Passport Fiasco Part 2: The Tale of Two DFAs

For this post, let's just call DFA Aseana at Macapagal Blvd as NDFA (New DFA, although an inside CMSC joke would be Nondeterminsitic Deterministic Finite Automaton; yes I taught CMSC 141) and the DFA at Roxas Blvd as ODFA (Old DFA). 

What happened before: Mykmyk was asked to produce his non-existent passport. If there was any consolation, the guy in Door 1 Window 1 told him that if he can produce his travel documents, he can just breeze in to the window, no more reservations or lines...

And so that was what I did. Armed with my mom's passport, and the translation (for her entry to the Phils with my kuya which) she got some time ago from ODFA, I went again to the NDFA.  Before going to NDFA though, I tried to call up both offices to no avail - all lines were busy; all operators were caught up as well.

I went to Window 1 and explained my case again, but this time, I showed my mom's passport and the translation. The same man who asked me the day before then took my existing documents together with my new proofs, and told me, "maupo ka muna dyan" - a positive sign, I was hoping. I was not seated for long when my application documents now had a stapled little pink paper. "Pumunta ka sa director's office dyan lang sa paglabas, same building." Having git my spirits up a bit, I found myself at the director's office and gave my documents to the guard.


Inside the director's office were a lot of Muslim brethren, which later on I will discover were there for their hajj travel preparations. There were signs such as "Citizenship cases only", and "Invsetigation Division". Judging from the people, and the signs, this is where the special cases are brought in, cases like mine. Observing from the documents that people submitted, (most of) their docs were stapled with a little blue paper, which went to the citizenship cases. While waiting, I did not read my usual passing time book. I was keen not to miss my name being called, which was a possibility, with the noisy chatter of some of the people inside the office. Some people came and went, and it is not until 80 minutes of waiting that my name was finally called. 


I did the same explanation, and once again showed the officer who asked me my proofs. Then she asked me about the translated part of my mom's passport.
"Saan mo pinatranslate to?"
"Yung mom ko po ang nagpatranslate, sa DFA (ODFA) Legal po."
"Nasaan ang original?"
(I handed her the original, with the blue pen signature of the "executive director")
"Talaga? Bakit walang dry seal?"
"Hindi ko po alam, yung mom ko po ang nagpagawa niyan para po sana sa pag-apply ng kuya ko sa passport niya. Sa DFA Legal nga po niya pinagawa."
"Ganito, hindi ko pwedeng tanggapin 'to... Pumunta ka sa embassy nila (KSA) tapos ipatranslate mo yang passport ng mommy mo."
"Hihingi pa po ba ako ng may dry seal pag galing sa kanila?"
"Basta, tatanggapin ko yung galing sa kanila. Kung magagawa mo ngayon, ok. Kung bukas o sa ibang araw, ok din lang. Basta dumiretso ka na dito, wala nang pila."


I went out of the office and called my mom. To be honest I was once again disappointed, but I promised myself before going to NDFA that I'll be stronger, no matter how hard the circumstances would be. When I explained the conversation to my mom, she replied in a shaky voice, "Nakakainis naman sila... Eh galing naman sa kanila yun." Why would the officer not direct me to their own department's translating services? She hung up after I agreed that I should go back to DFA Legal. More than disappointed, I was a bit furious inside. It was one thing to shake me off the day before, but putting my mom's effort to waste as well, that was another thing. "A Lannister always pays his debts", that thought actually crossed my mind.


It was way past lunchtime, I rode the jeep with the MOA-LRT-MRT signage. Planning hard on my "battleplan" while riding the jeep actually made me miss getting off at MOA, where I earlier planned to eat. So I got off at LRT instead and found myself at McDonald's Buendia-Taft. As I munched to ease my groaning stomach, my plan became clearer. My battleplan was this: go to ODFA today, since if ever I really need to go to the KSA embassy in Makati, I could google it up tonight and go there after my interview (at Makati) tomorrow. 


Around 2pm, I arrived at the ODFA. Of course, fixers were here and there, before approaching the actual building, trying to fool unknowing first time goers. "Lolokohin ka pa non no?", another applicant with business at the ODFA told me while walking. "Oo nga eh, alam ko naman na fixer siya. Nakakaasar lang.", I replied. I actually encountered some stories in the net regarding these scum.

I went to the 2nd floor of the ODFA building where the Arabic to English Translation services was found. Three people were already waiting, but no officer was there. I inquired from one of the two women in line and learned from her that the officer went upstairs the 3rd floor together with their documents. It gave me relief that the officer will surely come back, so I decided to read my passing time book. Around this time, Accenture would remind me through text of my interview at Navitaire for the following day. After 40 minutes since I arrived, the 2nd floor guard called the 3 people to ascend upstairs. I asked her if the officer will come back, and she reassured me to just keep patient. Twenty minutes after that (or a full hour since I arrived), I was called to go upstairs as well


Bulwagang Blas Ople, the room was called, after I climbed the stairs and changed IDs (ODFA visitor's IDs are color-coded, and since I changed floors, I was given a different ID too). I stated my case to the person in the information desk and he called another person in the (big) room. The person in the information desk is older than the person he called, but both can be considered "dinosaurs" - as students will put it. Not so young, or old, or old enough to be considered "jurassic". Dinosaurs.


The person in the information desk asked upon hearing my story, "Eh nasan ang picture mo dito? Di ba dapat, may picture na nakadikit pag sinasama (sa parent's passport)?" The person he called, which I would later know as the translator said, "Ano ka ba? Ganun talaga dati, hindi na nilalagyan ng picture. Pero, eto... 'Child' lang ang nakalagay" Finally! A person who understood the trade back then. I explained that yes, only "child" was indicated in the dependents section in the visa, but that was enough proof given my report of birth, and the inclusive dates of my mom's exit and re-entry. It would take another full hour for the translations for me and my brother to be done and actually printed. This time, they printed it in official DFA letterhead, as to accommodate my request and earlier explanation that the officer in NDFA actually expected a dry seal!

So there it is. Some time past 4, I went back home, concluding day 2 of my passport processing calvary. I hate to say it, but yes, a part 3 is inevitable as I haven't finished the actual application process yet. Tomorrow, after my interview, I plan to go back to NDFA and submit the translation from ODFA. If they would deny that... I don't know. I really don't know. Thank you to all who had been praying and all who had been wishing me luck. Aside from the passport process, my interview would be a highlight tomorrow, since the position offered is somewhat a dream position for me since my resignation last May 31st.

I hope tomorrow would be the end of a trilogy. I don't plan to match Planet of the Apes' number of sequels, or worse, Star Wars or Harry Potter.






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UPDATE
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I went to the Royal Embassy of KSA last Friday at Makati in between my interviews. I originally planned to go back to the DFA that afternoon, but since there was another interview on 3 pm, I went to the embassy instead since it was just some minutes walk from Paseo/Ayala. And guess what they told me at the embassy? They don't do translations. They directed me to OMA instead at Fairview, Office of Muslim Affairs.

So, I'm going to try to just present the translation from ODFA - OUMWA, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant and Workers Affairs. It's a translation from the same department, this time with a letterhead. Will they accept it this time? I've got my fingers crossed.

Passport Fiasco

Tuesday night, I had it all covered: NBI clearance, transcript of records (which my cousin tipped as great supporting document), GSIS ID (which my former colleague tipped me as a document that the Department of Foreign Affairs accepted), birth certificate, and even my TIN ID (which I will find out as a non-accepted supporting ID come Wednesday morning). Tuesday night, my mom also called, "Anak, pag tinanong yung passport mo dati, sabihin mo, wala. Ni-record lang dati sa passport ko, kayo ni kuya mo."

Of course, the complications of my story in this blog entry would revolve around that - me getting in to this country without proper documentation, a passport to be specific. All of us siblings have been born in the KSA. Of the three of us, my sister was the only one that had a passport when she traveled back to the Philippines. She applied last year for her new passport and now she got one. It's a different story for me. I just went to the DFA office this morning and I got denied, "imposibleng wala kang passport nang bata ka, hindi ka makakarating sa Pilipinas kung wala ka nun."

After the "teller" (I don't know how to call them) in Step 1 consulted someone in the same room regarding my case, she instructed me to go to the transaction officer in Window 1, Door 1. The same thing was told to me by the officer. I kept to my argument, "wala po talaga akong passport", to which he replied, "hindi pwede yun, travel documents wala ka?" After some minutes trying to explain my case, and seeing nothing can be done about it for the mean time, I left the building and went to the now vacated seats for waiting applicants.


I called up my mom, and in an angry and disappointed voice, "Mommy, wala ba talaga akong passport? Hindi daw posible yun eh...". She replied, "Anak, wala talaga. Ano daw ang sabi nila?...". After she hung up, I cried. Being denied still stirs some strong emotions in me. I was really disappointed. To be honest, I was a bit angry towards my mom during that time (sorry, Mom, I know I shouldn't, and I'm over it now). I know my mom tells the truth. And although I cried partly to the reason seeing the DFA guys as anatagonists, now I also understand the position of the DFA people having to doubt my case - any person, male or female, adult or child, needs a passport to travel between different countries.


So to be clear regarding the back story: I was born in Gizan, KSA - a province far from the capital Riyadh, or even the city of Jeddah. I was two or three months old when my mom brought me to the Philippines. I didn't have a passport, but they put a note in my mom's passport, "with 1 child". The same thing was practiced when my mom brought my older brother to this country a year before me. Immigration was not that strict back then. Such practices were allowed. No matter how bad as it sounds, I was technically "smuggled" into the country, since I didn't have a passport (even if I had some documentation of "with 1 child" in my mom's passport). I don't want to call it my mom's fault, or the 1985 immigration people's fault, but nonetheless, I'm paying the price for the leniency of laws during that era.
Upon arriving home, my mom called again, and said sorry to me. She also told me not to get depressed about it. I'm getting over it now, although of course, my efforts is now turned to looking for her passport in 1985. Just last year or 2 years ago, my mom already went to the legal office of DFA since my kuya also had problems processing his passport. Yes, my kuya don't have a passport yet. And he's even got a bigger problem than mine, since aside from the non-existence of his infant passport as in my case, he's also got a problem regarding the discrepancy of his (second) name, so that's another story.


So my story is not over yet. I hope to locate my mom's old passport soon, and the letter from the DFA legal office. Silly me, that despite the reminder of my mom on Tuesday night, I didn't look for those documents after her call. Well, wish me luck! Whatever happens regarding this event, I'll keep you posted.





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UPDATE
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Upon arrival of my kuya from work, I inquired about my mom's passport. And so, here in the following two pics is the page regarding my mom's entry to the Philippines with the translation in the second pic from the DFA legal office. The child stated as her dependent is my kuya.

And in this following pic, my mom's entry to the Philippines after me being born. So my hope for tomorrow is that they'd accept these documents and that they'd not try to make me produce my supposed to be lost passport, which really doesn't exist. Thanks to everyone who had been trying to help me sharing their experiences and their legal advice. 

There's hope, there's hope! Tomorrow is another day! :)

Fast NBI clearance processing at Robinson's Otis

I was searching through the web on where was the best place in the metro to process NBI clearance. I live in Marikina and Robinsons Metro East seemed like the logical place for me to do so. But, upon searching, a certain horror story regarding processing it there greeted me. Of course, I did not want to line up 3 am in the morning.

Further searching through the blog sphere directed me to processing the clearance at Robinsons Otis, which was located in Pandacan, Manila. I live in the eastern side of the Metro, and Robinsons Otis was in the heart of the west. Despite the far distance, I trusted the blog posts and also trusted on our mass transit system. It's a good thing that there is the LRT line 2 already, and that the LRT lines 1 and 2, and MRT 3 has some sort of connectivity now.

Here's a timeline of my "adventure":

5:45 Left Marikina

6:15 LRT2 Katipunan Station

6:50 LRT1 Doroteo Jose Station

7:10 LRT1 Dorote Jose Station, was able to finally board on the 4th train

7:30 Finally at Robinson's Otis, followed the directions in the blog posts. Red tricycles, upon crossing Taft Ave - UN Ave intersection. Took the tricycles, not the pedicabs. I was the 31st in line.

10:00 Mall opened. Ushered in to the Robinsons Lingkod Pinoy holding area. Good thing I was one of the early birds because I got to be seated, unlike those who were "late" that had to stand up even in the holding area. By this time, I estimated the number of those who will process their clearances to 150-200.

11:00 Finally started processing.

11:50 Got my NBI clearances (for local employment, and for travel abroad)

1:30 Back home, after having lunch and almost taking the same way back. LRT1 - LRT2 to Araneta Center Cubao - FX ride to Marikina.

Observations:

Why is processing in Robinsons Otis faster?

Well, it is almost unknown to many people. It really is just a small mall, and since there are less people trying to process their clearance there, it really would be faster. It also helps that it is "near" the main NBI office. People have the mentality that it is always better to have transactions at the main office. I'm not saying that it's not true for some government offices, but having an unknown processing center near the main office has its perks.

Kudos to Robinsons for their Lingkod Pinoy centers

Of course, there's the business side to it, but it's a win-win-win situation for Robinsons, for the government, and the general public. It is not a question that SM malls are more flocked than Robinsons Malls. Putting up the Lingkod Pinoy centers really help increase the number of people that go to Robinsons malls and help increase their revenues, even in the smallest ways. I mean, of course people will buy food/drinks in the vicinity.

It is also an advantage to the government since they no longer need to construct satellite offices. And what better place to put such offices? With the mall mentality that Filipinos have (yes, I've got issues with the "mall mentality", which is why I have many outdoor weekend events), the mall is the perfect place to set up these offices.

Finally, it is good for the general public. Despite my issues with the Filipino mall mentality, there really is an upside to it. Malls are properly ventilated, have stores that sell food and drinks, and have proper toilets too. And since there are many centers around the metro, the general public has the "power" to choose where they want to have such transactions. By the way, in the Lingkod Pinoy centers, it is not only the NBI which has a  satellite office, but Philhealth, SSS, and (for some malls,) DFA as well.






Tips:
Bring a book, hand-held devices, or music players. They will help you pass the time while in line when the mall is not open yet. I think I covered 40 pages of a book while waiting in line for 2 1/2 hours.
Bring water or bottled drinks. If you're going to process at Otis, Starbucks in the mall would be very tempting while waiting.
Prepare the necessary IDs. Of course, this is for faster processing.