NBI and NSO

I woke around 8 AM so I would still have time to prepare my stuff and not panic and forget things. I brought IDs, a ballpen, chocolate to munch on and of course, money to pay the fees. I also brought my jeans for repair. They were too long and I have been meaning to drop them off at the tailor's for a long time now but haven't had the time.

Laryh arrived at our designated area which is just at the entrace to the village that I live in. I recognized her right away with her big shades and her big smile.

We boarded an aircon bus going Sta. Cruz. Luckily there are airconditioned buses here who ply the route to Lawton or Sta. Cruz. Either buses are okay going to Carriedo which is where you can get your NBI clearance. Its in a "mall" and very accessible. You can pretty much follow the crowd of people who go there. We got there around 12:15 NN. Laryh said there was no lunch break so we didn't have to worry about waiting. It was lunch time but we wanted to finish it first before
eating lunch.

Before you can get inside though, you have to pay twenty pesos as maintenance fee. Companions aren't allowed inside too but I told Laryh she should've paid that maintenance fee so she could get in. She went back out since she couldn't get in with me and I went upstairs to the first step. I presented my stub and got a form to fill out. I waited for Laryh by the escalators but the man who was manning the booth for the forms told me to sit by the chairs and fill it out. I followed him and sat down filling it out and watching out for Lar at the same time. I was almost done with the first part when I saw her. She helped me fill out some parts and there was also a guy asking her too. She was very helpful. Maybe she missed her calling...hehehe. Finally, I finished and our next challenge was to find the shortest line for the payment which is the first step. It can be quite intimidating and even disheartening when you see a long line closes to where the escalator is and the chairs. The trick is to scout for the shortest line. The first floor is just for the payments and there are a lot of windows open. Short lines tend to get covered with the long lines so you have to look around. We found the shortest line closest to the first aid area. While waiting, we were chatting as usual. That's what's so great about brining a companion, never a dull moment. We also checked out the fees. The funny thing is, they pretty much breakdown the different purposes but you'd pay the same amount of one hundred fifteen pesos. Its either for local, travel abroad or seaman. Since my purpose was for my passport application, I wrote travel abroad. Finally it was my turn and we went to the next floor for the second step.

The second step was the screening. Again, you'd think the lines were really long. There was another line for the picture taking and if you weren't careful, you'd end up in that line too. Screening just meant the person was going to look over your form and ask you questions if you missed answering a blank. Again, that was fast. I went to the next line.

The third step was just basically them scanning the number on your card, well at least that was what I saw. Again, that was fast.

Fourth step was taking a picture. Our line had to be moved so we wouldn't block the lines going to the second step. It was fast too. Laryh told me that she had a horrible looking picture and that I should always look at the camera otherwise, the man manning the booth would scold me. I fixed my hair a bit and waited for my turn. The funny thing is, they don't really tell you that they're taking your picture already so the trick I think is when its your turn, you just need to stand still and look at the camera. Forget about the smiling part, unless there isn't someone behind you and waiting for their turn. With that finally done, we went to another floor for my "piano exercise."

I told Laryh that I had experienced that already. I won't delve into the details but it was done at work. She said that I should pay the man two pesos for the wet ones.
Finally, I was done with the fifth step which was fingerprinting. It wasn't difficult at all. You just need to relax and let the person doing the fingerprinting do his job. The wet ones does help to remove the ink from your hands.

The sixth step was to submit my application form. The man behind the counter decided to entertain a query while it was my turn so I just got my receipt and went to the next counter.

The seventh and final step was the releasing. I lined up and gave my receipt to the "masungit" guy on the counter. He said that I had to go back to the previous step which I did. The man there stamped my receipt with a date. I didn't know what it meant by then. I finally went back to the releasing counter and I learned there that my clearance would not be released til April 19. Oh crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On our way out, we talked to one of the people who were also getting their NBI clearance who had the same problem. They thought they could get it on the same day too. One of them said that it was because there was someone with the same name as we had. Oh crap!!!! There I thought my name was quite unique. So, if I decide to have children one day, I should give them weird names so no one else could have the same name as they have.

We left since we couldn't do anything anyways and decided to eat lunch. We ended up in Jollibee. I treated Laryh to lunch. I considered it my birthday and thank you treat for accompanying me.

As we were leaving, I tried to remember the landmarks since I will be returning there on Tuesday all by myself. Laryh is going back to work since she only has a week vacation leave. We boarded a bus which usually plies the route going home. Lucky me, at least it won't be complicated when I go back there. We were going to get off at the Serbilis Center of the NSO which is along Roxas Boulevard just across the DFA and just beside the BSP.

We arrived I think past 1. It was almost 2 PM. We saw a rather long (very long) line going to the NSO. We asked what line it was for and they said it was for releasing. Uh oh.

I got a form from the security guard and started filling it out. Laryh as usual was investigating and going around reading the steps. She told me that I should start lining up for Step 2 which is Q number. So I fell in line and filled out my form at the same time. I was rushing since I was afraid it would be my turn and I wasn't done filling it out. I ended up making several mistakes. From writing my father's maiden name, mother's maiden name and all those things. Man, they can be confusing sometimes. Finally, it was my turn after a long wait and true enough, I got a number.

Guess that was the Q number as well as the clerk in the counter checking my form whether I filled it out correctly.

After that, I went to the third step which is the payment. The line was even longer. The end of the line was outside the building. Laryh looked for me since she went out when it was my turn at the counter. Again, it was quite awhile before I finally got inside. Again, the advantage of bringing someone with you when you do these things is that you get to chat with someone and won't get bored. There was even someone reading a book while waiting. Or a bunch of papers to study. That was wise considering the amount of time you spend lining up.

Finally, it was my turn and I was so happy. I paid one hundred twenty-five for my birth certificate. Its not that I don't have a copy of it, I do. It is just that its a requirement printed on special paper before I can apply for a passport. I got my receipt and the clerk there wrote 4/15 and 2 pm on the paper. Just to be sure, I asked the security guard if it meant what I thought it meant and I was right. My birth certicate would be released April 15th at 2 PM, which is just next day in the afternoon. It was fast. Yipee!!! Darned that NBI clearance.

Laryh and I agreed that it was "mala-extra challenge" ulit so we treated ourselves to a snack before we went our separate ways. Laryh was going to Manila to stay with a friend for a night for their adventure the next day to Tagaytay. We had drinks and junk food and chocolate and of course, more chitchat. Laryh is really a very girl without even trying and has a serious side as well. Naks, Lar!!!

I think it was almost 5 when we left the NSO. We also went to the loo and gosh, that was super ha. I can't quite describe it and won't go in to details.

Laryh mentioned that it was sayang I couldn't do the extra challenge of crossing the "highway." I told her that what if you want to be law abiding and use the pedestrian lane? True enough, we saw a sign with an arrow pointing to the pedestrian lane. We walked a bit and we said our good byes.

She was law abiding and used the pedestrian lane. It was kind of close to the Cuneta Astrodome and I wanted to remember that when I returned the next day.

I boarded a bus going home and I was so so happy with what I accomplished for the day. It was a long and fruitful day. I wouldn't have done those things if it weren't for Laryh. Thanks talaga Lar, I owe you one...er...two ba?

NBI website: http://www.nbi.doj.gov.ph/
NSO website: http://www.census.gov.ph/