Morning of CNI appointment at the embassy, had Jollibee beef tapsilog for breakfast and by 8am we're ready to! Out driver didn't know where to go but after several stops to ask various men in uniform directions and increasingly frantic pointing at Google maps on my phone we made it... 2 hours early! The guard checks name and passport then issues a large number and two clip on passes, then let's us in one at a time to a room with gates on both ends for a pat down. They took our bags and put them in a locker and gave us the key and told us to turn off our phones at the next check point. We were let through the second gate and after a short walk in the heat we were met at a door by a very large man with a very large dog. Inside we had our phones taken and took a seat in the waiting room. Considering we were nearly 2 hours early I was called forward within five minutes. The guy took the large number i was given at the gate and my passport, affirmation, birth and divorce certificates and copies of the photo ppage of the passport, birth and divorce certificates that I preprepared and after a few minutes during which he took (have exact change ready) 4125pesos I was asked to sit down and wait for my interview. Within five minutes I was called to interview where the lady there explained the process in about a minute and then I was asked to read I declaration that my affirmation was all true and then I was asked to and wait again. After a few minutes I was called forward again and the guy gave me back all my documents including my own printed affirmation which now has an official red seal on it. We collected our phones, walked back to the main gate and collected our bags, it was all over in about 20minutes and about 90 minutes before our appointment was due to start!!
You mean the embassy? Yes, they are quite strict on security. We were frisked and had to take everything out of our pockets. My brief case was opened and checked and as the security woman went through it, out fell some condoms. A bit embarrasing.
Yes, that sounds pretty embarrassing! So yesterday we headed off to the Town Hall to register the wedding with our newly certified documents and a tip for those wanting to get married out in the provinces, the registrar had no knowledge of the new affirmation, she had not seen one before! Luckily the embassy provide a letter of explanation addresses to the registrar, even so she still requested my CNI which I had got from the UK registry office just in case, I don't know what would have happened had we not had it with us.... She talked to us for about ten minutes in a hot cramped office, then we waited another five or ten minutes while photocopies were made of all the documents before giving us a form to fill in out in the even hotter hallway. Once complete we went back to the office for another five minutes discussion. We were then sent for 'counseling' in another office near by, hotter and more cramped than the first, with around 12 desks in a space that felt the size of your average living room! They found us a space to sit and fill out another form this time with three questions, what does marriage mean to you? What makes a marriage strong? What makes a good parent? Each question had space for 5 or 6 answers and it took only Five minutes of head scratching we had our answers (I'm not sure we were supposed to discuss our answers together but we did and I did feel like I was cheating in an exam a little!) We then went to the counselors office where she talked to us for a few minutes maybe three at the most and that was it! Back to the Town Hall to make the payment, sealed with a thumbprint in triplicate! Finally back to the registrar's office with the proof of payment, by this time she had completed the registration (hand typed on a typewriter!) And that was it, time to ralx for 10 days until the wedding!!
Nice one. Yes, I read just recently of someone that was refused the new affidavit and was asked for the CNI despite the new requirements. I dont know how they got arounnd that. So yeah. Bet you are glad you took a CNI with you.
Ha. Yes, the thumb print. Our marriage certs have mine on but not my wifes. She didnt need to but obviously I did.
Settling in to the pace of life here now, slow! But then that's what holidays are for right? Wedding preps are in progress, cake is ordered wedding favours for the guests all hand made last night. We went up to tagaytay earlier this week for food tasting at the reception venue and very nice it was too, we decided to stay the night and luckily they had one room available whicjh was odd because we were clearly the only ones there having sat from 3 in the afternoon to past 10 out in garden and saw nobody! When we ordered food they told us there was only one fish and one chicken dish left which was fine just a little odd especially for a place that specializes in pork! Transport from the town hall to the reception has been provided as a gift from one of the guests although the reception venue do have a white 70s Mustang which was very tempting! Only got to organise the food and drink now for the pre-wedding party on Saturday and drinks at the reception too (only iced tea provided which might not be a bad thing) hopefully all will be fine. Something else I may not have mentioned that I'm sure everyone else has come across - family. None of mine are here, only my sister kind of approves but said she couldn't afford to come, fair enough. I 'communicated' with my parents and agreed that they don't want anything to do with it so its been agreed the subject will never be raised, I'm currently on holiday as far as they are concerned although they do know I'm getting married. I had a long chat with my son (Skype, that's teenagers for you) and we discussed the subject for the first time ever. He already knew about the wedding having peeked at my Facebook account I suspect but didnt know how to start the conversation, I was waiting until his exams were over. Anyway he's cool about it, not happy but resigned to it I think, I explained a few things to him that cleared the air a bit and now he wants to come and meet Mea when she arrives in the UK! So for those pondering on whether to tell relatives or not I guess its probably best to spit it out, might be a lot of short term pain but providing you stay calm and reasonable and find a way to keep talking it will probably be for the best!
Interesting. I didnt tell my son as it would have meant his mother finding out. Didnt want to add fuel to the flames. He found out eventually but I kept cards close to my chest for as long as possible.
Just a quick point Steve, and you may be aware of it, but flying Emirates into Dubai and having a layover of more than four hours qualifies you for a free meal. Go to the Emirates information desk and present your flight information (boarding pass) and they will give you your voucher. Choice of about ten different places to eat. I had an eight-hour layover. I found a dark, cool corner of the terminal, under some stairs and finally got to lie flat and promptly fell asleep for an hour or two, only to be woken by a sadistic cleaner with a beeping machine. Who cleans a floor at 3am? I got WiFi at Cho Gao, near to gates A4 to A9 by buying an overpriced orange juice, but at least I was able to keep in touch. My own journey back home from the Phils was 41 hours, door-to-door.
He and his mother both knew about the relationship but I didn't make any attempt to hide or provide details of the wedding. I changed my Facebook status to engaged knowing word would get round eventually but at some point you still have to have the 'talk'. I did wonder if it would slow down the divorce proceedings but they were moving at half snails pace anyway so it probably didn't.
Actually I did know about the free food, but forgot about it completely! I actually sat for a while in front of the Emirates desk thinking about going to eat... I won't forget on the way back, got 16 hours wait then. Did you leave the airport and do the tourist bit?
No Steve. My flight from Manila arrived at 23:30 and the flight to Madrid left at 07:50, so no real opportunity for a tour. It looks a fascinating place though and one day, yeah, maybe I'll take a look. Derby County fan here btw Steve. Good luck in the Premier League. I hope you get six points against QPR!
Worth a visit if you can swing it, my flight into Dubai landed at 7am and the airport was barely open and I reckon I was off the plane through customs an immigration and into a taxi in less than 30 mins. There are plenty of taxi drivers waiting to take tourists I just collared the first one, he offered me 1,2 and 4 hour tours or all day if I wanted, I went for the 2 hour which was £60 I think, sounds steep but imagine the cost of two hours in a taxi in London! You don't get much time at each stop or very close but close enough for a decent photo and to feel like you've been there. Derby County?? Never mind he he! You were pushing us hard at one point but I think u lost your nerve in the last quarter. Everyone seems to hate QPR, I hope we beat them too could be the only 6points we get, although I did dream the other night we beat Chelsea 2-0 in the opening game!
Being as we managed a grand total of ELEVEN points for the season last time we were in the Premier, I would love it, LOVE IT if Harry's team managed to undershoot that total..... by eleven points or so! Total disregard for FFP. Slightly off-topic now Steve. Seems that blokes talking with each other will always bring any conversation round to sport or sex.
I'm surprised at some of the comments here about being coy with family about getting remarried. Why worry if your ex-wife finds out? Mind you, I was still living in the same house as mine when I first met my current wife, and she also already had a boyfriend. With regards the kids, I took my kids over to The Philippines twice before she came here, and always taked to them about things. It seems the best way to me. They were fine about it, and had 2 great holidays into the bargain. My mum was cool about it too, and even paid my air fare first time I went over to Manila.
The bitterness it can engender can be counterproductive....depending on circumstances and ex wife of course.
Have you ever been in a room with a bunch of women? They are far worse, and far more graphic, when talking about sex than men are.
Maybe. There's plenty to be bitter about with how my marriage split and divorce panned out, but I'd never let it interfere with things. Priority of feelings will always go with my current wife over my previous one. As you say, though, it depends on circumstances of the breakdown of the first marriage.
