I renewed my passport last October 2008. My older sister has just renewed her passport so she tipped me on the following:
- Passport request/renewal costs Php550, with passport available in 28
working days while a passport available in 15 working days costs Php 750.
- The process usually takes half to whole day and I had to be at DFA as early
as 7am to finish within the day.
- If I will get a passport for my daughter, I will not have to line up since
DFA had a special area for parent and child/ pregnant/senior citizens.
- Documents needed are original and photocopies of NSO Birth and Marriage
Certificates, passport size photos, valid ID, baptismal certificate, other
records to validate identity.
- DFA Passport request form (downloadable in DFA website)
- Old passport (if for renewal)
- LBC express promo was available inside the DFA office. They will deliver your
passport once available for a fee of Php 100 per passport. You just have to
leave the claim receipt.

I was pleased to hear that the government has taken extra steps to consider people under these categories. Lucky me. I had the option to get the services of a fixer and pay Php 1200 per passport. But, well, since I had the time to spare (and not the money) I decided to do it myself.

Armed with the requirements, I was at the DFA office at 7am. The line was already long at that time, I was the number 124. Not bad since the guard told me that 300 requests per day will be entertained and that the 1st 150 people will be scheduled in the morning and 151-300 in the afternoon.

By 815am, I was at the 1st screening point at the entrance. The officer checked my documents and told me to go straight to the special area. I thought, at this rate, I’ll be done before 10am. Good!

The DFA officer 1st asked me about my daughter’s documents.
DFA Officer: Where are her school records?
Me: Sir, just started school so she has no school records available
yet.
DFA Officer: Ok. How about her baptismal record?
Me: Sir, sorry but I only brought her Birth Certificate as
indicated at the back of the request form. I did not know that
baptismal certificate is still needed.
DFA Officer: Ok, but upon claiming her passport, you have to present her
baptismal certificate.
Me: Ok po. (Whew. One down, mine to go.)
DFA Officer: So this is a renewal, huh. Where is your old passport?
Me: (After going through my bag, I handed to him my old passport.)
DFA Officer: This is already punched through, meaning, another passport has
been issued, where is the latest passport?
Me: (shocked, since I thought I was prepared) Sir, that is the only
passport I have. My sister requested it for me that time.
DFA Officer: What? Maybe your sister has it now? Are you not sure? This is
an important legal document? And should be taken cared of at
all times? How sure are you that your sister did not use it
for travel or any other illegal purposes?
Me: Sir, I know my sister po and we live in the same house. She has
not left the country in the last 5 years. She’s not like that
po. (and before I can say another word..)
DFA Officer: No, no. You cannot be always sure. You have to produce the old
passport!
Me: (in a low voice and apologetic face, with the hope of trying to
cool him down) Sir, I will try to look for my latest passport.
If I have misplaced it po, what are my options?
DFA Officer: (a little bit relaxed) Miss, you have to be sure of the
location of the passport, ok? If you won’t be able to find it,
then fill up another form, sign the affidavit of loss, and
present more valid documents. Ok?
Me: ok, sir. Thank you.

So I went out of the office empty handed and feeling stupid for not remembering where I put my dumb passport. I immediately called my sister and she laughed. Of course she had given me my passport, I may have just misplaced it, she said. I also called my husband, also got the laughing response, and told me to look for my passport again. When I went home, I dug up my files one by one, and surely, the latest passport was placed in an inconspicuous envelope. Note to self: Try not to be stupid in Singapore!

The next day, I was back at the DFA office, this time at 730am. Breezed through the line, and was back at the DFA Officer. I was apprehensive in meeting him again. I really don’t want to feel stupid for 2 days in a row. As I was ready to apologize, he just gave me a blank stare, immediately approved the request. I guess he did not remember me at all. I was just another face in the crowd. I was saved from the embarrassment! Whew.

After 28 days, I was able to claim my passport. 