A couple “catch up” news items today plus a shout out to a couple Philippine government agencies trying to do a good job in providing useful resources to foreigners and Philippine citizens alike.
Philippine Embassy in Dublin opens Temporary Office
Posted: 14 Jul 2009 03:26 AM PDT
PR-536-09, 14 July 2009 – Philippine Ambassador to Ireland Ariel Y. Abadilla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippine Embassy has opened its temporary office in Dublin on 9 July 2009.
The temporary office is located at the Fitzwilliam Business Centre, Suite G03, 77 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Its temporary business hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except on Philippine and Irish holidays.
In opening the first resident Philippine Embassy in Ireland this month of July, Ambassador Abadilla noted that July is also the same month when diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Ireland was formalized 25 years ago.
As part of the transition process, the Philippine Honorary Consul in Dublin Mr. John Ferris had his last consular clinic on July 11 at the Teacher’s Club on Parnell Square West, Dublin. Mr. Ferris will also be at the new office.
Ambassador Abadilla announced that the public can now transact regular business at the new temporary office starting July 13, when the Embassy begins consular and frontline operations….
So why do we care that the Philippines now has a ‘real’ embassy in Ireland? Well almost every day here I listen to mindless babbling about “Pinoy Pride” … often centered on some sport’s figure’s latest exploits …or the amount of money that sports figure spends overseas, once again reinforcing the impression that the only reason there even are any Filipinos living in the Philippines is that they are the ones too poor to flee.
Those who hail from “first world” countries might as yourself “when is the last time my country opened a new embassy and confirmed formal diplomatic relations with another country? Not that it doesn’t happen, but frankly I think formalizing and normalizing relations between countries is a lot more an object of pride than crowing about who won a pool championship or what Pinot prodigy got to appear on Oprah, the unofficial epitome of Pinoy achievement it seems.
Anyway, regardless of your thoughts on what constitutes something to take pride in, notice that this news item came directly to my mail box, as such news does each and every day from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (same-same State Department). You might want to visit their well-run web site. Ever try to get up to the minute news from most ‘first world’ counties government departments?
Another agency foreigners deal with frequently is the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. Look at the slice I took from the Immigrant Visa page of their website. For years I have searched various pages for some of this info, helped other on sometime fruitless searches as well. Now they put it all on one page … just press on the tab which corresponds to the visa you want to know about, and all the facts and procedures are right there for you. In addition, in the sidebar, there is a link to download all forms required (these have been cut down greatly as well), read, download, fill up, and go to the BI office … doesn’t get much simpler than that. Try finding a page this well organized on the USCIS website … sometimes “third-world” can be just as “first-world” as they want to be.
There is also a”Help Desk” on the BI web site. Got a question you can’t find an answer to regarding Immigration issues? Just click on the help desk and leave an email message … guess what, they answer their email and provide helpful, personalized answers. once again, your concept will be different than mine, but I submit here’s some real Pinoy Pride on display here … doing the job you get paid for and making government services available to the public. Hat’s off.
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In 1997 I applied for a visa at the Philippine Consulars Office in Guam. It was a Friday and my flight was the next day. I paid my money and gave my paperworks to the young girl. “Next week you can pick up your passport” I was informed. “I don’t need a passport to enter the Philippines?” I asked. “Why yes that is required.” was her responce. Than I explained that it would be better if I got my visa today, vice next week asmy flight will leave bukas. Since I had all the paperworks and paid the money, all that must be done is two stamps in my passport and for her to enter it in the “Big Book”. I was smiling and jocking with all the employees there.and I was the only customer in the building that day. I got the visa and left scratching my head!
I wonder how many people could relate a similar story, Paul? As opposed to the number I know who would relate a different version … full of anger, complaints and outright rage at the world because the consulate lady was going to follow SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and make you wait until next week. SOP’s are a big thing here in the Philippines. Bluster and complaining seldom gets one anywhere.
However, chatting and joking (often known as ‘making paki usap’) does go a long, long way here. Government employees can often break almost any unwritten rule to expedite something, if they feel you are a nice person, if they feel you respect them, and if they feel you, too, are just another person caught up in the wave of red tape.
I had a conversation not too long ago with another foreigner regarding a similar situation he was involved in that didn’t go at all well for him. His description was full of comments like. “Who the hell did that bitch think she was, to treat me that way”?
Well, quite simply, lowly clerk as she might have been, she was the oen with his passport in his hand … and I think she got the message on what he thought of her loud and clear … bottom line is, he waited … and waited … and waited … but hey, he has the warm thought of how ‘he didn’t let anyone shit on him, he let “them” know who he was’ to fall back on. Bully for him.
As in so many other things in life, how one gets along here in the Philippines depends a lot on how you treat people (especially those you perceive are “lower” than you), and how much you like stroking your own ego, as opposed to getting a stamp in your passport, or whatever your original mission might have been.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes, who did that “BITCH” think she was? Maybe she was the one with the power at that time. I’ve had police not ask for money or write the ticket by admitting I was wrong and joking with them on the side of the road. I show them! I show them, that I know that at this time, the power lies with them and I know it. This has worked for me 95% of the time during my last 15 years here, there is always the few that nothing works on them as they were born assholes and seem to enjoy it. (state side Also I might add) With them I keep quite and take the ticket or what ever is involved. You can’t win em’ all, and sometimes you’re not allowed to play! Dropping a case of brandy with your local Captain at Christmas Time never hurts!