1. That when rain pours Philippine Embassy shall close as early as 8:45 AM
- it actually opens 9:00 AM. We arrived there a quarter before but they wouldn't allow us in because according to them the queue is already long and we'll get ourselves wet since the rain shade couldn't accomodate us anymore (she hasn't noticed during the argument that even with umbrellas, we were already wet! Sa tagal ba namin naghintay sa labas..=,( ...) Buti nalang mapilit/masungit yung mga kasama namin, they had no choice so they opened the gate and let us come in, else I'd be very upset (because I really made an effort to wake up at 7 am.I always wake up 1 PM during weekends).
My rant: There is still an uncovered area within the vicinity. And the embassy has been there for a long period of time. We expect to have some rainy months in Singapore. Hindi kaya nila naisip gawan ito ng paraan?
Please give me some light..
the uncovered area
2. That when they cut the queue and you are still in line, you have to start from step one again when you come back.
-while waiting for our turn, we met this ate who went there last week . Told us she already completed the first step, (queue in Window 5 for half day - just to have your application form checked) but 5:30 PM they had to cut the queue for photo taking and encoding info details so she had to return today but to her surprise she was told to do step one again. I saw her number, she's 145th in line. Then I checked the number being served, 73rd. I uttered a prayer for her, sana hindi sya maabutan ng cut off, kawawa naman. By the way, we are 110th in queue, and we completed all steps around 4:00 PM.
Tita's rant: Mabagal daw yung encoder, usually takes 5-10 minutes per person to encode the information, get thumb marks and take photo. Pero mababait naman daw yung staffs.
My rant: We have domestic worker kababayans here. Their usual day-off , according to my cousin who happened to be a domestic helper here(and by the way, I'm proud of her, she's a breadwinner but still managed to get a parcel of land and a tricycle for her brother) is every other sunday. There are also some who go out once a month or every other month, depending on their employer. Paano pag sila naabutan ng cut off? They'll have to wait again for their next off and spend the whole day squeezing through a crowd at the embassy. Supposedly nagrerelax na lang sila nun.
Please give me some light..
3. That Philippine embassy is closed on Saturdays.
Tita's rant: Sana weekdays nalang ang off nila para maaccomodate lahat ng hindi pwede ng weekdays, at hindi na kailangang mag take ng leave.
-a normal employee here is entitled for about 8 to 15 days of annual leave. And we reserve these leaves usually to spend holiday with our loved ones. Masakit sa loob magleave para lang pumunta sa embassy at ma-stress sa pila..Hehe.. =)
Hope they could do something about it.
4. That embassy is closed on both Philippine- and Singapore -declared holidays.
My rant: I'm bitter. Sana kami din!
In all fairness, I have not encountered a rude staff. And I applaud them for that. But just like what our government is always saying, that we, the OFWs, are the modern-day heroes, would it give us a license to demand for better? A service that we deserve? =)
