A great Milestone

For almost a decade I have been doing efforts to establish myself as a citizen here in this country. Although technically I attained my citizenship at birth, a lot of people would still question me and brand me as an outsider. For years, I've traveled back and forth to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and to NSO (National Statistics Office) to acquire my Birth Certificate... to process my Late Registration of Birth and to eventually get my Philippine Passport. I've got numerous requests, which have been rejected because I wasn't in the system. I stopped hoping 2 years back, that I would be able to get anywhere with my hopes. But as a stroke of luck, I had this urge to resume all efforts because of this person who really meant dear to me. And I tried. Because I didn't want to disappoint him.

And you know what, it seemed that this person was my lucky charm. This year I went back again to NSO and applied for a negative copy of me and my twin's birth certificate. And as it turns out, I had the only one with a record! Which was really strange. As for my twin, I would have to submit records again proving of her existence here in the form of our old report cards.

Moving on... my next step was to apply for a passport. I went to DFA three times in the span of 2 weeks and as of yesterday, my application was finally accepted! And boy I got the biggest surprise in my life! The first two visits were not as successful but yesterday, after I was accompanied by this significant "person" everything was smooth sailing. And I lined up.. thrice. And lastly placed my finger prints on a paper and went home very very happy!

I am scheduled to receive my passport on November 21. I will mark that day as the day I finally establish my place as a citizen of this country!

It was worth the wait. This is freedom. Now I can travel and go.

Thank you リク.