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Republic of the Philippines

5th Judicial Region
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
Branch ___
Legazpi City

RE: IN THE MATTER OF CHANGE

OF FIRST NAME OF SAOIRSIE ESTRADA
TO ROSIE ESTRADA PURSUANT TO RULE 103
OF THE 1997 RULES OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE

SAOIRSIE ESTRADA
Petitioner,
SP. PROC. CASE NO. ___
-versus-

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF

LEGAZPI CITY AND THE CIVIL
REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE
PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY
(PSA), Quezon City,
Respondents.
x--------------------------------------------x

P E T I T I O N

PETITIONER, SAOIRSIE ESTRADA, by the undersigned counsel

unto this Honorable Court respectfully states that:

1. Petitioner Saoirsie Estrada (Saoirsie for brevity) is of legal age,

Filipino, single and a bona fide resident of 148 Love Ave., Legazpi City for
at least three (3) years, where she may be served with notices, orders and
other processes of the Honorable Court;

2. Respondents herein are being sued in their official capacities being

the concerned agencies and official custodian of the Birth Certificate of
petitioner;
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3. Petitioner was born to parents Rosita Estrada and Buboy Estrada in

the City of Legazpi on March 17, 1996 and was given a first name of
SAOIRSIE as registered in the Local Civil Registry of Legazpi City,
evidenced by her Certificate of Live Birth hereto attached as Annex “A” and
is made an integral part of this petition;

4. Petitioner had trouble, as a kid, in learning to write and pronounce

her given name (pronounced as “seer-sha”). Her parents had the occasion to
tell her that her name means freedom, which rose to popularity in the early
1920s, and that she should love her name.

5. The difficulty of pronouncing and spelling Saoirsie’s given name is

of common knowledge to people who knew her from the moment she was
born and up to the present, specifically in schools where she attended. In
many cases, she was reprimanded for misspelling her own name, hence, was
disheartened to go to school because of that.

6. Petitioner was also ridiculed by reason of such name by her

classmates, friends and their neighbors. They refer to her as “Sisa”, the
mentally retarded character in Noli Me Tangere. Such name calling and
tease remained until the present which made her suitors doubt her mental
stability;

7. When petitioner graduated, she had trouble finding a job because

she became humiliated of her own name. The name that was printed in her
diploma (Annex B) was different from the true spelling of her name, and due
to such error, she was accused of having her diploma fabricated which
eventually resulted to the denial of her job applications.

8. Hence, it bears a great misperception to the general public and

affects the petitioner’s emotional and mental well-being.

9. If only Saoirsie will be granted a change of her name, her identity

and interactions would greatly improve as she would bear a new label or
appellation for the convenience of the world at large in addressing her, or in
speaking of, or dealing with her.

10. In the case of Republic of the Philippines vs. Julian Edward

Emerson Coseteng-Magpayo, G.R. No. 189476, February 2, 2011, the
Supreme Court ruled that:

“A person can effect a change of name under Rule 103 using

valid and meritorious grounds including (a) when the name is
ridiculous, dishonorable, or extremely difficult to write or
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pronounce; (b) when the change results as a legal consequence

such as legitimation;XXX”

11. As could be gleaned from the foregoing averments, the Petitioner

is qualified under the law and jurisprudence to effect a change in her name.
Avoiding public ridicule and for public convenience is the main thrust of
this petition and solely filed in furtherance of the best interest of the
petitioner;
12. This petition is not in any way filed to mislead the public or for
any other fraudulent purposes and does not in any way prejudice public
interest;

P R A Y E R

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed of

this Honorable Court, after due notice, publication and hearing, to grant this
Petition and render a decision ordering public respondents to cause the
change of name of petitioner from SAOIRSIE ESTRADA to ROSIE
ESTRADA.
Such other relief just and equitable under the premises is likewise
prayed for.

February 17, 2020. Legazpi, City, Philippines.

H.A.P.P.Y. LAW OFFICES

EH404, USC Law Bldg., Pag-ibig St.,

Legazpi, City; (032) 872-1000

happylaw@yahoo.com

By:

GLADYS R. EBRADA
PTR No. 123456; 1/2/15; Legazpi City
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IBP OR No. 654321; 1/2/15; Lgp City

MCLE Compliance No. IV-202020; 4/3/12

Attorney Roll No. 87654

VERIFICATION & CERTIFICATION

I, Saoirsie Estrada, of legal age, Filipino, single and with residential

address at 143 Love Ave., Legazpi City, after been duly sworn to in
accordance with law do hereby depose and state, that:
1. I am the petitioner in the above-entitled case;
2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition, have read the
allegations therein and verify that the same are true and correct based on
my own personal knowledge and/or based on authentic records;
3. That I have not commenced any action or proceeding involving the same
issue or similar issues in any other court, tribunal or quasi-judicial
agency, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other
division thereof and to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or
claim is pending therein. If I should learn thereafter that the same or
similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, I shall report that fact
within five (5) days from such knowledge to this Honorable Court4. I am
executing this affidavit in order to attest to the truth of the foregoing;

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this

17th day of February, 2020 at the City of Legazpi, Philippines.

SAOIRSIE ESTRADA

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this 17 th day of

February 2020 at the City of Legazpi, Philippines. Affiant is personally
known to the notary public.

ATTY. EMMANUEL ESMER

NOTARY PUBLIC LEGAZPI CITY
UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2021
PTR No. 1234567 ; 1/2/18; Legazpi
City
IBP No. 57832; 1/2/18; Legazpi City
Attorney Roll No. 13602
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Doc. No. _______;

Page No. _______;
Book No. _______;
Series of 2020

PROOF OF SERVICE with EXPLANATION

On _____________, I caused the personal service of the foregoing

Petition for the following:

THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF LEGAZPI

City Civil Registrar Office of Legazpi
City Hall Building, Legazpi City

THE CITY PROSECUTOR

Office of the City Prosecutor of Legazpi City
Hall of Justice Building, Legazpi City

but due to the distance involved and lack of office personnel to effect
personal service, I caused the personal service of the foregoing Petition by
registered mail to:
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL
Office of the Solicitor General
134 Amorsolo Street, Legazpi Village
Makati City
Registry Receipt No. ____

MS. LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, Ph.D.,

Philippine Statistics Authority (former National Statistic Office)
Office of the National Statistician
17th Flr. Cyberpod Centris Eton Three
EDSA, Quezon City 1011
Registry Receipt No. ____

_________________, Legazpi City, Philippines.

GLADYS R. EBRADA