March 2010

Last March 7, I found out that the DFA will stop issuing machine readable passports and would start giving out e-passports exclusively. I thought I would share the steps with you guys. First the requirements:

New Passport:

1. Birth Certificate, Original
2. First page of mother’s passport

Renewal:

1. Original Passport
2. Photocopy of Pages 1-4 of your Old Passport
3. Photocopy of departure and arrival stamps and Visas in your old passport
4. Birth Certificate
5. Affidavit of Mutilation (for those who, like me, had their passports mutilated by Ondoy)

* NOTE: EVERYONE needs to go to the DFA. Minors need to go as well.
1. Get an appointment. There are several ways of doing this. You can either schedule online using their website or you can call their Passport Appointment system at 737-1000.

I had a difficult time using their online scheduling system because there were 2 of us (I didn’t want us to be separated) and also because at the time I was trying to schedule they only allowed renewals and wouldn’t accept new applications.

I highly recommend the Passport Appointment System. The people over the phone took the time to explain the process to me in detail. They were very thorough and they made sure everything was correct. I didn’t have to change anything when I went to DFA. Set aside around 15-20 minutes when calling the Passport Appointment System as you will be answering lots of questions from the operators also make sure you have the ff: near you when you do:

• Pen
• Paper
• Old Passport
• Documents like Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate to make sure you have the spelling of your name down (Ex. is your Maria spelled as Ma. or Maria in your birth certificate…important!)

Note: I noticed that there were people in DFA who didn’t have appointments but were being accommodated. The process for them was extremely long though.

If you have a small kid with you, bring toys and books to entertain your kid. Also try to haggle for a schedule that doesn’t cross your child’s feeding schedule.

2. Go to DFA Gate 2. Gate two is that area right across Mc. Donald’s.

3. Go to the area near Gate 1 were people have boxes and boxes behind them. Fight your way to the front of the line and give them your name. I wrote mine and Sabrina’s down in a small note pad together with our reference numbers that way I can just give that paper to people when they ask.  You enter. There’s a guard who lets people in by batch. They will ask those who were scheduled at a certain time to line up and then they go in by batch.

6. Get your number for the initial encoding. Get a number from the guy behind the counter nearest to the door. This guy hands out numbers to everyone. Make sure you mention having a minor or a senior citizen with you (if you really do) because minors and senior citizens have different counters (with shorter lines)

7. Encoding. Give the application form, required documents, and old passport (if renewing) to the lady. You will be asked to sign one thing and then you will be asked to go to the cashier.

6. Pay.  Find your way to the second floor. (There are escalators) The room on the far right of the escalator is where you need to go. You need to line up to pay. Here, minors have no special lines. Make sure to ask the guard where the end of the line is so you don’t end up going some place else and having other people over take you. When you pay give them the sheets of paper which look like deposit slips.  They don’t need your other documents.

7. Picture taking. You will be asked to take a number and then wait for your turn for the final encoding. This is the time for you to fix your hair and make-up. The wait here is quite short so make sure you don’t take your time going to the bathroom, etc. I saw a lady miss her turn and she had to get another number. Not fun!

8. Delivery? Do you want it to be delivered to your doorstep? If you do, you have to go to the counters outside the encoding room and pay the 120 delivery fee.

THE END!!

This morning Ruy looked at me and said “Wow, ang ganda naman nang asawa ko”. I normally don’t blush but I could have sworn I did this morning. It wasn’t so much that I believed what he said. I didn’t feel beautiful wearing his rattiest shirt and jogging pants, no sir pretty wasn’t the adjective I would have used to describe myself. It was just that, knowing your husband still finds you attractive after a decade of being together is just really nice

Was so freaked out when I felt the bed shake. Our bed is queen sized and quite heavy. I said to myself “Dear Lord, I’m not ready for another natural calamity”.

I’ve stocked all of my old clothes at my grandmother’s house. It works well for me as I still have them BUT I don’t need to deal with storing them. Last weekend however, my grandmother decided to sell 80% of my clothes in a garage sale.

I had no idea selling your own clothes and things can be this difficult and even emotional. Seeing those clothes brought back memories and feelings I have long forgotten. I couldn’t help but keep some of the things we were meaning to sell. I just couldn’t sell the shirt I was wearing during my first date with Ruy. =)