Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A DFA Red Ribbon Experience


Anyone who's been overseas or headed there will tell you that every so often, your
new home may require a Red Ribbon (Consular Ribbon) of your documents. This
needs to be done at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) --- old building.

Whaaat???

The new DFA is where Philippine Passports are processed, that's along Macapagal
Highway. The old DFA is where the Red Ribbon for documents are done, that's along
Roxas Boulevard. I will repeat that again, the old DFA is along Roxas Boulevard.
One more time, the old DFA is along Roxas Boulevard.

If you've never been to the old DFA, be extra careful not to believe people who tell
you there's another old DFA building --- oh, it's just 5 minutes from the real DFA.
Unfortunately, I've been to enough satellite offices to know that government offices
come in all shapes and sizes. Fortunately, my B.S. detector was working despite the
heavy rains --- that office looked way too small to be the real DFA. I'm sure the
numerous documents there belonged to other people whom they've duped into availing
of their services.

I thankfully found my way back to the real DFA and got my documents after an hour
or so of waiting. Oh yes, I just had to pay Php100 at the real DFA cashier.

So again, the old DFA is along Roxas Boulevard.

Department of Foreign Affairs (old)
2330 Roxas Boulevard
Pasay City, 1300
Philippines


Image courtesy of DFA Philippines