FIRST DIVISION [G.R. No. 138334. August 25, 2003] ESTELA L. CRISOSTOMO, petitioner, vs. THE CO RT TO RS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

, respondents. (ECISION )NARES*SANTIAGO, J.+ In May 1991, petitioner Estela L. Crisostomo contracte t!e ser"ices o# respon ent Cara"an Tra"el an To$rs International, Inc. to arran%e an #acilitate !er &oo'in%, tic'etin% an accommo ation in a to$r $&&e ()e*els o# E$rope+. T!e pac'a%e to$r incl$ e t!e co$ntries o# En%lan , ,ollan , -ermany, .$stria, Liec!stenstein, S*it/erlan an France at a total cost o# 012,344.15. 0etitioner *as %i"en a 67 isco$nt on t!e amo$nt, *!ic! incl$ e air#are, an t!e &oo'in% #ee *as also *ai"e &eca$se petitioner8s niece, Meriam Menor, *as respon ent company8s tic'etin% mana%er. 0$rs$ant to sai contract, Menor *ent to !er a$nt8s resi ence on )$ne 14, 1991 9 a :e nes ay 9 to eli"er petitioner8s tra"el oc$ments an plane tic'ets. 0etitioner, in t$rn, %a"e Menor t!e #$ll payment #or t!e pac'a%e to$r. Menor t!en tol !er to &e at t!e Ninoy .;$ino International .irport <N.I.= on S#tu,%#-, t*o !o$rs &e#ore !er #li%!t on &oar >ritis! .ir*ays. :it!o$t c!ec'in% !er tra"el oc$ments, petitioner *ent to N.I. on Sat$r ay, )$ne 16, 1991, to ta'e t!e #li%!t #or t!e #irst le% o# !er ?o$rney #rom Manila to ,on%'on%. To petitioner8s ismay, s!e isco"ere t!at t!e #li%!t s!e *as s$ppose to ta'e !a alrea y eparte t!e pre"io$s ay. S!e learne t!at !er plane tic'et *as #or t!e #li%!t sc!e $le on )$ne 12, 1991. S!e t!$s calle $p Menor to complain. S$&se;$ently, Menor pre"aile $pon petitioner to ta'e anot!er to$r 9 t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ 9 *!ic! incl$ e En%lan , Scotlan an :ales in its itinerary. For t!is to$r pac'a%e, petitioner *as as'e ane* to pay @SA1B6.55 or 045,BB1.55 <at t!e t!en pre"ailin% eCc!an%e rate o# 04D.D5=. S!e %a"e respon ent @SA355 or 01,9B5.55 as partial payment an commence t!e trip in )$ly 1991. @pon petitioner8s ret$rn #rom E$rope, s!e eman e #rom respon ent t!e reim&$rsement o# 0D1,241.15, representin% t!e i##erence &et*een t!e s$m s!e pai #or ()e*els o# E$rope+ an t!e amo$nt s!e o*e respon ent #or t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ to$r. Despite se"eral eman s, respon ent company re#$se to reim&$rse t!e amo$nt, conten in% t!at t!e same *as nonEre#$n a&le.F1G 0etitioner *as t!$s constraine to #ile a complaint a%ainst respon ent #or &reac! o# contract o# carria%e an ama%es, *!ic! *as oc'ete as Ci"il Case No. 94E133 an ra##le to >ranc! 69 o# t!e Re%ional Trial Co$rt o# Ma'ati City. In !er complaint,F4G petitioner alle%e t!at !er #ail$re to ?oin ()e*els o# E$rope+ *as $e to respon ent8s #a$lt since it i not clearly in icate t!e epart$re ate on t!e plane tic'et. Respon ent *as also ne%li%ent in in#ormin% !er o# t!e *ron% #li%!t sc!e $le t!ro$%! its employee Menor. S!e insiste t!at t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ *as merely a s$&stit$te #or t!e ()e*els o# E$rope+ to$r, s$c! t!at t!e cost o# t!e #ormer s!o$l &e properly setEo## a%ainst t!e s$m pai #or t!e latter. For its part, respon ent company, t!ro$%! its Operations Mana%er, Concepcion C!ipeco, enie responsi&ility #or petitioner8s #ail$re to ?oin t!e #irst to$r. C!ipeco insiste t!at petitioner *as in#orme o# t!e correct epart$re ate, *!ic! *as clearly an le%i&ly printe on t!e plane tic'et. T!e tra"el oc$ments *ere %i"en to petitioner t*o ays a!ea o# t!e sc!e $le trip. 0etitioner !a only !ersel# to &lame #or missin% t!e #li%!t, as s!e i not &ot!er to rea or con#irm !er #li%!t sc!e $le as printe on t!e tic'et. Respon ent eCplaine t!at it can no lon%er reim&$rse t!e amo$nt pai #or ()e*els o# E$rope+, consi erin% t!at t!e same !a alrea y &een remitte to its principal in Sin%apore, Lot$s Tra"el Lt ., *!ic! !a alrea y &ille t!e same e"en i# petitioner i not ?oin t!e to$r. Lot$s8 E$ropean to$r or%ani/er, Insi%!t International To$rs Lt ., etermines t!e cost o# a pac'a%e to$r &ase on a minim$m n$m&er o# pro?ecte participants. For t!is reason, it is accepte in $stry practice to isallo* re#$n #or in i"i $als *!o #aile to ta'e a &oo'e to$r.F3G Lastly, respon ent maintaine t!at t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ *as not a s$&stit$te #or t!e pac'a%e to$r t!at petitioner misse . T!is to$r *as in epen ently proc$re &y petitioner a#ter reali/in% t!at s!e ma e a mista'e in missin% !er #li%!t #or ()e*els o# E$rope+. 0etitioner *as allo*e to ma'e a partial payment o# only @SA355.55 #or t!e secon to$r &eca$se !er niece *as t!en an employee o# t!e tra"el a%ency. Conse;$ently, respon ent praye t!at petitioner &e or ere to pay t!e &alance o# 014,951.55 #or t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ pac'a%e to$r. O! A""EALS #$% CARA&AN TRA&EL '

.#ter $e procee in%s, t!e trial co$rt ren ere a ecision,F2G t!e ispositi"e part o# *!ic! rea sH WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered as follows: 1 Ordering the defendant to return and!or refund to the plaintiff the amount of Fifty "hree "housand #ine Hundred Eighty #ine $esos and Forty "hree %enta&os '$(),*+* ,)- with legal interest thereon at the rate of twel&e percent '1./- per annum starting 0anuary 11, 1**., the date when the complaint was filed2 Ordering the defendant to pay the plaintiff the amount of Fi&e "housand '$(,333 33- $esos as and for reasonable attorney4s fees2 5ismissing the defendant4s counterclaim, for lac6 of merit2 and With costs against the defendant

) , 7O OR5ERE5 8(9

T!e trial co$rt !el t!at respon ent *as ne%li%ent in erroneo$sly a "isin% petitioner o# !er epart$re ate t!ro$%! its employee, Menor, *!o *as not presente as *itness to re&$t petitioner8s testimony. ,o*e"er, petitioner s!o$l !a"e "eri#ie t!e eCact ate an time o# epart$re &y loo'in% at !er tic'et an s!o$l !a"e simply not relie on Menor8s "er&al representation. T!e trial co$rt t!$s eclare t!at petitioner *as %$ilty o# contri&$tory ne%li%ence an accor in%ly, e $cte 157 #rom t!e amo$nt &ein% claime as re#$n . Respon ent appeale to t!e Co$rt o# .ppeals, *!ic! li'e*ise #o$n &ot! parties to &e at #a$lt. ,o*e"er, t!e appellate co$rt !el t!at petitioner is more ne%li%ent t!an respon ent &eca$se as a la*yer an *ellEtra"ele person, s!e s!o$l !a"e 'no*n &etter t!an to simply rely on *!at *as tol to !er. T!is &ein% so, s!e is not entitle to any #orm o# ama%es. 0etitioner also #or#eite !er ri%!t to t!e ()e*els o# E$rope+ to$r an m$st t!ere#ore pay respon ent t!e &alance o# t!e price #or t!e (>ritis! 0a%eant+ to$r. T!e ispositi"e portion o# t!e ?$ %ment appeale #rom rea s as #ollo*sH WHEREFORE, premises considered, the decision of the Regional "rial %ourt dated October .1, 1**( is hereby RE:ER7E5 and 7E" ;7<5E ; new judgment is hereby E#"ERE5 re=uiring the plaintiff>appellee to pay to the defendant>appellant the amount of $1.,*31 33, representing the balance of the price of the ?ritish $ageant $ac6age "our, the same to earn legal interest at the rate of 7<@ $ER%E#" '1/- per annum, to be computed from the time the counterclaim was filed until the finality of this decision ;fter this decision becomes final and eAecutory, the rate of "WEB:E $ER%E#" '1./- interest per annum shall be additionally imposed on the total obligation until payment thereof is satisfied "he award of attorney4s fees is 5EBE"E5 %osts against the plaintiff>appellee 7O OR5ERE5 819 @pon enial o# !er motion #or reconsi eration, F1G petitioner #ile #ollo*in% %ro$n sH I <t is respectfully submitted that the Honorable %ourt of ;ppeals committed a re&ersible error in re&ersing and setting aside the decision of the trial court by ruling that the petitioner is not entitled to a refund of the cost of una&ailed C0ewels of EuropeD tour she being e=ually, if not more, negligent than the pri&ate respondent, for in the contract of carriage the common carrier is obliged to obser&e utmost care and eAtra>ordinary diligence which is higher in degree than the ordinary diligence re=uired of the passenger "hus, e&en if the petitioner and pri&ate respondent were both negligent, the petitioner cannot be considered to be e=ually, or worse, more guilty than the pri&ate respondent ;t best, petitioner4s negligence is only contributory while the pri&ate respondent 8is guilty9 of gross negligence ma6ing the principle of pari delicto inapplicable in the case2 II "he Honorable %ourt of ;ppeals also erred in not ruling that the C0ewels of EuropeD tour was not indi&isible and the amount paid therefor refundable2 t!e instant petition $n er R$le 26 on t!e

III "he Honorable %ourt erred in not granting to the petitioner the conse=uential damages due her as a result of breach of contract of carriage 8+9 0etitioner conten s t!at respon ent i not o&ser"e t!e stan ar o# care re;$ire o# a common carrier *!en it in#orme !er *ron%ly o# t!e #li%!t sc!e $le. S!e co$l not &e eeme more ne%li%ent t!an respon ent since t!e latter is re;$ire &y la* to eCercise eCtraor inary ili%ence in t!e #$l#illment o# its o&li%ation. I# s!e *ere ne%li%ent at all, t!e same is merely contri&$tory an not t!e proCimate ca$se o# t!e ama%e s!e s$##ere . ,er loss co$l only &e attri&$te to respon ent as it *as t!e irect conse;$ence o# its employee8s %ross ne%li%ence. 0etitioner8s contention !as no merit. >y e#inition, a contract o# carria%e or transportation is one *!ere&y a certain person or association o# persons o&li%ate t!emsel"es to transport persons, t!in%s, or ne*s #rom one place to anot!er #or a #iCe price. F9G S$c! person or association o# persons are re%ar e as carriers an are classi#ie as pri"ate or special carriers an common or p$&lic carriers.F15G . common carrier is e#ine $n er .rticle 1134 o# t!e Ci"il Co e as persons, corporations, #irms or associations en%a%e in t!e &$siness o# carryin% or transportin% passen%ers or %oo s or &ot!, &y lan , *ater or air, #or compensation, o##erin% t!eir ser"ices to t!e p$&lic. It is o&"io$s #rom t!e a&o"e e#inition t!at respon ent is not an entity en%a%e in t!e &$siness o# transportin% eit!er passen%ers or %oo s an is t!ere#ore, neit!er a pri"ate nor a common carrier. Respon ent i not $n erta'e to transport petitioner #rom one place to anot!er since its co"enant *it! its c$stomers is simply to ma'e tra"el arran%ements in t!eir &e!al#. Respon ent8s ser"ices as a tra"el a%ency incl$ e proc$rin% tic'ets an #acilitatin% tra"el permits or "isas as *ell as &oo'in% c$stomers #or to$rs. :!ile petitioner conce e ly &o$%!t !er plane tic'et t!ro$%! t!e e##orts o# respon ent company, t!is oes not mean t!at t!e latter ipso facto is a common carrier. .t most, respon ent acte merely as an a%ent o# t!e airline, *it! *!om petitioner $ltimately contracte #or !er carria%e to E$rope. Respon ent8s o&li%ation to petitioner in t!is re%ar *as simply to see to it t!at petitioner *as properly &oo'e *it! t!e airline #or t!e appointe ate an time. ,er transport to t!e place o# estination, mean*!ile, pertaine irectly to t!e airline. T!e o&?ect o# petitioner8s contract$al relation *it! respon ent is t!e latter8s ser"ice o# #,,#$g.$g #$% /#0.1.t#t.$g petitioner8s &oo'in%, tic'etin% an accommo ation in t!e pac'a%e to$r. In contrast, t!e o&?ect o# a contract o# carria%e is t!e t,#$s2o,t#t.o$ o# passen%ers or %oo s. It is in t!is sense t!at t!e contract &et*een t!e parties in t!is case *as an or inary one #or ser"ices an not one o# carria%e. 0etitioner8s s$&mission is premise on a *ron% ass$mption. T!e nat$re o# t!e contract$al relation &et*een petitioner an respon ent is eterminati"e o# t!e e%ree o# care re;$ire in t!e per#ormance o# t!e latter8s o&li%ation $n er t!e contract. For reasons o# p$&lic policy, a common carrier in a contract o# carria%e is &o$n &y la* to carry passen%ers as #ar as !$man care an #oresi%!t can pro"i e $sin% t!e $tmost ili%ence o# "ery ca$tio$s persons an *it! $e re%ar #or all t!e circ$mstances.F11G .s earlier state , !o*e"er, respon ent is not a common carrier &$t a tra"el a%ency. It is t!$s not &o$n $n er t!e la* to o&ser"e eCtraor inary ili%ence in t!e per#ormance o# its o&li%ation, as petitioner claims. Since t!e contract &et*een t!e parties is an or inary one #or ser"ices, t!e stan ar o# care re;$ire o# respon ent is t!at o# a %oo #at!er o# a #amily $n er .rticle 1113 o# t!e Ci"il Co e. F14G T!is connotes reasona&le care consistent *it! t!at *!ic! an or inarily pr$ ent person *o$l !a"e o&ser"e *!en con#ronte *it! a similar sit$ation. T!e test to etermine *!et!er ne%li%ence atten e t!e per#ormance o# an o&li%ation isH i t!e e#en ant in oin% t!e alle%e ne%li%ent act $se t!at reasona&le care an ca$tion *!ic! an or inarily pr$ ent person *o$l !a"e $se in t!e same sit$ationI I# not, t!en !e is %$ilty o# ne%li%ence.F13G In t!e case at &ar, t!e lo*er co$rt #o$n Menor ne%li%ent *!en s!e alle%e ly in#orme petitioner o# t!e *ron% ay o# epart$re. 0etitioner8s testimony *as accepte as in $&ita&le e"i ence o# Menor8s alle%e ne%li%ent act since respon ent i not call Menor to t!e *itness stan to re#$te t!e alle%ation. T!e lo*er co$rt applie t!e pres$mption $n er R$le 131, Section 3 <e=F12G o# t!e R$les o# Co$rt t!at e"i ence *ill#$lly s$ppresse *o$l &e a "erse i# pro $ce an t!$s consi ere petitioner8s $ncontra icte testimony to &e s$##icient proo# o# !er claim. On t!e ot!er !an , respon ent !as consistently enie t!at Menor *as ne%li%ent an maintains t!at petitioner8s assertion is &elie &y t!e e"i ence on recor . T!e ate an time o# epart$re *as le%i&ly *ritten on t!e plane tic'et an t!e tra"el papers *ere eli"ere t*o ays in a "ance precisely so t!at petitioner co$l prepare #or t!e trip. It per#orme all its o&li%ations to ena&le petitioner to ?oin t!e to$r an eCercise $e ili%ence in its ealin%s *it! t!e latter.

:e a%ree *it! respon ent. Respon ent8s #ail$re to present Menor as *itness to re&$t petitioner8s testimony co$l not %i"e rise to an in#erence $n#a"ora&le to t!e #ormer. Menor *as alrea y *or'in% in France at t!e time o# t!e #ilin% o# t!e complaint, F16G t!ere&y ma'in% it p!ysically impossi&le #or respon ent to present !er as a *itness. T!en too, e"en i# it *ere possi&le #or respon ent to sec$re Menor8s testimony, t!e pres$mption $n er R$le 131, Section 3<e= *o$l still not apply. T!e opport$nity an possi&ility #or o&tainin% Menor8s testimony &elon%e to &ot! parties, consi erin% t!at Menor *as not ?$st respon ent8s employee, &$t also petitioner8s niece. It *as t!$s error #or t!e lo*er co$rt to in"o'e t!e pres$mption t!at respon ent *ill#$lly s$ppresse e"i ence $n er R$le 131, Section 3<e=. Sai pres$mption *o$l lo%ically &e inoperati"e i# t!e e"i ence is not intentionally omitte &$t is simply $na"aila&le, or *!en t!e same co$l !a"e &een o&taine &y &ot! parties.F1DG In s$m, *e o not a%ree *it! t!e #in in% o# t!e lo*er co$rt t!at Menor8s ne%li%ence conc$rre *it! t!e ne%li%ence o# petitioner an res$ltantly ca$se ama%e to t!e latter. Menor8s ne%li%ence *as not s$##iciently pro"e , consi erin% t!at t!e only e"i ence presente on t!is score *as petitioner8s $ncorro&orate narration o# t!e e"ents. It is *ellEsettle t!at t!e party alle%in% a #act !as t!e &$r en o# pro"in% it an a mere alle%ation cannot ta'e t!e place o# e"i ence.F11G I# t!e plainti##, $pon *!om rests t!e &$r en o# pro"in% !is ca$se o# action, #ails to s!o* in a satis#actory manner #acts $pon *!ic! !e &ases !is claim, t!e e#en ant is $n er no o&li%ation to pro"e !is eCception or e#ense.
F1BG

Contrary to petitioner8s claim, t!e e"i ence on recor s!o*s t!at respon ent eCercise $e ili%ence in per#ormin% its o&li%ations $n er t!e contract an #ollo*e stan ar proce $re in ren erin% its ser"ices to petitioner. .s correctly o&ser"e &y t!e lo*er co$rt, t!e plane tic'et F19G iss$e to petitioner clearly re#lecte t!e epart$re ate an time, contrary to petitioner8s contention. T!e tra"el oc$ments, consistin% o# t!e to$r itinerary, "o$c!ers an instr$ctions, *ere li'e*ise eli"ere to petitioner t*o ays prior to t!e trip. Respon ent also properly &oo'e petitioner #or t!e to$r, prepare t!e necessary oc$ments an proc$re t!e plane tic'ets. It arran%e petitioner8s !otel accommo ation as *ell as #oo , lan trans#ers an si%!tseein% eCc$rsions, in accor ance *it! its a"o*e $n erta'in%. T!ere#ore, it is clear t!at respon ent per#orme its prestation $n er t!e contract as *ell as e"eryt!in% else t!at *as essential to &oo' petitioner #or t!e to$r. ,a petitioner eCercise $e ili%ence in t!e con $ct o# !er a##airs, t!ere *o$l !a"e &een no reason #or !er to miss t!e #li%!t. Nee less to say, a#ter t!e tra"el papers *ere eli"ere to petitioner, it &ecame inc$m&ent $pon !er to ta'e or inary care o# !er concerns. T!is $n o$&te ly *o$l re;$ire t!at s!e at least rea t!e oc$ments in or er to ass$re !ersel# o# t!e important etails re%ar in% t!e trip. T!e ne%li%ence o# t!e o&li%or in t!e per#ormance o# t!e o&li%ation ren ers !im lia&le #or ama%es #or t!e res$ltin% loss s$##ere &y t!e o&li%ee. Fa$lt or ne%li%ence o# t!e o&li%or consists in !is #ail$re to eCercise $e care an pr$ ence in t!e per#ormance o# t!e o&li%ation as t!e nat$re o# t!e o&li%ation so eman s. F45G T!ere is no #iCe stan ar o# ili%ence applica&le to eac! an e"ery contract$al o&li%ation an eac! case m$st &e etermine $pon its partic$lar #acts. T!e e%ree o# ili%ence re;$ire epen s on t!e circ$mstances o# t!e speci#ic o&li%ation an *!et!er one !as &een ne%li%ent is a ;$estion o# #act t!at is to &e etermine a#ter ta'in% into acco$nt t!e partic$lars o# eac! case.F41G T!e lo*er co$rt eclare t!at respon ent8s employee *as ne%li%ent. T!is #act$al #in in%, !o*e"er, is not s$pporte &y t!e e"i ence on recor . :!ile #act$al #in in%s &elo* are %enerally concl$si"e $pon t!is co$rt, t!e r$le is s$&?ect to certain eCceptions, as *!en t!e trial co$rt o"erloo'e , mis$n erstoo , or misapplie some #acts or circ$mstances o# *ei%!t an s$&stance *!ic! *ill a##ect t!e res$lt o# t!e case.F44G In t!e case at &ar, t!e e"i ence on recor s!o*s t!at respon ent company per#orme its $ty ili%ently an not commit any contract$al &reac!. ,ence, petitioner cannot reco"er an m$st &ear !er o*n ama%e. i

3HERE!ORE, t!e instant petition is DENIED #or lac' o# merit. T!e ecision o# t!e Co$rt o# .ppeals in C.E-.R. CV No. 61934 is .FFIRMED. .ccor in%ly, petitioner is or ere to pay respon ent t!e amo$nt o# 014,951.55 representin% t!e &alance o# t!e price o# t!e >ritis! 0a%eant 0ac'a%e To$r, *it! le%al interest t!ereon at t!e rate o# D7 per ann$m, to &e comp$te #rom t!e time t!e co$nterclaim *as #ile $ntil t!e #inality o# t!is Decision. .#ter t!is Decision &ecomes #inal an eCec$tory, t!e rate o# 147 per ann$m s!all &e impose $ntil t!e o&li%ation is #$lly settle , t!is interim perio &ein% eeme to &e &y t!en an e;$i"alent to a #or&earance o# cre it.F43G SO OR(ERE(. Davide, Jr., C.J., (Chairman), Vitug, Carpio, an Azcuna, JJ., conc$r.