The Robinsons Galleria NBI Satellite Office is located at East lane Basement 1.  I took the entrance at Ortigas Avenue (Gold’s Gym) and went down one floor using the escalator.  After that, I went straight further and asked for directions from the lady  in that small stall nearby Digital Hub.  She told me to turn right and then go down using an escalator.  If you do not want to get lost like me, follow the lady’s directions. Otherwise, you would end up at the basement parking lot.

1. Turn right when you see the escalators, don’t use the first escalators you see, as it will lead you to the parking lot.  You should pass by Marks and Spencers.
2. Right before the end of this hallway you would find a narrow escalator, take this one.
3. When you reach the end of the escalator, get off and turn left.

NBI Requirements I brought with Me

Based on the information I found from other blogs (the NBI site is practically useless for getting information) I brought the following:

• 2 forms of ID (my drivers license and Philippine passport).
• my original foreign marriage license with authentication from the Philippine embassy with accompanying photocopies
• my birth certificate (just in case)
• passport photos (just in case)
• a pen (for filling out forms)
• 115 pesos cash (the fee)

1. I came in at around 10:30AM which was already too late.
2. The maximum applications they process is only 500 per day.  Your chances are higher to get a slot if you are there between 6AM to 8AM .

I am considering going to Quezon City Hall Satellite office but I heard lines are quite long over there and process is slower.  I could also try the Main Office, although it’s kind of out of the way.  They said it’s not that busy there, but who knows really?  So maybe, just maybe I will wake up at 5:00 AM on a Monday and go back to Robinsons Galleria to get my NBI Clearance.  It’s much faster, however, the question is, can I wake up that early?

Later on, I realized I would rely a big deal on the “escorts”, first of all to help me cross that extremely busy street called East Avenue and shielding me from the rain. In the end, I felt sort of cared for. It felt half dodgy but somehow, I also felt that it will be alright, even as I followed them towards the seedy narrow walkways where left and right are small makeshift offices that provide many kinds of services which include notary publics, photocopying, medical clearances, drug tests.. Maybe even snacks! A lot of other applicants were also there so I felt that it was pretty legit. I asked for their fees: it was 400 pesos for both the urinalysis for the drug test and the medical exam. They first asked for my foreign drivers license because they had to use it to enter data into their computer system. They told me this was part of the process. And so I gave them my license. It didn’t feel that wrong since others were also giving their license. I then paid for the fee and they gave me a number. When my number was called I was given the plastic cup and was taken to the toilet. Luckily I was able to collect just enough to fill the cup. Next was the medical exam. I had a vision test. I told them immediately that I wore glasses and that I unfortunately forgot to bring them. They said it was ok. They would just note that I had to wear glasses. After that, they took my blood pressure. It was quite on the high side but it seemed not bad enough to fail so they just told me to lose weight. In short, I passed the medical exam. Whew! I thanked the doctor and then went back with my “escort”. She helped me cross the street.

While walking, some other men offered to “fix” my license. They said the lines were long. I told them the lines were pretty short today. I thanked both of them and proceeded to go back to Window 14. Later on, I found out I had to still photocopy (when will I ever learn to PHOTOCOPY before going) my passport and foreign drivers license. It was good that there was one at the back. 8 pesos later, I had my photocopied documents submitted. I was given a number. All it takes now is to wait for my number to show up on the display. Not long after, I saw my number and then I was asked to have my picture and signature taken. After that, I waited for my name to be called, this time it was the cashier and so paid some 600+ pesos. After sometime, I was called again to get another photo and signature. And then, not long after that I was finally called the final time to pick up the license card. It was nevertheless anticlimactic. I couldn’t believe it was all finished. I had my card in my hand. What else is there to do (buy a car!)? I sat in the chapel and paid my respect and gratitude to the Lord and went back home. I arrived home before 12 noon.

Meanwhile, a bunch of questions popped up in my mind like for example payment of contributions.  Now that I am a self-employed Filipino-American IT Consultant living in the Philippine I have no idea which country I should be paying social security taxes.  Based on my talk with the lady and from my brief research, it seems that for self-employed here, SSS contributions are voluntary.  However, upon looking at the US social security website I found out there are no bilateral agreements between the US and the Philippines.  I have no idea what this means.  I guess it means I have to pay social security to the US then?  Well, this calls for a visit to the good old social security office.  It’s good that they have a branch right here in Manila.   I also need to go there to apply for a new card and change my last name.  However these things I might as well postpone until I come back from my upcoming trip to the Netherlands because.. uhm.. I left  my Social Security card over there, I think it helps a lot to have it when I apply. Darn! Anyways, the deadline for US filing for overseas people like me is still a few more months away.