It took 3 weeks before I got my certificate and oath of allegiance for my dual citizenship. We went to pick it up in the immigration office in Manila on the 13th of November. Hubby was impressed how quick the processing of papers here compared to the US. It took forever to wait there when I filed for my green card and citizenship. Having a dual citizenship means I can enjoy the privileges and benefits of both countries and I can stay here for as long as I want to without having to pay for the extension of my visa.

That same day I got my dual citizenship, I filed my petition for the release of hubby’s permanent resident visa. I brought all the required documents, paid the initial fee worth Php2,520. He was scheduled to go back on the 18th of November for the hearing. So we went again to Manila on the scheduled day. Unfortunately, my sister’s van was color coded that day so we had to take the passenger bus. It’s a good thing that the scheduled time for hubby’s hearing was 10:00 AM. The bus had to stop at the bus station twice. That’s what I dislike taking the bus. My sister went with us because she’s more familiar with the ins and outs in Manila.

We arrived at immigration office 35 minutes earlier. Hubby was right when he said that it’s Filipino time here so his schedule of 10:00 AM became 10:20 AM. We had to wait on the lawyer who’s supposed to do the hearing. The so-called hearing was just like a casual conversation between us and the lawyer with just few questions about us and that was it. We were told to call their office after a week and that’s tomorrow for follow-up. Then if it’s approved, we have to go back there again so they can stamp on my hubby’s passport.

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…hubby and I got to go to Manila this morning to file for my dual citizenship. I must admit, I’ve been postponing to go there because I really don’t like to go to Manila because I hate the traffic there and also we always get a bad experience from the crocodiles in the streets ( mga buwaya sa kalsada na pulis) and MMDA workers. But since we are already here in my homeland for 9 months now, I have to file my application before the expiration of our free stay here or we have to pay huge amount for the extension of our visas. Our free stay here is only good for a year.

I already have the form for Retention/Re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship which I got from the immigration office in Dagupan not long after we got here. I could have filed it there but they don’t accept dual citizenship application here in the province. So I filled it out and attached all the requirements which are Duly accomplished application form, 2 pieces passport size photo, photocopy of naturalization certificate and US passport, proof as natural born Philippine citizen, the original and a copy of at least one of the following: your Phil. birth certificate, old Phil. passport, Voter’s ID, marriage certificate, 2 legal size self addressed stamp envelopes. All these should be fastened in a legal size folder. The payment for the application is Php3,000.

So early this morning, we drove to the Immigration Office in Intramuros, Manila. I hired a driver to drive my sister’s van. My hubby and my sis went with me. The driver took the NLEX route and the road reminded me of the express way in the US. No traffic and the road was constructed like the roads in the states. When we reached Intamuros, we looked for the Bureau Of Immigration and we didn’t have a hard time looking for it because it’s situated close to the Manila Cathedral. The filing went smoothly, no problem at all. I will just follow up my application thru the phone after a week and if it’s already approved, I’ll go back and pick up my oath of allegiance and I’ll have to file for my hubby’s permanent residency here. It will be my turn to petition him.

We’ll, the story didn’t end there. When we were on the road (still in Manila) going back home, naku, heto na naman po ang mga buwaya sa kalsada. Pinahinto yong driver namin dahil meron daw violation. Ano ba naman yan, kakainis na kayo. Wala namang violation pero ginawan ni buwaya. Nag-change lane kasi driver namin at sinundan lang naman niya yong van na nasa harap niya pero di naman hnuli yong van na yon. Sinabi ba naman na nag-ca-cause daw ng traffic yong ginawa ng driver namin kaya humingi ng lagay, Php500. Alam yata nila pag galing probinsiya yong sasakyan kasi sa plate number. Siyempre pag kukunin yong lisensiya, hassle na kasi uuwi pa ng probinsiya. Alangan namang babalikan pa e ang layo ng biyahe kaya walang option yong driver kundi magbayad, pero galing naman sa akin yong pinambayad. Nakakainis na. Ilang beses na nangyari eto sa amin sa Manila. Last time no’ng sinundo kami galing airport. Ang laki noon ang hiningi, Php3,500. Seventhousand sana pero nakiusap bayaw ko. Kelan kaya matitigil ang mga modus operandi ng mga mga buwaya sa kalsada? Kanino kaya eto irereport para matigil na. Nakakahiya ang mga kapwa ko Pilipino. Kelan kaya kayo magbabago mga pulis na mangungutong???

Dumaan pala kami kanina sa Clark para mag-grocery.

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