proof of the existence of a divine being

There is a God.

that's something i realized or re-realized (if there is such a thing) this afternoon. i've been on my toes this last two days since i applied for a passport. i was informed that you need two valid IDs to be able to claim your passport. and i am lacking in that department. all i really have for identification is my company ID. that's it. i don't have an SSS ID. i don't have a license. i don't even have a postal ID. so there i was tettering on the edge of self-recrimation all because of an identification card or the lack thereof, which i needed in an amount of two days, when it occured to me that i can get a postal ID in a day. that was option number 1. then i could also apply for a student's permit since it has a picture that goes with it. which became option number two. or i could get an NBI clearance when all else fails. which, of course, falls to option number 3. but two things hindered my undertakings. one, i work a night shift. two, i'm the worlds' biggest perpetual procrastinator. the night shift factor meant that i'm usually in slumber on hours that are considered normal working hours. and i fall short on trying to time everyting because i seem to like to do everything in a rush. which becomes the explanation for my tardiness.

the postal ID became out of the option when i realized i don't really know where the city post office is. and i really wouldn't care to know. i knew where the post office of another city is because it's right across the street from where i work. and my mom said, on this i believed her, that you have to get your postal ID from your own city. i valiantly tried to get a student permit then. i didn't even sleep the day through. in fact, i went on endshift the night before when there wasn't truly anything i'm meaning to do. just so i could sleep through the shift and compensate for the coming day when i'll be staying awake till the morning after. i got to the LTO office two hours before the appointed time of my passport pickup. i could have been there earlier, hadn't i been stopped by a humongous traffic. a traffic that will become the almost ruin of my day and my efforts. once i got there, i immediately asked for a form and proceeded to fill it up (i was stuck with the space for weight in kg for a minute because can't even tell how much i weight in pounds much more in kilograms). but when i proceeded to pass the form, grateful that i have a photocopy of my birth certificate, ID pictures (from the passport application), and my TIN number. but when i looked the requirements over, it said original copy of birth certificate with photocopy. i was stumped. i don't go around carrying my birth certificate, you know. the paper used for it is a veritable antique and i wouldn't risk it with the polluted air of manila. so i asked the even more veritable antique male behind the counter if the photocopy would suffice. but he said no. in the most superior tone he could muster. no, madam. that can't do. i wanted to grab his collar and strangle him. but eternally polite, i just said thank you and left. having less than two hours to get to DFA in time, i decided to just ride a cab and risk the lack of ID since all else failed and that included a chance to even try for an NBI clearance.

and what happened after? i went through seven stages of hellish traffic. that's what happened. the cab turned to Roxas Blvd. 20 minutes to closing. and he nearly got me late because he had this absurd notion that i was going to the Japanese Embassy. or was that the Taiwanese Embassy? i don't know. but i specifically told him DFA. i don't know which letter he didn't understand. i nearly tripped getting in since the steps where wet from the recent downpour. and i was in front of the counter with ten minutes to spare. i was ready to give an exceptional narration i prepared during the very long and very irritating cab ride about why i'm showing up with just one ID. but the guy behind the counter just took my reciept, looked for my passport from the bundle, looked at my picture there, then at me, had the gall to ask me if it was my child (albeit in a joking manner), made me sign some doggerel, then handed me what i came there for. that was it. no explanations. no pressures. he didn't even ask to see an ID. when i realized that i wouldn't have to put up a fight to claim my own passport, i couldn't help myself. i had to grin. the cheeky, plucky, cheshire cat-type grin.

so you see? There is a God.

now i have to think of the plane ticket.