DOST and NBI.

My suspicions were correct. Remember that entry I wrote about having to run clearances all week? And not getting all of them? Specifically the NBI clearance? Well, as I've written, I was not able to get the said clearance because I received a HIT, meaning there's someone else out there in the Philippines with the same name as mine, and he's involved in some nefarious crime. I remember commenting how unlikely it was for someone to have the name Kerwin Ray Sentillas. I was right. That Kerwin Ray Sentillas was no one else but me. SHOCKER.

How did I know about this? Well, my father sent someone to get the clearance for me in the NBI station near Victoria Plaza. He was then told by the NBI personnel there that I must have a clearance from DOST. Darnit, I knew it! I've always thought that there was something awfully amiss at the fact that I graduated from Ateneo without having any real exit interviews or anything from DOST. You see, I've been a DOST scholar for four years in the Ateneo, and have received allowances and some subsidies from them. At the very least, I would have expected some meeting with a DOST representative at the end of the semester to make sure that I'm done with everything and that I'm going to uphold all the terms in their contract. None came, so I didn't think about it. Until now.

I wonder what my violation was. One of the things in the contract, if I recall correctly, is that I am to serve the government for the number of years DOST had kept me under its "wings." In my case, 4 years. I must not work abroad during this time. My purpose for getting a NBI clearance clearly stated "local employment." So what could my violation be? It could only be some kind of finality, a clearance that I have done as the contract said. Or could it be that I violated their "serve the government" clause? PhilamLife is clearly a private company, not one owned by the government. But I distinctly remember clarifying this particular clause with their DOST representative during one of the Ateneo scholars' meeting with DOST. She said that private companies are OK, as long as I don't get to work abroad. I remember that clearly. So I guess I just need a clearance from DOST.

That might be a relief, but it's really not. If I am to claim some kind of clearance from them, I would have to do so in Taguig, which is kilometers away from where I am now. I might as well go to Cavite or Laguna for the distance and time it would take for me to get there. Sigh. I just wish I knew something more about this predicament I'm in. June 1st is approaching rapidly, and I need to present my clearances to the company before I get to have any compensation (meaning: salary).

I'm calling the Office of Admission and Aid later to see what exactly I missed or forgot doing. Papa's calling later to confirm whether or not the person he sent got my clearance. I'll just hope for the best meantime.