Short answer. Two readings. Article 808 requires the will to be read aloud to a blind testator twice: once by one of the subscribing witnesses, and again by the notary public before whom the will is acknowledged. Both are needed, and they come on top of the ordinary formalities every notarial will must meet.
What the law says
the will shall be read to him twice; once, by one of the subscribing witnesses, and again, by the notary public before whom the will is acknowledged
Civil Code, Article 808 — If the Testator Is Blind. Read the full provision →
Twice, and by two different people
The article is exact about both the number and the readers: the will shall be read to him twice; once, by one of the subscribing witnesses, and again, by the notary public before whom the will is acknowledged. One person reading it through twice does not answer the requirement, and neither does a reading by the drafting lawyer unless that lawyer happens to be a subscribing witness or the notary. The design is that two people with separate roles in the execution each tell the testator, independently, what the paper in front of him actually says.
Why blindness in particular
A blind testator cannot check the document against what he has been told it contains. He cannot read the dispositions, cannot see who signed, and cannot notice a page that was substituted. The double reading puts hearing in the place of sight. Because the rule is built around what the testator can do rather than around a diagnosis, a person whose vision has failed to the point that he cannot read his own will is in the position the article addresses. Deafness is dealt with separately, in Article 807, by a different mechanism altogether.
It is an addition, not a substitute
Article 808 sits on top of the ordinary requirements rather than replacing them. The will must still be signed by the testator and attested by three or more credible witnesses in the manner the Code prescribes, and still acknowledged before a notary public. Non-compliance with the required formalities is the first ground listed in Article 839 for disallowing a will outright. Article 809 softens the position a little, but only for defects and imperfections in the form of the attestation, and only where there was no bad faith, forgery, fraud or undue pressure. A reading that never happened is not a defect in wording.
What to arrange, and what to keep
If your grandfather has not yet signed, this is easy to get right in advance: one subscribing witness reads the will to him in the presence of the others, and the notary reads it again at the acknowledgement. If the will is already executed, the live question is whether anyone can prove both readings took place, since the article does not say the fact must be recorded anywhere and memories fade before a will is ever produced in court. Bring the draft, the names of the intended witnesses, and any record of his sight to the lawyer supervising the signing.
Cases citing this provision
These Supreme Court decisions cite the provision above. We list them so you can read them yourself; the summaries of what each decided are not ours to give.
- In the matter of the petition for the probate of the last will, G.R. No. 246997, May 5, 2021 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Related provisions
- Civil Code, Article 808 — If the Testator Is Blind
- Civil Code, Article 807 — If the Testator Is Deaf or a Deaf-Mute
- Civil Code, Article 839 — Grounds to Disallow a Will