The Day I Got My Passport
by Oliver Carlos
Recently, there’s this issue of Fil-foreign basketball players born overseas being barred from playing in the national team as locals. The world governing body for basketball, FIBA, had a rule that such individuals must have acquired their Philippine passports before the age of 16. Otherwise, they’re not considered as Filipinos, at least in the eyes of FIBA, but not necessarily according to our constitution.
Nonetheless, that FIBA rule sent me scrambling to get my own passport. It’s not because I wanted to try-out for Gilas Pilipinas, but because I never had one since birth! Would you believe that it was only now when I’m almost 50 that I have acquired a passport? Yes, I haven’t travelled outside the country yet, and I haven’t ridden on an airplane not even once, even though my nickname is Jet. With this on-going pandemic, looks like my streak would extend some more.
I learned that getting a passport is quite difficult. It begins with getting an online appointment which is like finding a needle in a haystack. It’s arduous to search for a slot among the DFA offices, they’re all filled to the brim. I tried getting a slot from offices as far north as Pangasinan to as far south as the Camarines provinces, but to no avail. I was willing to drive all the way there, but a slot wouldn’t open up for me.
After some time, by God’s grace, slots were available in Alabang. I, my wife, and my son scampered to go there to get the ball rolling. I was surprised to see so many people lining up at the DFA office. After a couple of hours in the queue, we were done with the interview and picture taking. A couple of weeks later, we finally received our passports. My little maroon booklet is surely a very precious possession.
I felt very proud being a passport holder. Seeing my name and my picture on it makes me feel I’m a true-blue Filipino. Well, I know I am one because I’m born here to Filipino parents, I can easily assert that by just saying “I am a Filipino.” But the passport is something else. It’s a solid evidence, a tangible proof, greater than an oral declaration.
Passports are important because it tells the world of one’s citizenship. Wherever people go, the passport shouts aloud that its holder belongs to this or that country. If you’re a Filipino staying overseas, the passport is a constant reminder of your identity and where your home is. Oftentimes, a lonely and tired OFW in a foreign land finds comfort by just looking at his passport. That maroon booklet makes him daydream of home.
In one’s Christian walk, you might sometimes feel discouraged when you encounter hardships and frustrations caused by system of this world. The apostle Paul wrote encouraging words in his letter to the Ephesians, words that we can use to wipe away our hurts. We read in Philippians 3:20 (GNT):
“We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.”
Paul exhorted that it’s just natural to feel downtrodden in this world because this is not our home. We are like a fish out of water. But he gives us hope that someday we will really feel at home. That’s when Jesus would come back to get us to be with him for eternity. Our real home is a place where there is no sickness, no pain, no hurts, no tears. Our citizenship is in heaven if we belong to Jesus.
Are you tired and weary? Cheer up! Believe that one day, all your stress and sufferings will be gone. Look forward to our Living Hope, Jesus. Hear him whisper to you right now, “My child, you are not home yet, but I am here to make your ride the best it can be. So hang on to me.”
