Crooks, Cons and Fixers outside the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs,
Manila)
Just recently, I went back for a month-long vacation to my dearest
country, Philippines. My purpose is not really to relax, but to bring
back my son and sister who were just on temporary visas and then go
back again, this time with my eldest daughter.
I had 30 days of vacation. So, on my 2nd day, I went to a training
institution to attend some short courses. I always did this because
lessons are much cheaper there than studying overseas. I studied for
three days. Then, on the next few days, I went to the province for
two nights. I then returned to Manila with my daughter to renew her
passport.
I called the DFA and asked whether my daughter needed to come with
me. They said it's not required unless on the day I needed to pick
up the passport. So I went by myself and I reached the DFA at about
10 in the morning. As usual, there are some crooks and fixers scattered
around the area.
Someone followed me and later walked beside me. He asked me where
I was going. I replied that I'm heading to the DFA. He told me that
he was going there too, and that he already went there yesterday but
security didn’t let him in because he was late.
I told him, "Really? My nephew just told me that applicants
can still go to the DFA until 11 am or 12 PM unlike before.”
A year ago, obtaining a passport at the DFA main office was a terrible
experience. You had to wake up so early in the morning to make sure
you would get a queue number before it runs out. So if by some twist
of fate you got number 101, and the number for that day was only until
100, the time you spent to stay in line was just wasted. That made
a lot of applicants angry.
But the young man kept on talking and distracting me. He said, "No,
they don't have application forms anymore. If you want, you can buy
the form from the stalls over there like what I did",
He was pointing to small shops installed just outside the DFA walls.
I said, “No, I'm not going there because they are crooks, and
I’ll ask the guard first whether or not you're telling me the
truth!” At that moment, I knew he was one of the crooks. That's
why although they were blocking my way, I did not listen to them and
walked straight to the guard. And when I indeed asked the guard, he
replied, "Yes, the DFA is still open!"
See what kind of lies those crooks told me? Many people fell for
that racket and became worried because they thought there were no
more forms and that photo taking inside was also closed. I met one
victim when I was already inside. He bought the form from someone
and when he got inside, he discovers that the DFA’s Passport
Application form is FREE!
Even during the first time I applied for passports for my daughter
and myself back in 1998, someone approached me as well and told me
to go to a small eatery. The male crook said that the entrance to
the DFA was not that gate anymore and insisted that I go to the small
eatery.
When my mother applied for her passport recently, she was also nearly
tricked by those crooks. They discouraged her by saying that she can’t
get her passport because her papers are incomplete. They were asking
her to pay something so they’ll do everything for her. Luckily,
my mother didn’t have enough money to pay them.
My sister in law accompanied her to the DFA the next day. It was
urgent that my mother join me here abroad before I deliver my baby.
However, she didn’t have a birth certificate as she was born
in Samar, a remote province, and had to apply for late registration.
The result will come after a few weeks but I needed her to be here
immediately.
So they went to the DFA Office and somehow got to talk with the senior
officers on duty. The officers asked my mother for some proof that
she was really my mother. Luck was with her because that day, she
brought my letter with her where I told her about the important things
that she needed to do in order to get the passport. I also reminded
her on that letter not to engage with fixers.
So after a few thorough questions the DFA officers issued her a temporary
passport valid for six months. Although it was just for six months,
it helped us. When the expiry date came, we just renewed her passport
and got the five-year passport.
My story confirms that if we’re honest and truthful with our
words, we’ll be blessed and luck will not go away. Actually,
there’s no need to ask help from those fixers if you just know
the exact thing to do when you run into problems. Because of this,
although I don’t know those officers who gave my mother a chance,
I want to say many thanks to them! They know who they are once they
read this.
And for the new Passport Applicants, I hope you read this.
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(Revised October
2004-KL)
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