G.R. No. 18932 ; November 24, 1922
Placido Escudero and Claudia Marasigan, petitioners-appellees, vs. The Director of Lands, respondent-appellant.

FACTS

Petitioners Placido Escudero and Claudia Marasigan sought registration under the Torrens system of a 57-hectare parcel of land in San Pablo, Laguna. They based their claim on a “composicion con el Estado” title issued to Marasigan’s predecessor in 1886 for 20 hectares and on long, continuous possession. The Director of Lands and the Director of the Bureau of Forestry opposed the registration. The trial court granted registration to Claudia Marasigan as owner in fee simple. The Director of Lands appealed, arguing that the grant covered only 20 hectares, not the 57 hectares claimed.

ISSUE

Whether the petitioners are entitled to register the entire 57-hectare parcel despite the original Spanish title (“composicion con el Estado”) specifying only 20 hectares.

RULING

Yes. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s decision. The identity of the land was established as the same parcel granted in 1886, as evidenced by the adjoining landowners named in the original title whose successors still owned the boundary lands. Minor discrepancies in area between old Spanish titles and modern surveys are acceptable, as such titles were not as precise. What defines the land are the boundaries, not the area stated. Possession under color of title, in good faith, and open, peaceable, and notorious possession of a portion sufficient to announce ownership to the community, when continued for the period required by law, can ripen into title to the entire tract described by its boundaries. The appellant’s failure to assign as error the denial of the motion for a new trial bound the Supreme Court to the facts found by the lower court.