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DFA Philippines Issues Machine Readable Passport (MRP) - DFA ePassport

The Philippines now belongs to the exclusive club of countries issuing ePassports, joining the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday said the Philippines has improved its standard one level above the machine readable passport with the issuance of the state-of-the-art electronic passports.

The ePassport has an embedded microchip containing data essential in verifying the passport holder’s identity, including personal data, biometrics and digital signature.

"This chip is interoperable, that is to say, it can be read by any standard passport machine reader in border controls worldwide," Romulo said.

The embedded microchip also contains a complex laminate that protects the datapage against tampering; customized invisible images on every page; and a hidden and coded technology that allows the encoding of the holder’s name and passport number on the passport photo.

"With the ePassport travel document, we join the exclusive club of countries issuing ePassports – among them Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the UK, Russia, the US, and other developed countries," he added.

Romulo said Filipinos were first given the world-class machine readable passport (MRP) when the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued 228,430 MRPs in 2007 and 2,097,383 MRPs in 2008.

From January to Aug. 9 this year, 1,500,402 MRPs had been issued and delivered. To date, the DFA has issued a total of 3,826,215 MRPs.

"The MRP has brought much benefit to our people. With a quick swipe of the MRP, immigration clearance is accomplished in less than 30 seconds," Romulo said.

The DFA said applications for the ePassport through the online appointment system will be accepted starting Wednesday.

The DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs advises interested applicants to set an appointment through the DFA website http://www.dfa.gov.ph.

Until the DFA’s ePassport system has achieved full capacity, only 100 ePassports will be issued daily on a first-come, first-served basis. From Aug. 26 to Sept. 30, only passport applications for renewal will be accepted.

Before submitting their online appointment application, applicants are requested to fill out the required fields on the online appointment page on the DFA website.

Otherwise, the online appointment process will not proceed. After internal verification, the DFA will inform the prospective applicant of his/her schedule via email.

Subsequently, the applicant will confirm his/her availability by sending a reply.

Personal appearance is required for prospective ePassport applicants. Until an announcement is made, all ePassport applications during this period shall be filed personally by the applicants.

An applicant may use the current MRP application form for this purpose, which is also available on the DFA website.

Current MRP holders are advised that their MRPs are compliant with global standards and remain valid.


Yam Laranas' Documentary "Asia’s Titanic" Premieres on August 25 at National Geographic Channel

"Asia’s Titanic", a 100% Filipino made documentary produced by Andrew Roque and directed by Yam Laranas will have its premiere on the National Geographic Channel across Asia on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 8:00pm with replays on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 4:00am and 9:00am.

The documentary which took three years in the making tells the story of MV Doña Paz sea tragedy and its survivors.


On December 20, 1987, just five days before Christmas, passenger ship MV Doña Paz collided with an oil tanker, MT Vector, off Mindoro Island in the Philippines. It is said that almost 5,000 passengers died in the tragedy and called the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.

Through dramatic first hand accounts from survivors and rescuers, transcripts from the Philippine congressional inquiry into the tragedy, archival footage and photos and a re-enactment of the collision, "Asia’s Titanic" would dissect how the Doña Paz tragedy unfolded.


Four Honor Guards Who Escorted Cory's Funeral Cortege Were Cited, Promoted

The four honor guards who escorted the remains of former President Corazon Aquino last Wednesday were proud to be part of the final journey of the late leader and icon of democracy.

From left, Navy Petty Officer 2 Edgardo Rodriguez, Army Pfc. Antonio Cadiente and Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindan salute during a press presentation at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday. The three servicemen, along with Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr. (far right), served as honor guards during the funeral procession for former President Corazon Aquino.

Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr., 25, said his experience during the nine-hour-long funeral procession for Mrs. Aquino was one of the most memorable in his life.

Malab and three other honor guards – Army Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman Second Class Gener Laguindan of the Air Force and Navy Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez – have been receiving praise for displaying exceptional discipline in the performance of their extraordinary task.

Throughout the entire procession along the 20-kilometer stretch from the Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque, the four honor guards remained standing at attention.

Malab, a member of the Philippine National Police-Headquarters Support Service (PNP-HSS), admitted that standing up straight on a moving truck for several hours was a difficult task but prayers for stamina, and determination to live up to the expectation of his superiors and a mourning nation kept him on his feet.

"Hindi ko na inisip yung matagal na oras ng pagtayo kasi ako yung tatayo para sa kapulisan, karangalan ko na lang yun bilang isang pulis mapagsilbihan si (I didn’t think about the long hours because I was standing for the police service, it was my honor as a policeman to serve) former President Aquino," said Malab who joined the PNP last June 1, 2008. "Dasal ako nang dasal para mabigyan ako ni God nang stamina (I kept prayig for stamina)."

Malab said he ate eggs and fried beef tapa for breakfast before they were deployed as early as 6 a.m. for the funeral procession.

PNP Promotes Honor Guard

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa announced the promotion Malab to the next rank of PO2 after due deliberation.

"We are proud and consider it an honor for the PNP (to be part of the last moments of the former leader)," according to Verzosa.

Aside from Malab, nine ranking police officials served as pallbearers of the former president at the Manila Cathedral.

Malab said regular physical fitness exercises helped him and the three other honor guards to endure the rain and wind during the funeral procession.

He admitted that he moved his toes, but they all ignored the coins that hit them when bystanders threw coins at the coffin as part of a Filipino tradition for the dead.

Senior Inspector Jesus Manalo, who was in charge of the police team assigned to the security of the cortege, admitted that he never expected the funeral procession to last more than four hours.

"But the procession took a lot longer because of the number of people. We were worried about Danny (Malab), but we knew he could do it and he did not let us down," Manalo said in Filipino.

Manalo said his first words to Malab as soon as he alighted from the truck carrying President Aquino’s casket when it reached the gate of the Manila Memorial Park was, "Are you okay? What do you want?"

Malab said he ran towards a portable toilet set up near the gate of the memorial park.

While he was standing up there, Malab said he thought his wife Joan, who is working in Canada, was watching television and was very proud of his contribution to the historic event.

Malab’s parents Danilo Sr., and Alice were also watching the funeral procession at their hometown in Isabela and were also proud of their son’s contribution to Mrs. Aquino’s funeral.

Manalo said the HSS is proud of Malab, who will be given a weeklong vacation, which he will spend with his parents.

Drank Rain Water

Petty Officer 3 Rodriguez said they ignored bystanders talking to them or offering food and water to be able to perform their solemn duty to give honor to their former commander-in-chief. "Karangalan ng bansa na ang nakataya dito (The country’s honor was at stake here)," he said.

He added that he could not believe their efforts would catch public attention, including that of his wife Marissa and their three children.

Rodriguez said when they were thirsty, they simply drank rain water dripping from their faces.

Rodriguez added that at times, when they were about to break down, all four of them simply drew strength from the privilege given them to be by the late former president’s side, as well as from the thousands of well-wishers and supporters who showed up along the way.

"We have to perform some finger and foot exercises without being noticed so our muscles would not lock. Aside from being hungry, we just could not go to the toilet," Rodriguez said.

"When I got off the truck, I went to the police who all pointed to the portalets," Rodriguez said, adding that after going to the restroom he proceeded to their service vehicle to eat packed food prepared for them.

When he returned to Navy headquarters Rodriguez said he was surprised to see his colleagues all cheering him and asking for his autograph.

Volunteer For Duty

Laguindam, 24, volunteered to represent the Air Force in the honor guards after two of his colleagues were found to be unfit to stand as honor guards.

He said the first soldier was not that tall while the other one had just been hospitalized, "so I volunteered."

Laguindam, a resident of Magalang, Pampanga, was very proud to perform his duty, especially for the former president.

"I am very proud, of course, because it was former President Aquino," said Laguindam, who is detailed at the Air Force’s Honor Escort Battalion, which usually performs parade honors at Villamor Airbase.

Cadiente, 23, detailed at the Army’s Security and Escort Battalion based in Fort Bonifacio, said the tens of thousands of people watching and joining the funeral procession gave them strength for their job.

Cadiente said they were proud because they served a former commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile, Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Pia Cayetano said they were in favor of the proposal to grant commendations to the four honor guards.

"I’d agree to that," Biazon said. "The best they can get is military commendation medal, non-combat, the highest military merit medal."

Biazon believes that a military commendation medal award is appropriate for them and that there is no need for a congressional resolution.

Cayetano said she would file a resolution for their commendation, citing further that they were role models of what a public servant should be.

"They did their job well and I will file a resolution commending them because it is symbolic of what people in public service should do. Whatever your job is, do it well," Cayetano said.

AFP Cites Honor Guard Brigade

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said a brigade of honor guards assembled to provide full military honors to Mrs. Aquino would be lauded by their respective mother units, the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN).

"For a job well done, commensurate awards and commendation will be accorded to the troops."

Brawner said that while they are elated by the public response to Laguindam, Rodriguez and Cadiente, the AFP leadership will also commend all those who participated in the full military honors for the late president.

"The military leadership is not singling out our three personnel who stood as honor guards but all AFP participants during the honors rendered to former President Aquino. All of them will receive medals and commendations, commensurate to their duties," Brawner said.

Aside from Metro Manila, AFP Chief Gen. Victor Ibrado also ordered all key military commands in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to give the late president full military honors via a 21-gun salute.

Source: Cecile Suerte Felipe, The Philippine Star


Cory Aquino’s Funeral and Burial on August 5 is a Special Non-Working Holiday

Malacañang has declared Wednesday, August 5, 2009 the funeral and burial day of the remains of former Philippine President Corazon "Cory" Aquino as a special non-working holiday.

This will allow the nation to witness the moments before she is brought to her final resting place beside her late husband, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a 10-day period of national mourning from August 1 to August 10 over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850.