Hit: My NBI Experience

'Nag-hit ka!'

'Po?'

'Yung pangalan mo, may hit. Ibig sabihin, may kapangalan ka.'

Such was what transcribed when I went to the Quezon City Hall to apply for an NBI Clearance.

I am in desperate and urgent need for an NBI clearance due to my pending application for passport so I proceeded to the QC Hall to apply for one. As expected, I have encountered long lines on the following procedures:

• getting an application form
• having my fingerprints printed on the application form (where you are REQUIRED to pay Php 5.00 for the wet tissue-panglinis daw ng kamay after the fingerprint)
• picture-taking
• data verification

It was almost 5:00pm and I was still on the Data Verification line. As was in the DFA, there are also "fixers" who are coming to you to propose a "fast" way to get your clearance. 'Wala nang pila, 450 Php lang.'

But since the NBI has said that Clearances will be released on the day you applied for, people are patiently going thru the long line process. By 'on the day' means that you do not have HIT on your name.

I would never understand and care more for that HIT word when after going thru that long line process, the woman assisting on the Data Verification window informed me that 'Nag-HIT ka!'

The woman said that I have a namesake that's why they will not release the clearance within the day. Instead, she told me to return 10 days after and that's when they will release my clearance. (I would later on find out from the NBI website that those with 'HIT' remarks can claim their clerance 48 hours after- 2 days after, that is.)

Going home (and even today), I am contemplating on how in the world will I ever have a namesake considering that I have two names, the second of which, is spelled 'uniquely', the common of which normally uses C but my name uses K. And besides, if ever I have my namesake, can they not easily check the Middle Name?

The second thing is, if ever I have my namesake, why spend 10 days to verify if you do not have any criminal records? Does it matter to NBI when we have our namesake? Does having a namesake suggest that we might have committed any crime at all?

I'll give my fair sentiment- While I do respect that the NBI is keen to trying to issue NBI clearance, I do believe that there should be a lot of changes in the System. For many, taking those long queue of lines following the procedures is a hassle. Much more when you find out that you can't have your clearance issued within the day just because you have you namesake.

Ten days, for me must be very long enough. In this age when computer networks and internet are widely used by various offices, it is surprising that we can't keep up and provide the people with a fast service.

Ten days after, my NBI clearance is finally released. With no criminal record. But with another extra cost: An additional 5php to pay for another wet tissue because again, I still have to have my fingerprint posted in my clerance.

5 php, to some, may be insignificant. To some, that would mean additional deduction to their budget.

Kaya nga kumukuha nang NBI clearance para makapagtrabaho eh. Eh hindi pa nakakapagtrabaho, gumagastos na ng 'hindi naman talaga kailangan'.

DFA & My Passport Adventure

DFA & My Passport Adventure


For those of you who are planning to get their Philippine Passports, you might want to read my story first so at least you are (slightly) guided.

Anyway, I have been asked to urgently have my passport because there's this immediate company training in Hong Kong.


I initially visited the Department of Foreign Affairs site so I can get a view of the requirements needed during the application. You may view the requirements >>here.


So off I went to the DFA on one Monday morning bringing with me a filled up application form which I have downloaded from the site (front and back). Along with the application form is my birth certificate (authenticated by the NSO), 2 valid IDs (Company and School ID) and Passport Pictures (required: Royal Blue Background).

Even before I am able to enter the DFA premises, there are these fixers near the entrance who'll try to take advantage of you. Some were acting as if they are also applying for passports and persuades you to go to his "kakilala" who can help you get your passport easier.

Very Important: Do not, at any time, entertain people OUTSIDE the DFA Premises. Proceed directly to the DFA gate and ask the guards on the proper procedures.

Now some people have already advised me to bring candies, bottled water, sandwich or biscuit because there's this "unbelievable" queue of applicants.

1st Line would be the line where you may enter the Basketball Court (this is where the documents are being assesed and verified).- so bale, entrance pa lang pala ito sa pagpasok, hindi pa ito yung pinaka pila ng mga applicants. parang sa MRT wherein, pipila ka muna sa mga guwardiya bago ka makapasok ng MRT station.

Once you have entered the Basketball Court, there will, again be a line before you can enter the "assesment premise".

And so I thought, " Siguro, about 75% of these people are applying for their passports so they can work abroad. Parang kung iisipin mo, ganoon na ba talaga karami ang gustong lumabas nang Pilipinas? Can't we have enough work here for all these people?"

The third line would be the queue for assesing your papers. Now this has caused me into a "desperate" mood, really. Imagine, waking up early in the morning so you can come early to the DFA, then taking three queue of lines, only to find out that the requirement list in the DFA portal is actually incomplete.

Anyway, I lack my NBI clearance. If you have only relied on the list in the DFA website, then you will notice that the NBI clearance is not a requisite. Rather, it might be used as an additional supporting document to prove your identity.

Can't the people in-charge of maintaining the DFA website just update the records?

Dito naman, naisip ko, "Gaano ba talaga kahirap i-prove ang identity mo kung ikaw na mismo ang nandoon at sinasabi sa buong mundo na 'AKO 'TO."

And so, I left DFA without actually having to accomplish my application. My next step from here would be to go to the National Bureau of Investigation to get my NBI clearance.

But that's another story......