I NEED TO RENEW MY PASSPORT

 I need to renew my passport. It’s in preparation for my plans to visit Hongkong next year.

(Dec. 26) Day one – I went to NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Baguio office to get my clearance.  I was told to come back after fifteen days for the release of my clearance. Then I proceeded to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) Baguio to check what I will need to prepare before filing my passport application. Since they require an NSO (National Statistics Office) issued birth certificate,

I filed an application for the issuance of my birth certificate at its office in Baguio City and I was told to pay One Hundred and Forty Philippine pesos. I waited for about 30 minutes and then the office gave me a certificate that says, “We certify that we do not have any record of birth of:”…. That’s me.

Norma remembered that she had kept my old birth certificate that she saved from hungry cockroaches. She gave it to me.

(Dec. 27) Day two – 9AM- We left our home and proceeded to Regional Consulate Affairs.  I asked them if my old birth certificate would suffice. The answer is "NO". And I also need an affidavit of loss of passport. So we went to NSO and asked advice from the CARE section. I was told to get an endorsement certificate from where I was born. We then went to PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) Baguio area. I got an affidavit of loss of passport free of charge - Though I did pay sixty and two Pesos for my residence certificate at City Hall. Our next step is the "endorsement letter" from Manaoag, Pangasinan. We decided to do it after New Year’s celebration. After all, we’re not in a rush.

(Jan. 2, 2012) Day three – 11AM – As soon as I was parking my bike in front of the Municipal building, Norma is already asking an old man nearby who is good enough to usher her into the local registrar office of Manaoag, Pangasinan. She applied for my “endorsement certificate” and after one hour, I was looking at her coming out from the municipal building with a sealed envelope in hand. She said that she paid fifty pesos for it and the local registrar advised her to send it by mail. We decided to bring it personally to NSO Baguio, since we’re already going home. At 2PM, Norma submits the sealed envelope at NSO office Baguio and we’re on our way home. Hopefully, by January 16, I can get my birth certificate that I can use to get my passport.

(Jan. 16, 2012) Day four – 9:30AM – I got my NBI Travel Clearance. “I’m CLEAN”. 

And at 11AM, I’m already holding my NSO issued birth certificate. “No additional charges”. Tomorrow morning will be the last leg for my quest.

(Jan. 17, 2012) Day five – 6:30AM – We left our home and rode a jeepney going to town. There was an ongoing Highway repair at a stretch of four kilometers, maybe more, that causes annoying and time consuming traffic. 8:30AM – We arrived at DFA regional office and I was given a small piece of paper with number 109 written on it which means, I’m the 109^th person to be serve. They’re only serving 200 people each day. At 11:40AM – I was told to phone the office for follow-up, Feb, 8, 2012. They’ll have to check my records. If I’m lucky, I’ll have my “BIOMETRIC” the same day.

Norma already went home around 10AM because she’s not allowed inside the office. Only applicants are allowed. So I went home alone.

(Feb. 8, 2012) Day six – It’s already few minutes passed 8AM when we arrived at RCO Baguio. There were too many applicants lined-up in a zigzag fashion to fit the space in front of the building. I secured my position at the end of the line and ask Norma to make a phone call just to make sure my name is already on the list. (Feb. 1, I already received a text message from RCO informing me to continue processing). I got my number 229. Thirty more applicants are added to the usual 200 and I’m second to the last. (God is watching me, I think). I was advised to come back at 1:30PM. I came back at the office at 1PM and as I expected, I was the last man to leave the office..

The date of release of my passport was set on March 21, 2012.

March 21 - Finally... I feel free.