pang espesyal na porma, na tulad ng gawa at mga kontratang naisa-isa sa mga  sumusunod na artikulo, ang nkikipagkontratang partido ay maaring humimok sa bawat isa na sundin ang porma hanggang sa mabuo ang kontrata. Ang karapatan na ito ay maaaring gawin ng tuloy-tuloy na may pagkilos sa kontrata.

Discussion:

When form is required by law for its convenience only and the contract is in not that form, contracting parties may compel each other to observe that form, once the contract required by the law but if not not essential for validity .of the contract then this art. cannot be made.

Illustration:

Almarion sold leviste a house and lot but the contract appears in a private writing. under the law, when sale refers real property like house and lot, almario cannot compel leviste to execute a deed of sale in public documents.

Article 1358

 The following must appear in a public document:


(1) acts and contracts which have for their object the creation, transmission, modification or extinguishment of real rights over immovable property; sales of real property or of an interest therein are governed by Articles 1403, No. 2, and 1405;


(2) The cession, repudiation or renunciation of hereditary rights or of those of the conjugal partnership of gains;


(3) The power to administer property, or any other power which has for its object an act appearing or which should appear in a public document, or should prejudice a third person;


(4) The cession of actions or rights proceeding from an act appearing in a public document.
All other contracts where the amount involved exceeds five hundred pesos must appear in writing, even a private one. But sales of goods, chattels or things in action are governed by Articles, 1403, No. 2 and 1405. (1280a)


Ang lahat ng dokumentong pampubliko ay kailangang maglaman ng mga sumusunod:

1) gawa o kontrata na may layon ukol sa paglikha, pagbabago, pagtatanggal o pagbabalewala ng mga karapatan sa lupa o mga pag-aari na hindi natitinag; mga bilihan o bentahan o mga tubo ay sakop ng mga Artikulo 1403, No. 2, at 1405.;

2) ang pagbibigay ng hayagan ng pagmamana at pakinabang ng magasawa;

3) ang kapangyarihan ng pamamahala ng mga ari-arian ay kinakailangan itala sa kasulatan;

4) ang kusang loob na pagsasauli ng karapatan na nasasaad sa dokumentong pambubliko.
Ang mga kasulatang nabanggit ay may kabayarang itinakda ng batas, iba sa ibang kasulatan na ang layon ay pagsasanla o bilihan ng mga lupa o ar-ariang natitinag.