This blog is rated
F.U. for unusually colorful language.
(how refreshing, no?)
Though it been over 7 months since I went to the Philippines, an incident at immigration/customs during my arrival has been bothering me ever since. (I know let it go, right?) Well, I knew the damn official I met was a total asshole. Now I know and can confirm that he was a ignorant idiot as well. So I get to the immigration desk after I get off the plane. I get on the line. I never know if I belong on the line labeled "balikbayan" but since all of the available desks have it, I hop on one where I see obvious looking and sounding FilAms. Its my turn and I say "hello" and immediately regret not saying "kamusta po" instead (would that have really made a difference?). The guy takes my passport and stuff and looks at a few pages of it. He asks me when my return flight is. I tell him. (Its about 28 days from that day) He looks at my passport again. He says in Tagalog, "I'm only giving you 21 days. You're not a Filipino anyway." I'm too shocked to answer. I've never had an official give me less time than what was on my ticket. Plus not being considered Filipino as well (shut the fuck up if you disagree - i know its more complicated than that). Anyway this has been a thorn in my ass ever since. So the guy goes on to say that if I don't change my flight itinerary it will cost me over 3000 pesos to get some imaginary visa extension bullshit like that. He keeps mentioned the costs and I'm a bit slow in determining bribe tactics but his talk of costs pisses the HELL out of me. (this is before I was working and therefore more broke than I had a right to be, taking my broke ass to the philippines. but remember i was there for that conference too? anyway.)
Anyway the point of this longwinded colorful anecdote is that HA! I finally got around to searching for the law to confirm what I suspect all along. Yes, I am a balikbayan (coz my parents are former Filipino citizens) and YES, I am allowed to stay up to one year WITHOUT a STUPID ASS VISA. HA. The proof is
here. [PDF file] And if you knew this all along, shut the fuck up. I'm an ignorant asshole too. But not as bad as that greasy haired ignorant asshole at immigration. HA.
also in himala land, i've actually posted news and more blah on my editor (daw) blog on maarte again. hey, its a start.
