Amazing!
I had my passport application approved in less than three hours in DFA Manila.
I consider that amazing because I tried applying at DFA Clark a couple of times but I was rejected on both attempts. And I didn't understand WHY.
Here's the story:
On my first attempt, the evaluator noticed that my mom's last name in my birth certificate was different from her last name in my marriage certificate. When she asked me why, I said it was because she was already married to my stepfather (British citizen) when I got married. According to the evaluator, I have to show my biological father's death certificate and my mom's marriage certificate with Uncle Steve to prove that my mom in the marriage certificate is the same as my mom in my birth certificate. ANO BA YAN? I thought that suggestion was stupid. My brother and sister have their passport and my mom has her own but she didn't have to prove anything about her marriage, tapos ako ang gusto nilang magpatunay at maglabas ng ganoong dokumento? ANO BA YAN?
So I was advised to try again in another counter in the same DFA branch.
The evaluator was different but her assessment and recommendation were worse. Here are her remarks on my application: 1. new authenticated birth certificate with correction remarks on date and place of marriage of parents; 2. affidavit of explanation re: last name of mother (wife- marriage contract); 3. certificate of no marriage of mother.
In short, she wanted me to declare that I'm an illegitimate child. ANO BA YAN? I'm already 30 years old and she wanted me to make my parents' marriage null and void? I guess this person was crazy.
The problem was, I felt really bad and thought there was no way for me to get a passport unless I do all those stupid things she wanted me to do.
And those rejections made me lose an opportunity to participate in a sponsored study tour in Singapore last year.
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My attempt to apply in DFA Manila didn't cause me any trouble. There wasn't much question. The evaluator didn't even care about the entries in my marriage certificate. I was just asked to sign using my maiden name (good thing my Tita was with me and she advised me to photocopy and present my school ID with my maiden name) on my marriage certificate three times. then he asked me several questions regarding the place or company I work for.
I started waiting in line at 8 am and finished before 11 a.m. NO PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED AT ALL. Although it was raining that morning, my husband and I decided to go to DFA Manila to apply. I'll have my passport released on Oct. 6. :-)
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THANKS to Ate Teri's help. Kabisado nya ang DFA area kaya mabilis ang kilos ko. I didn't have to ask people around on what to do next. I didn't have to read instructions kasi she already told me where to go and what to do -- step by step. Then she advised me to show my school ID. Tama sya kasi tiningnan yun ng evaluator to compare my signature sa marriage certificate at sa ID nga using my maiden name.
I had my passport application approved in less than three hours in DFA Manila.
I consider that amazing because I tried applying at DFA Clark a couple of times but I was rejected on both attempts. And I didn't understand WHY.
Here's the story:
On my first attempt, the evaluator noticed that my mom's last name in my birth certificate was different from her last name in my marriage certificate. When she asked me why, I said it was because she was already married to my stepfather (British citizen) when I got married. According to the evaluator, I have to show my biological father's death certificate and my mom's marriage certificate with Uncle Steve to prove that my mom in the marriage certificate is the same as my mom in my birth certificate. ANO BA YAN? I thought that suggestion was stupid. My brother and sister have their passport and my mom has her own but she didn't have to prove anything about her marriage, tapos ako ang gusto nilang magpatunay at maglabas ng ganoong dokumento? ANO BA YAN?
So I was advised to try again in another counter in the same DFA branch.
The evaluator was different but her assessment and recommendation were worse. Here are her remarks on my application: 1. new authenticated birth certificate with correction remarks on date and place of marriage of parents; 2. affidavit of explanation re: last name of mother (wife- marriage contract); 3. certificate of no marriage of mother.
In short, she wanted me to declare that I'm an illegitimate child. ANO BA YAN? I'm already 30 years old and she wanted me to make my parents' marriage null and void? I guess this person was crazy.
The problem was, I felt really bad and thought there was no way for me to get a passport unless I do all those stupid things she wanted me to do.
And those rejections made me lose an opportunity to participate in a sponsored study tour in Singapore last year.
------------------------------
My attempt to apply in DFA Manila didn't cause me any trouble. There wasn't much question. The evaluator didn't even care about the entries in my marriage certificate. I was just asked to sign using my maiden name (good thing my Tita was with me and she advised me to photocopy and present my school ID with my maiden name) on my marriage certificate three times. then he asked me several questions regarding the place or company I work for.
I started waiting in line at 8 am and finished before 11 a.m. NO PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED AT ALL. Although it was raining that morning, my husband and I decided to go to DFA Manila to apply. I'll have my passport released on Oct. 6. :-)
------------------------------
THANKS to Ate Teri's help. Kabisado nya ang DFA area kaya mabilis ang kilos ko. I didn't have to ask people around on what to do next. I didn't have to read instructions kasi she already told me where to go and what to do -- step by step. Then she advised me to show my school ID. Tama sya kasi tiningnan yun ng evaluator to compare my signature sa marriage certificate at sa ID nga using my maiden name.
Comments
I had a similar experience in DFA Clark when I applied for my passport in 2003. Sabi sa'kin kung saan lang daw ako pinanganak, dun lang daw ako pwedeng mag-apply. Tapos nung nag try ako uli, sabi naman kailangan daw ng school records. Napaka unhelpful. Corrupt ang mga taga DFA Clark, either that o horrendously stupid lang talaga sila. In a way, it's an abuse din of their position porke sila ang nasa counter. Pero if they take a second to think about it, clerk lang naman sila. So I went to DFA Manila, and mabilis lang. Auntie Terry helped me as well, hinatid nya ko sa may gate kasi may lakad pa sya nun eh ^_^
It's one thing I love about England, very helpful at professional ang mga tao, napaka-polite kahit na cashier lang o tindera sa market, kahit nga yung mga bus drivers eh. And they will make phone calls pa to accommodate your enquires if you are not satisfied with the information they were able to provide you (experience ko ito sa Chesterfield College, saka sa Doctor's, the COntraceptive specialist even googled my pill brand para mahanap nya ang equivalent sa UK. Kung d'yan satin sasabihin lang ng doc na wala tayo nung brand na yun dyan and won't make much effort)
Anyway I'm glad OK na ang passport mo. Sana magamit mo na rin very soon:)
It's an ace bday present for you din di ba?
In fairness to the honest staff at DFA Clark -- if they exist at all [but why am I disinclined to accept that?], those overweening, ineffectual bureaucrats who caused you distress must have acted for the sake of self-preservation. At the time you filed your first application, and also previous to that, that DFA branch was under a heavy cloud for having issued passports to the wrong persons. As a result: the genuine applicants (genuine as opposed to passport applicants who use stolen identities/documents) were subjected to despicable stupidity.
As for the bureaucrat who had cloaked himself with the mantle of the Court, shame on him!
But, perhaps, I am being unfair. That bureaucrat must have no idea that he was usurping the domain of the Court when he suggested changes in the entry in a birth certificate. Only the Court is allowed to order that.
Is it an excuse for public servants, that of having addled brain, to torment the taxpayers with their utter cluelessness?