Ten years ago, I was asked to get my NBI clearance to complete my requirements for my (first) job. NBI was still located in Taft Ave., Manila then. I wished I never had to go through such hard day again... If only there is someone to do it for me (just like in passport application where I had an agency).

But last weekend, I was reminded to get my NBI clearance. I remember not having fun getting my first clearance because of the long lines that I had to go through. I hate having to wait in long lines but I have lost the one that I got ten years ago hence I have to go through the process again at the main office.

They're now located in Quiapo, Manila. A place I do not frequent because (1) I have no business going to such place, except on times that I need to accompany someone to Hidalgo to buy some stuff for photography (or take some street photos); (2) I don't like too-crowded places.
 

I had a hard time getting up early on Monday, much harder when I knew that my schedule says, "it's NBI day!" It took me two hours to prepare and have breakfast before stepping out the apartment. "Carriedo," that's my destination for the day. My landlady said that the easiest way is that I take the LRT going there. That was easy. I just had to push some people inside the LRT to get inside the car. *wink*

So I was standing outside the LRT Carriedo Station, wondering where to go. Left? Right? Straight ahead? I had to follow where most people, who took off the station, were going. I was lucky one of them (the one I consistently followed) was going to NBI too. It's at the New Quiapo Shopping Center (Carriedo Plaza). I think NBI is renting 3 or 4 floors of the building. Question is, how and where to really start...

First, you have to locate the last person in line and stand next to him/her. Do not take him/her off your eyes as you go up the building.

Well, I found the end of the line inside a narrow street beside the building. Yes, ten years doesn't change a thing. I thought the line was endless as I was trying to look for its end.

NOTE: All you need inside to get your NBI clearance is a black ballpen and some money. No need to buy cedula (Community Tax Certificate) from those guys outside the building.

As you get inside the NBI's first floor, you will not see any banner or boards that will tell you how you'd go through the process. Follow your instinct. You'll see the banners inside the main floor, but before you get there, you will have to follow my steps as there would be numbers of new line formation again. Just find the shortest line and stand next to the last person. Then the following steps should guide you enough to hit the Releasing Section in 3 hours (or less):

Step 1. Pay Php20 when you get to the cashier. It's for their building maintenance and the stub you will use to get your application form.

Step 2. Get your application form and fill it in.

Step 3. Yes, this is Step 3, in contrary to what they have posted on a large banner that this was Step 1--- Get into another line to pay to the cashier (Php115 for local employment/ travel abroad). You will need to show the receipt to Step 4. I made a mistake following their posted instruction (YOU SHOULD NOT FOLLOW IT!).

Step 4. Data check. -- don't mind some guy shouting at you to make your line straight. He's a robot coated with human flesh. He will not attend to any inquiry that you have because he was programmed to just shout and arrange the lines (trust me on that).

Step 5. Quick Search (while you're in your line, pray hard that you don't have a HIT or that someone with the same name as yours has a bad record)

Step 6. Image Capture (no smiling here, they won't give you a queue to do so)

Step 7. Finger-printing (ok, ok, I know you're tired and probably hungry now, but have presence of mind-- be sure you're on the right lane because apparently, thumb-printing is another step that they forgot to include in their list of steps)

"Istippayb ka!", as the huge man pushes me away (thank God I have a good balance).
"What?!", I asked.
"Istippayb ka!" he shouted at me as he was assisting the people on their thumb-prints.
"Whatever," I told myself scratching my forehead wondering what he meant. Then I saw another line for finger printing. It was then that I realized what he was trying to tell me. STEP FIVE: Finger Printing. Fingers first before your thumb go solo!

Step 8. Registration (just go with the flow)

Step 9. Releasing (or printing)

Step 10. THUMB-PRINTING!

And you're good. Keep your personal copy in a safe place. DO NOT LOSE IT so that after ten years, if you're going to need another one, you will just have to renew it via their new Automated Clearance Machine (ACMs).

Well, I don't have a hit. Who would name their daughter my name anyway?
(time to rest [work?!] now, as I am still coughing)

Readers have left 5 comments.

 1. Untitled
ria, Unregistered

galeng! natawa ako dito. sadly, 10 years really didnt change a thing. memories of me going through the same process about 10 years back came flashing back. i have an NBI card now, which they say will make the process more speedy. i have yet to check.

 Posted 2008-02-12 10:38:47

 2. Untitled
mae, Unregistered

how come they did not give me an NBI card? it's still the same green paper.

or do i have to renew it so i could get the card?

 Posted 2008-02-12 10:52:51

 3. Untitled
ria, Unregistered

i-a-apply mo yun, mae. about 7 or 8 years back, 100 ang bawat card. if you have the card DAW, you dont need to fall in line for the filling in of the form. they will use the databank they have of you, using your card.

hanggang ngayon, nde ko pa nagagamit e. try ko kaya sa mga malls? pwede DAW e!

 Posted 2008-02-12 16:17:21

 4. Untitled
mae, Unregistered

so i've seen in the news they have the machine for that na. try ntin pg uwi mo

 Posted 2008-02-12 18:30:56

 5. Untitled
ria, Unregistered

let's go go go!!!! see you very soon!

 Posted 2008-02-13 09:44:05

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