Clearances.

This is the third straight day I've been taking care of my clearances. Last Monday, I went to City Hall to claim my cedula. The line was short, and the counter-girl was sweet, so I had no major frustrations there. After dealing with that, I decided to go to the San Pedro Police Station to claim my police clearance. It was nearby, so I just had to walk. Upon arriving at the station, however, the police guy showed me a huge array of ID's, explaining that these were the people who were inside. Since it was already 3:30 in the afternoon and the office closes at 4:30, I knew that I missed my chance. I then decided to go to NBI (in front of Victoria Plaza) to get my NBI clearance. Unfortunately, the guy in the front desk informed me that their computer was not functioning so I better come back tomorrow. Frustrating! Tomorrow, then.

The next day, I arrived at the San Pedro Police Station at around 1:30. I waited in line to get my police clearance form, borrowed a pen from a stranger to fill the form with, finished the form, fell in line once again to pass the form, and waited for my name to be called. It was 3 when my name was called. It was only when I had stepped out of the police station when I saw the glaring mistake that the typist had done. Instead of "Kerwin", the typist had typed "Jerwin." It was a major typographical error. I'm not "Jerwin," obviously, so that police clearance was null and void, despite the long minutes I've spent waiting for it. Frustrated, I decided to go back to NBI. Thankfully, there was no queue inside. After getting my fingerprints and all, I went back to the front desk to pass my form. The guy then informed me that I had to go inside Victoria Plaza to have my picture taken, to pay for the clearance, and to wait for the release of the clearance. I went there, and lo! The queue I've been dreading was right there. My heart was crushed. Since it was already 4 by the time I went there, I knew that I missed my chance again. Tomorrow, then.

And tomorrow's today. I decided to go to NBI first, before going back to the police station to rectify the spelling error. After having my picture taken and getting the receipt for my clearance, I waited for an hour to get the result. However, it was not the result I was expecting. Instead of an NBI clearance, what I got was my receipt with the word "HIT" emblazoned on the top. What is a "HIT," you ask? A "HIT" means that I'm not yet cleared. A "HIT" means that there's someone in the Philippines with the same name as mine and that person has gotten himself involved with some goddamn case. A "HIT" means that I have to wait for two more weeks to get my clearance, and that is clearly not possible since I have to leave for Manila this Sunday. A "HIT" possibly means that I have to wait in line and pay for 115 pesos for the picture all over again, only this time, I'm going to have to wait in line in Manila. Which is worse. Much, much worse.

My head is aching right this very moment. Not even the success of getting my name corrected in the police station lifted my spirits even a bit. And even if it had, everything would have been nullified by the fact that I had inadvertently discovered who got cut out in today's episode of The Amazing Race. I waited for the episode awhile ago, but Studio 23 did not air it. I assumed that the clip show was shown instead of the next episode. I visited my favorite forums to see how the clip show went, and then... and then... my eyes were greeted with today's eliminated team. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I am not in a good mood right now.