While queuing at the OFW counter of the airport immigration, one officer
broke the pervading silent and gloomy ambiance.
"Para po sa maayos na pag-check ng immigration, pumila lang po tayo ng
maayos at huwag magsabay-sabay sa paglapit sa Immigration officer."
However, upon seeing a wife distancing herself from her husband, she quickly quipped, "Pwede po magsabay basta legal wife."
She then went on, "Paglapit naman po sa immigration officer, ibigay nyo po
ang inyong mga dokumento AA." Seeing the our bewildered looks, she
continued, "AA is Agad-Agad." Smiles and giggles started filling the hall.
The officer has another reminder under her sleeves. "Bago pa man po kayo
lumapit sa immigration office ay mag fill-up na po kayo ng inyong mga
departure card NN." Sensing that we are now all waiting for her punchline,
she smilingly said,"NN - Now Na."
By this time, she successfully has gotten our attention so she finally
narrated how she wished all of us well in our respective trips, that she
knew we are all sad because we are leaving our families behind and that we
should save with passion so we can go back to our families at the soonest
time possible. She even intimated that she went to stay in Canada before but
she chose to go back because she misses her family so much.
"There is no other place like home, so come home soon", she tenderly
reminded us.
Whereas our premier airport has been notoriously battered the past years
with bad ratings and impressions due to poor facilities and services, there
was an unappreciated beauty unfolding in front of us.
Salamat po, Ms. Abesamis of the NAIA 2 Immigration Department.
Hindi nyo lang po kami napasaya habang nakapila sa pag alis ng bansa,
pina-alalahanan nyo pa po kami na mahalin ang aming pamilya.
You make NAIA (and the Filipinos) proud and beautiful.
God bless po.
