Stephanie Natty Astorga Garcia was the illegitimate child of Honorato Catindig and Gemma Garcia.

Stephanie had been using her mother’s middle name and surname—Astorga Garcia.

When the mother, Gemma Garcia passed away, the father, Honorato Catindig filed a petition to adopt
Stephanie.

In addition, the father prayed that Stephanie’s middle name Astorga be changed to Garcia, her mother’s
surname and that Stephanie’s surname Garcia be changed to Catindig, the father’s own surname.

In short, the prayer was that Stephanie Natty Astorga Garcia be changed to Stephanie Natty Garcia
Catindig

The trial court granted the petition insofar as the prayer for adoption was concerned.

The trial court found Honorato as a qualified adopter.

However, with respect to the prayer for change of name, the trial court ruled that there is no law or
jurisprudence allowing an adopted child to use the surname of the biological mother as the middle
name.

On appeal with the Supreme Court, Honorato argued that

There is no law either prohibiting an adopted child from having a middle name in case there is only one
adopting parent

It is customary for every Filipino to have as middle name the surname of the mother

The middle name or initial is a part of the name of a person

Adoption is for the benefit and interest of the child.

The Supreme Court granted the petition.

Adoption is defined as the process of making a child possess in general the rights accorded to a
legitimate child, notwithstanding whether or not the child is related to the adopter.

Adoption is a juridical act

It is a proceeding in rem which creates a relationship similar to that which results from legitimate
paternity and filiation

In other words, adoption is impressed with social and moral responsibility.

The underlying intent behind adoption is geared to favor the adopted child

Being a legitimate child by virtue of her adoption, it follows that Stephanie is entitled to all rights
provided to a legitimate child, including the right to bear a surname of her father and her mother.
Moreover, Filipino custom dictates that the initial or surname of the mother should precede the
surname of the father

Finally, statutory construction with respect to adoption statutes involves a liberal construction in favor
of adoption.

In other words, adoption statutes shall be liberally construed to carry out the purposes of adoption.

The welfare of the adopted child shall be the primary consideration.

Hence, every reasonable intendment should be sustained to promote the child’s welfare.
Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio was born in the City of Manila to Filipino paprents.

His name was registered as Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio in birth certificate.

One time, he filed a petition for the change of his first name and sex in his birth certificate in the trial
court.