NBI, DFA and Macro...

Finally I had the strength to wake up early today and pick up my NBI clearance in Carriedo. It was supposed to be yesterday but I didn't want to wake up very early and I didn't want to go to the DFA late so I decided to do it the next day. Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise with opening of Makro causing a horrible traffic. If I could give a BAD BUSINESS Award, it would have to be for MACRO. They SUCK!!!! They caused so much traffic and inconvenience. Again, let me just say that they SUCK!!!!! I don't want to go there and patronize them. I'm all for cheap prices and all that but if its the expense of a lot of people, then its certainly not worth it.

Okay, going back to the NBI, I finally went there and got my NBI clearance. Yahoo!!! Well, the picture looks blurry but I think its safe to say that I look bad. Well, considering that they don't really tell you when they take the picture then its understandable. Traffic going there was a bit heavy too. I think it was the fire trucks heading that way. There was a fire in Binondo which lasted 12 hours. Wow, 12 hours! Apparently, it was because the building had plastic toys and they were burnt too hence the huge fire. A lot of casualties too since the grills were too thick and the burnt plastic didn't help too. Yeah, that's the drawback of trying to keep out thieves, you can't get out when you need too. That was the case too of that fire that happened in Makati, you know the Speaker of the house's daughter and all that.

Oops, digressed again. Finally got to DFA about 11:30 am. I was worried for awhile about lunch break. On my way there, I was hesitant since it was my first time. There were the usual vultures who were there. Fixers, "mangingilad" all those kinds, just have different names. I almost was conned but I remembered Laryh's advice 'bout some people who lead you some way but they're really out to con you. Almost, but I just had this bad feeling so I told them I changed my mind. This girl kept on saying this and that but I didn't listen anymore. I finally went to the security guard and talked to him. She still kept on yakking. It was in a way scary since you don't know what these people are capable of doing. I almost went home and didn't want to go through the whole thing. Anyways, finally went in the side street and looked for the basketball court. I wasn't meaning to do that but I just figured out and followed some people too.

When I got there, I almost left again...hehehehe. It is after all scary if you don't know anything. I tried to read the guidelines there and asked around where the passport form is. A lady pointed to a table and I got one form. The clerk there said that we should fill it out first before lining up. Anyways, like an obedient child, I filled it out. Afterwards, again, I was lost so I asked a couple of people and they couldn't really answer me so I went back to the clerk. He asked for my records like NBI, birth certificate and IDs. I told him that I only had one ID with me. He said he wasn't sure if it was acceptable but he said I could take a chance. He also said it should be photocopied and after that I should go to the third table and have a picture taken. Again, like a greenhorn that I am, I went to the third table and I noticed that the people there were putting their pictures and thumbprints. One of the people there said that I should have my picture taken. I had my picture taken there and I must say that I look horrible...hehehehe. I felt horrible and I looked the part. Well, it was like those photo-me things so I knew that I'd look bad.

Finally went back to the third table and glued my picture. There was a glue stick left there and I basically folowed what those people there were doing. I put my left and right thumbprints and stapled the plastic pouch with my 2 pictures in the next table.

After that, I asked again the groups of people seated on the bench where to line up and they said that I could sit there. I was happy about that. A few minutes later, one of the clerks collected our papers. Yipee...but that was shortlived. We waited for like 2 hours there. And it was so hot. At least I wasn't hungry. It always pays to eat especially if you know that you're going to line up for a long time. The people who were seated there were pretty chatty too, so I just listened in on their conversations, which they didn't really mind and smile and nod in between. Since there was still space in the bench that I was seated, a lot of people would sit down. We would take turns telling them to find the end of the line and not just sit anywhere. There was this particular lady though who was pretty stubborn and just kept on following me. In fact, she sat ahead of me when she wasn't supposed to be there. I didn't want to have to tell her again so I just ignored her. While we were there waiting, they also explained the steps to getting our passport. They also gave out a flier when you get your form.

Here are the steps:
Start Here (Basketball court) - There is a separate line for those who are new applicants and renewals. The renewal line is much faster and shorter. On the other hand, the line for the new applicants is very long. Even more challenging than the ones in the NSO and NBI. Super extra challenge.

Step 1 - Records Verification (Data checking and clearance)
Step 2 - Document Evaluation and Processing (Validity Checking of Documents)
Step 3 - Payment (Proceed to the CASHIER for the payment of fees)
Step 4 - Releasing Schedule (Stamping of Date and Time for passport picking)

The documents you would need if you're a new applicant should be original birth certificate preferably on NSO paper. This is really helpful. When you go to step 2 and the clerk there thinks that the document is tampered then they won't process it. Original NBI clearance and IDs like Driver's license, PRC ID, Old SSS form (I think that's the pink one that you keep as a personal copy when you get your SSS number), Transcript of Records, Postal ID, School ID, company ID. I know there are other kinds of IDs but there are the ones that I could remember. There is a bulletin board in the basketball court that you can check out too. You should photocopy any of these IDs, front and back and attach a copy along with your documents and passport application.

Finally, the guard called us and led out of the basketball court. When we got inside, were just starting Step 1. I think it took about an hour before we got back our documents. We were told that we shouldn't break the line that we made while we were in the basketball court. But this really stupid guy wearing a yeallow striped shirt who didn't stay where he was supposed to. The guy in front of me wearing a red shirt reprimanded him too. I just gave him "the look." I think he felt stupid too in the end since if he wasn't where he was supposed to be we could end up getting delayed or something. Finally, our line was called and this lady who wasn't supposed to be there but kept on following us was left behind. She wasn't called since she wasn't in our batch. I wonder what she did. I noticed that on our passport form, they had stamped I think the words "verified" close to the picture as well as the date and the place in the lower box where the passport application was filed.

We went to another room for Step 2. The lines there were really long and irregular too. The other lines that weren't as long were for renewals. Renewals are so lucky. From my observation, I think pinoys aren't too fond of keeping straight lines. Sometimes its not too clear where they are in your line or in another line. Its hard to tell where the end is sometimes. I finally found a not-so-long line and waited for my turn. What annoys me when lining up is that there are some people who like to push people in front of them. Maybe they think that by doing so, they would make the line move faster. Hello? Duh? Can't you wait. Finally, I couldn't bear it anymore so I moved a bit to the side. I think she finally understood that it was annoying me.

While waiting for my turn, I worried about whether my Social Security Id would be acceptable. It was also interesting to see what problems people ahead of me would encounter. There was one lady whose birth certificate seemed "tampered" as the clerk said. She was told to get a birth certificate from NSO on NSO paper. Another guy had to have his ID photocopied and attached. I wonder why he didn't do that earlier. The guy before me had a problem with his birth certificate. Apparently, his last name in the birth certificate was different from the name that he was using in his other documents. His last name in the birth certificate was "Merabueno" instead of "Mirabueno" and according to law, the passport is based on the information in the birth certificate. He's supposed to make an affidavit or something. Wow, that's terrible. I know that can be a long process. So parents, please make sure that you write the correct information when you register your children's names. They could end up with a different last name from yours. Hey, that reminds me of Ms. Ethel. Her last name is spelled Longaquit while her parents and sisters and brothers spell theirs as Longakit.

Finally, I had my turn. I gave my documents and I showed my ID. He accepted it..yes!!!! He asked me what payment I would like, I opted for the 500 pesos for 6 working days. Then I wrote my name on a piece of paper and he gave me my receipt. Yes!!! On my way to the next step.

The next step is much easier compared to the rest. I just had to pay the cashier and show my receipt. I panicked a bit when I couldn't find my money...hehehe.

Step 4 was just a few steps away where they stamped my reciept April 28, 5 pm. I could've had my passport delivered for an extra fee but I wanted to try out the whole experience. Hehehehe. Sort of a complete baptism of fire. I'm sure the releasing is going to be another challenge. I saw the people who were waiting for their paspports and it isn't a pretty site too. But that's gotta be worth all the wait.

And that basically sums up my DFA challenge. You really need loads and loads of patience and do your best not to be conned by those terrible, terrible people. I know we all need to make a living but I wish they'd do their honestly and not rob people of their hard-earned money.

More on my DFA challenge next week when I finally claim my passport.

What is my next challenge? Passing my compre this May...owwwwwwww...