POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is this your signature? Yes that is my signature. What is your relation to the other petitioner? The other petitioner is my wife. Do you have proof that she is your wife? Yes, Atty. I have proof that she is my wife. We have a marriage certificate. Do you have a blood relationship with the kid? No. What is your relation to the kid? The kid is my wifes son. Are you morally fit to adopt? Yes, I am morally fit to adopt. I have a certificate of good moral character. Are you physically fit to adopt? Yes, I am physically fit to adopt. I have a medical certificate. Are you financially fit to adopt? Yes, I am financially fit to adopt. I am currently working right now and I have savings as shown in the certificate from my bank, my income tax return and employment certificate. Do you have pending civil or criminal case? No, I do not have. I have NBI, police and court clearance. Do you know the kid to be adopted? Yes. He is my wifes son. His name is Jose Mari Vengco. What is his religion? He is Catholic as evidenced by his baptismal certificate. How old is the kid? He is 4 years and 7 months old. Do you know your age gap? Yes. I am 26 years older than him. I am 30 years old now. When is his birthday? When was he born? He was born February 21, 2008 Where was he born? He was born in Cook County Hospital Chicago, Illinois So he is an American citizen? Yes. But he is also a Filipino citizen because we already processed his dual citizenship. Where does the child live? Where is the residence of the child? Here in Cebu, he lives with us now.

Where is he right now? In Bulacan, together with our other child, they are visiting their grandparents. Is he aware of the process? Is he aware that he is being adopted? No, we havent told him yet. We decided that he is still very young and that he will not understand yet what is happening and he wont understand yet what the meaning of adoption is. We thought that it is in his best interest that we tell him when he is of the right age already. I do not want to confuse him and I do not want him to distant himself from me since he thinks and considers me as his real father since he was born. He drew up knowing me as his father and we do not want to take that away from him. Why did you decide to adopt him? I decided to adopt him because we want what is best for him. I treat and love him as my own son and we want to legalize it for his sake. We want him to be legally part of our family. We want him to have the rights of a legitimate child. What rights? Do you know the purpose/effect of adoption? Yes. I am aware of the effect of adoption. The kid will be able to use my surname. He will be considered my legitimate son for all intents and purposes. He will be able to inherit from me and I will be vested with the duties of a parents. He will be entitled to love, guidance and support from me.

Do you have any other children? Yes, we have another child. Jose Santiago, he is 1 year and 4 months old. Do you know that if he is still a minor and he commits a crime then you can be held liable? Yes. I will do everything to guide him and bring him up as a good person and a law-abiding citizen.

NOTES
Article III. Eligibilty Sec. 7. Who May Adopt. The following may adopt: (a) Any Filipino citizen of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children. (b) at least sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support and care for his/her children in keeping with the means of the family. The requirement of sixteen (16) year difference between the age of the adopter and adoptee may be waived when the

adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee, or is the spouse of the adoptee's parent; Sec. 8. Who May Be Adopted. The following may be adopted: (a) Any person below eighteen (18) years of age who has been administratively or judicially declared available for adoption; (b) The legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by the other spouse; (c) An illegitimate son/daughter by a qualified adopter to improve his/her status to that of legitimacy; (d) A person of legal age if, prior to the adoption, said person has been consistently considered and treated by the adopter(s) as his/her own child since minority; (e) A child whose adoption has been previously rescinded; or

(f) A child whose biological or adoptive parent(s) has died: Provided, That no proceedings shall be initiated within six (6) months from the time of death of said parent(s). Article V. Effects of Adoption Sec. 16. Parental Authority. Except in cases where the biological parent is the spouse of the adopter, all legal ties between the biological parent(s) and the adoptee shall be severed and the same shall then be vested on the adopter(s). Sec. 17. Legitimacy. The adoptee shall be considered the legitimate son/daughter of the adopter(s) for all intents and purposes and as such is entitled to all the rights and obligations provided by law to legitimate sons/daughters born to them without discrimination of any kind. To this end, the adoptee is entitled to love, guidance, and support in keeping with the means of the family. Sec. 18. Succession. In legal and intestate succession, the adopter(s) and the adoptee shall have reciprocal rights of succession without distinction from legitimate filiation. However, if the adoptee and his/her biological parent(s) had left a will, the law on testamentary succession shall govern.