Miss Wilhelmina

When I was about 6 years old, I was admitted into elementary school because I can reach my left ear using my right hand over my head.

Seriously though, the school agreed to let me in as long as I was turning 7 the same year. Thing is, I was only 5 years old turning 6. So my mother had a plan, since my birth certificate was old, and the school only required a xerox copy, she went ahead and had it photocopied, and when the copy wasn’t too clear, she would type the letters in and well, 1984 magically turned into 1983.

So from elementary all through out high school, my school records indicated that I was born in 1983. In college though, I found out the truth that I was born in 1984 and not 1983. So that was taken cared of, but as I was graduating, the records-in-charge at school said she couldn’t file my graduation, because my birth certificate had discrepancies on it. It had four discrepancies, and the only reason why the RIC can’t file my graduation is because my middle name on the certificate had an extra letter on it.

I was born in Jolo, Sulu, my parents are located in Zamboanga and I am in Cebu City. To cut the story short, legal proceedings were done and three months later, I was able to get the confirmation that any discrepancies on my birth certificate will be corrected and I was able to graduate by March. Take note, will be corrected and not has been corrected.

Although I was able to graduate from school, CHED or the Commission on Higher Education has not recognized the fact that I’ve completed all college courses yet and well, until the school got the confirmation and legal documents that my name has been corrected, they never will recognize it.

By July, CHED has finally submitted the certification that I have finally graduated from college. Yes, that’s four months from when I finished my first degree. Now I have several SECPA and certified xerox copies in hand. When you look at the SECPA copy, it can be read but if you have it photocopied in the best quality, it can be read even better.

I never though I’d have trouble with my birth certificate anymore. But then, when I went to a travel agency to have my passport processed, they asked for a Local Live Birth Certificate. I was like… “Huh??” They said that the information on my SECPA wasn’t too clear, so I offered a certified true copy, but they wanted a different copy, which caused the confusion. They showed me a sample, and it was indeed a different-looking copy.

Thing is, that copy can only be acquired at your birth place. In short, I have to go to Jolo, Sulu to get it. My dad asked my aunt to get a copy for me, and she did, when I opened the envelope today, it wasn’t what I expected. She sent me another certified true copy of my birth certificate and not the Local Live Birth Certificate that the agency asked for. Apparently, even the people at the municipal civil registrar got confused or are just not used to giving out those certificates.

So I’m off to borrow one of my friends’ Local Live  Birth Certificate, have it photocopied and sent to my parents so that they would at least know what I need.

*Sigh* I wish they called it differently. What a waste of time.