Philippines Civil Registration

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Philippines

Civil Registration

How to Find the Records

Online Civil Registration Records

• Vital Statistics Special Release - Problems and Solutions if you don't find what you are looking for
• 1888 - 1986 - Philippines Civil Registration (Local), 1888-1986 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1899 - 1984 - Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1902 - 1945 - Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945 at FamilySearch — images
• Philippines, Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945 at - ($)
• 1945 - 1984 - Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1984 at FamilySearch — index and images

Historical Background

• Most vital records from before 1889 come from Catholic parish and diocesan archives.
• In 1889, the Spanish government created the Central Office of Statistics, which required each parish priest to give the government a detailed list of the births, marriages, and deaths in his area.
• After the Philippine Revolution of 1898, the church and state became separate. Within the first few years, officials responsible for civil registration were appointed in each municipality.
• In 1930, civil registration became mandatory and, in 1932, the Bureau of Census and Statistics was created to oversee all civil registration in the Philippines. It was not until 1940 that most registrations began to be recorded.

Coverage and Compliance

• Population coverage: Before 1922, 20%; after 1922, 90%.

Information Recorded in the Records

Births

• Child’s name
• Birth date and place
• Parents’ names
• Residence
• Parents' occupation
• Witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences

Marriages

• Names of the bride and groom
• Ages
• Residences
• Occupations
• Marriage date and place
• Sometimes ages and/or birth dates and places
• Parents' names, residences, occupations
• Names of witnesses
• Name of officer who performed ceremony
• Names of former spouses

Death registers

• Name of deceased
• Age
• Death date and place
• Occupation
• Name of surviving spouse
• Informant’s name and residence
• Cause of death
• Sometimes birth date and place
• Parents’ names
• Children’s names

Fetal deaths

Record of all stillbirths, includes information similar to birth and death data shown above.

Example of a Birth Certificate

Example of a Marriage Certificate

Example of a Death Certificate

Locating the Records

Writing for Records

• Civil registry documents that can be obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Click here for detailed instructions for requesting certificates by mail. Click here to order records online.
• A copy of the records have been retained in local civil registry offices. Because many records were lost or damaged in the war, checking both the national office and local office might help find a surviving record. To write to them, address your letter to:
  

City Civil Registry

(postal code--find it here) (City)

(province), Philippines

English is the official language of the Philippines. This Letter Writing Guide will help you with organizing your letter and phrasing your requests.

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