Very Quick Passport Extension

The travel agency was worried the Embassy of Belgium would refuse to stamp a visa on my passport because there are no more blank pages.
There are still a few pages left and I am hoping the embassy would accept my passport. I will get a new passport after the trip.

The day our passports would be brought to the embassy, the travel agency’s liaison officer called me up saying that my passport is expiring in March 2016 which is short of the required 6 months validity. Sabi ko pakiusapan na lang yung embassy. I promised I would just have my passport validity extended after they’ve released my visa. They agreed.

I was in a bit of a panic. Dagdag stress. Parang I didn’t want to travel na. Sobrang rush.

Edmund said there’s a DFA in Robinson’s Galleria. That’s where he renewed daw his passport. So I went. I asked for directions from the guards three times. Two pointed at the wrong direction. Exercise, walking from floor to floor, end to end.
I found it in front of Mercury Drug, where the medical center of singer Dr. Nonoy Zuniga used to be.

Daming tao, I could feel the pawis heat from the people waiting.

I went to a window and inquired, she said my son should be there in person. She rejected my passport because it’s sira na daw. I couldn’t see naman the sira. She pointed at the cover, medyo peeling off na daw.
Omb——“Miss, hindi yan sira, ididikit ko na lang”.
Officer—“Hindi pwede, tampering yun”.
Omb——-“Ididikit, tampering?”

Useless arguing when I am not winning.

She said I should have my passport renewed directly from the DFA headquarters in Pasay City. I thought, this couldn’t be happening. It would take me three hours thru traffic to reach that area. And to get a brand new passport would take more than a week.

I went home and told my son he should go to Galleria to have the validity of his passport extended. I briefed him on what to do. Which window to go, etc. I gave him back his passport.

I phoned the travel agency regarding the possibility of renewing my passport. They said it would take 10 days at least just for the appointment schedule, plus another week processing. No way.
My husband also told me “tart, kailangan yata pupunta ka sa website nila at kukuha ka ng appointment”. If I would do that, I would not be able to travel on our scheduled dates.

I looked at my passport, analyze what’s wrong with it. Hindi naman sya sira. Ano kaya sinasabing sira na. I saw the cover slightly peeling off. I was arguing still, sa isip ko lang naman— Kasalanan ko ba na poor quality ang passport nila?

I went to the study room, looked for pandikit. I found a small bottle of Elmer’s glue. Idinikit ko lang ng konti, inipit ko ng libro.

If they have one in Galleria, they must have one in Megamall too.
I took my chance and went to SM Megamall. Oh yes, there’s a bigger office of DFA there. And surprisingly there were a lot less people than in Galleria. Mas presko dito, hindi amoy pawis.

I couldn’t believe how simple and easy the process was. Walang mga kung-anu-anong requirement. I was just asked to fill out a one page and very simple form. Plus to submit a photo copy of my face on the passport, and a copy of a valid ID. I Paid four pesos for the photocopies.

I was told to come back the next day anytime from 10 am to 7 pm to claim my passport. I wasn’t given a claim stub. I just logged in my name on a sheet of paper, with my passport number. Yun lang. It took me less than 10 minutes from the time I arrived. Super fast, super bilis. Wow.

ECY—–“Hello tart, asan ka? nagpunta ako sa site nila, nakalagay dito, you have to renew your passport if it’s broken…”
Omb—–“Hindi naman sira ang passport ko, naluma na lang sa gamit”.
Omb—–“I’m in Megamall, ni renew ko pasport ko”.
ECY—–“O, ano?”
Omb—–“Idinikit ko ng Elmer’s Glue, okay naman”.
ECY—–“ha ha ha ha”.
Omb—–“Ang layu-layo kasi nung sa Pasay, at matagal, hindi naman sira”.
ECY—–“ha ha ha ha”.

The next day I claimed my passport. There was a little wait because there was no officer at the window.

But when a guy came, it took him less than 5 minutes to give me my passport. Ganun lang ka simple.

My son spent more time at the DFA Galleria because there was a long queue. He got his passport at 3 pm on the same day.

I must say that I was very impressed with how quick and easy the process was. They were very efficient. And you know what? It’s FREE. No fees.

One of those moments when I was happy to pay taxes. At least merong magandang napupuntahan.