.Ang Kwento.

At around nine o’clock in the morning, I arrived at the BIR office at Gil Puyat in Makati City. I went there for two reasons only. (1) To verify my TIN and (2) to apply for TIN identiication card. Apparently, hindi yun ang nangyari.

After they’ve checked my TIN, I asked the lady who assisted me kung san na ako pupunta so I could have my TIN ID, then she told me to go to “50 sa kabila.” I thought kabilang hanay ng room. So I asked Manong Guard kung san yung 50. He said, “Ay RDO 50 po yun, sa Atrium.” I was like, “Sa Atrium po? Sa Makati Ave.?” Then Manong G said yes.

Ok na. I did not bother to ask why. I just went back to the reception of the building, got my ID back, and headed to Makati Ave. Since I do not know where Atrium building was, I asked a lady (I assume she’s a teller at BDO dahil sa uniform nya). She gave me some directions though she wasn’t that sure dahil di pa daw sya nagagawi dun, she’s just familiar with it. She was a Good Samaitan really dahil nung nakita nyang I was having a hard time with the directions she gave me, she again talked to me and told me to just try walking ahead. Luckily, another lady came to the rescue, she heard us talking, and asked where am I heading. Heaven sent perhaps, she was going to Atrium as well kaya we went together.

Pagdating ko sa Atrium, I went straight to BIR. Pagkakita ko sa isang Manong Guard (2), I asked where will I go to apply for TIN ID. Nagsungit si Manong G (2) dahil for Pasay TIN holder lang pala ang office na yun. He then directed me to the other side of the building. Nabanas ako kay Manong G (2) dahil hindi sya accomodating to think na all-smile ang lola mo.

Pumila ako pagdating ko sa information area (kuno) ng BIR Makati Ave. Branch. Pagkaharap ko kay kuyang nag-aassist, I asked him for directions on what should I do so I could get my TIN ID. To make the story short, I almost lost my patience dahil kailangan ko pa palang magpalipat ng documents to RDO 49 (which is yung una kong pinuntahang BIR office earlier). He gave me the form, and went inside. Ok naman ang mga tao sa loob. Wala namang nagsungit (in fairness).

Now here’s the catch, after passing to them the form that I filled in, the man who assisted me told me to go back to RDO 49 (in short, sa Gil Puyat ulit), ask for Form 2305, and fill it up. Wow. Nanghina ako dun. Hindi naman ako adik noh? Sa sobrang inis ko, and since I have no one to share my sentiments, nakatunganga akong sumakay ng FX pabalik ng BIR Gil Puyat Branch.

Buti nalang, Ateng Guard there is kind and accomodating. She smiled at me when I handed her my ID so I could go back to 6th floor of that building. Pagdating ko dun, I asked for the form, and was told na I need my employer to fill up the boxes below that form. In short kailangan kong pumuntang office before I could pass that form at maayos ang papers ko sa kanila, at eventually makakuha ng TIN ID.

.Lessons.

(1)I learned that in dealing with government offices, you need to fill yourself with a lot of patience. Kailangan meron ka nun dahil kung hindi, patay ka (not literally of course). Sobrang malabong kausap mga tao, medyo magulo at nakakainis ang proseso. Sabi ko nga, ang hirap palang maging mabuting mamayan ng Pilipinas. Bakit? Ang daming hassle eh. Pano naman kasi, bulok ang sistema. Naisip ko nga, pano pala kung yung TIN ko ay kinuha sa ibang lugar na may kalayuan? Eh di nagpabalik-balik ako ng bonggang bongga? Nice naman.

(2)Even if it’s tiring already, do not forget to wear a smile kahit pa nagmamasungit ang mga tao. Hay, kahit halos di na maipinta ang mukha ko nun, I still smiled at people lalo na yung nice people. Naisip ko kasi, ang mean ko naman kung di ako mag-smile sa kanila, wala naman kasi silang kasalanan.

(3)Understand. Bilang mamayan ng bansang ito, ang tanging magagawa mo nalang since di ka naman makakapagdemand ng ora mismong pagbabago, intindihin mo nalang ang bagal ng poseso at pagsusungit ng mga tao. Anyway, sabi nga, may araw din naman lahat ng to. Meaning, perhaps in ten years time, magiging maayos na din lahat ang processes sa government offices natin (fingers crossed).