If you have an account with Philippine National Bank through which you receive U.S. social security benefits via direct deposit, don't be surprised if you receive an unannounced visit by a representative of that institution.
That's what happened to my wife. The PNB agent stated that the purpose of this interview was to verify her identity and make sure that no one was impersonating her and misusing her social security income in the event that she had died or become incapacitated. Hence, this was a precaution that the bank was taking to protect both the customer and PNB itself. My wife forgot to ask the agent why there was no advance notice of this visit, but our guess is that the purpose was to catch a would-be imposter off guard.
However, some of the questions that the representative asked were a bit unnerving (or nervy) and had no apparent connection with my wife's bank account, such as her state of health, work history, the number of people at her residence, and dual citizenship holding if any. She duly answered the questions but felt uncomfortable about it and only did so based on the agent's indication that the PNB was conducting these investigations in conjunction with the Social Security Administration office at the American Embassy.
Subsequently, she contacted her Philippine National Bank branch and confirmed that these field calls were legit and will be conducted on a yearly basis. However, when in turn I contacted the the SSA at the Embassy to confirm their role in the matter, the reply was that the neither agency nor the embassy was connected with the audit and that they would get in touch with PNB to see what was going on. The SSA then called me back to report that the bank again confirmed the authenticity of the field calls. However, as per the agency's instructions, that in performing the audits bank was to refrain from invoking the Embassy's name.
So I suggest that you contact your PNB branch to see if in fact you can expect their knock on your door and if so to tailor the visit to your schedule, not to theirs. This of course will also furnish you with opportunity to inquire in advance about the kind of non-banking data that they intend to collect and for you to determine whether or not you wish to disclose such information. After all, in the end shouldn't it be your own decision as to how much of your personal privacy--if any-- you are willing to compromise?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Oh No, Not Again!
In a replay from last year, today I got ripped off on the MRT. This happened (see "A Payment, A Theft, and Update") while I was on an identical errand: traveling to the Bureau of Immigration to file my and my wife Lydia's annual report, a paperwork formality which is required every January from all non-citizen permanent residents in the Philippines.
This time I lost my wallet to a pickpocket in the crush of passengers while boarding the train at the Cubao Station in Quezon City. I thought that I was safe by carrying the billfold in my front pocket. But never underestimate the skills of the petty (and not so petty) criminals that plague Metro-Manila.
I noticed that my wallet was gone shortly after boarding, but with the little cash that I still had in my other pocket, I decided to proceed to the BI anyway and find out what I would have to do to replace our I-cards which were lost in the theft. These plastics are required for conducting any business with Immigration and must also be presented for permission to leave and re-enter the Philippines.
When I arrived at that office and just as I was explaining my plight to the supervisor(who offered to lend me P50 from her own pocket so I could get back home! To say the least, I was very touched by her kindness ), I received a message on my cell phone (which fortunately was spared in the robbery) stating that my wallet and cards (but minus the cash of course) were found by security in the MRT Santolan Station.
What a relief that was. The BI supervisor explained what my wife and I would have to go through to replace our lost I-cards, and it wasn't pretty. Among the required steps would be the placement of a notice to the public regarding the lost cards via a newspaper ad and affirmation of the loss through a notary public who must also be an attorney. There would also be various fees and forms to pay and complete.
But the hurdles were not yet over. I proceeded to the Santolan station only to find out that I was at the wrong place. There are two MRT / LRT stops with that name. I finally got to the correct location and retrieved my wallet. All my cards, including both I-cards were indeed intact. Not even my credit card was missing. The perp apparently was interested in just the cash and for some reason, our BI 2009 annual report receipts. What a nightmare it could have been to replace the various cards and documents, even though I have a list of such valuables along with their account numbers which I keep separately in a secured location (BTW that is a precaution which I recommend for everyone to take with their important documents and plastics.)
With our I-cards in hand, I returned to the BI and completed the annual report. Fortunately, I did not have to go to the back of the line of waiting applicants which by that time was quite long. Nor under the circumstances did I have to produce the missing 2009 receipts (Immigration often asks for presentation of the previous year's annual report receipt when paying the current year).
In terms of personal safety here's the lesson that I've re-learned: You can't be too careful when riding public transportation in the Philippines. First, do not carry a billfold. Take along only your personal essentials, the cash that you will need for your errand, and the documents and plastics that you intend to use. Place loose change and an emergency P20 or P50 bill in a coin purse and place it in another pocket. If you need to take a cell phone, carry a cheapie. Leave every thing else at home. Hold the pocket in which you're carrying these items from the second that you arrive at the boarding section until you have stepped clear of the vehicle departure area. If you must carry a handbag, make sure that it's small, cheap (No Louis Vuittons, please), and inconspicuous. If it has a strap, place it across your shoulder and hold on to clasp throughout the trip.
Also remember, if you're carrying someone else's documents as I was yesterday, of course you have an added responsibility. And if they are those of your spouse / partner, you will be in even deeper s**t, if you lose them. Needless to say, Lydia was not a happy camper about this incident. She had wanted me to take a taxi to the BI in the first place. I would have done so but for the fact that at that time of the morning (rush hour) there were few available taxis, and none of them would transport me from Eastwood City to Makati, the site of a satellite Immigration office. So I had to settle on one that would take me to the nearest LRT station instead. As I had discussed in a previous post, taxi drivers in Metro-Manila are selective about the distance that they will transport a passenger, regulations to the contrary notwithstanding.
Lydia and I are past the age where either of has to appear in person at Immigration to pay these yearly fees and can have an authorized agent do it for us. So next year when annual report time rolls around, maybe we'll just hire a bonded courier. I just hope the courier agent doesn't take the MRT.
For more information on the BI and the annual report, click here.
This time I lost my wallet to a pickpocket in the crush of passengers while boarding the train at the Cubao Station in Quezon City. I thought that I was safe by carrying the billfold in my front pocket. But never underestimate the skills of the petty (and not so petty) criminals that plague Metro-Manila.
I noticed that my wallet was gone shortly after boarding, but with the little cash that I still had in my other pocket, I decided to proceed to the BI anyway and find out what I would have to do to replace our I-cards which were lost in the theft. These plastics are required for conducting any business with Immigration and must also be presented for permission to leave and re-enter the Philippines.
When I arrived at that office and just as I was explaining my plight to the supervisor(who offered to lend me P50 from her own pocket so I could get back home! To say the least, I was very touched by her kindness ), I received a message on my cell phone (which fortunately was spared in the robbery) stating that my wallet and cards (but minus the cash of course) were found by security in the MRT Santolan Station.
What a relief that was. The BI supervisor explained what my wife and I would have to go through to replace our lost I-cards, and it wasn't pretty. Among the required steps would be the placement of a notice to the public regarding the lost cards via a newspaper ad and affirmation of the loss through a notary public who must also be an attorney. There would also be various fees and forms to pay and complete.
But the hurdles were not yet over. I proceeded to the Santolan station only to find out that I was at the wrong place. There are two MRT / LRT stops with that name. I finally got to the correct location and retrieved my wallet. All my cards, including both I-cards were indeed intact. Not even my credit card was missing. The perp apparently was interested in just the cash and for some reason, our BI 2009 annual report receipts. What a nightmare it could have been to replace the various cards and documents, even though I have a list of such valuables along with their account numbers which I keep separately in a secured location (BTW that is a precaution which I recommend for everyone to take with their important documents and plastics.)
With our I-cards in hand, I returned to the BI and completed the annual report. Fortunately, I did not have to go to the back of the line of waiting applicants which by that time was quite long. Nor under the circumstances did I have to produce the missing 2009 receipts (Immigration often asks for presentation of the previous year's annual report receipt when paying the current year).
In terms of personal safety here's the lesson that I've re-learned: You can't be too careful when riding public transportation in the Philippines. First, do not carry a billfold. Take along only your personal essentials, the cash that you will need for your errand, and the documents and plastics that you intend to use. Place loose change and an emergency P20 or P50 bill in a coin purse and place it in another pocket. If you need to take a cell phone, carry a cheapie. Leave every thing else at home. Hold the pocket in which you're carrying these items from the second that you arrive at the boarding section until you have stepped clear of the vehicle departure area. If you must carry a handbag, make sure that it's small, cheap (No Louis Vuittons, please), and inconspicuous. If it has a strap, place it across your shoulder and hold on to clasp throughout the trip.
Also remember, if you're carrying someone else's documents as I was yesterday, of course you have an added responsibility. And if they are those of your spouse / partner, you will be in even deeper s**t, if you lose them. Needless to say, Lydia was not a happy camper about this incident. She had wanted me to take a taxi to the BI in the first place. I would have done so but for the fact that at that time of the morning (rush hour) there were few available taxis, and none of them would transport me from Eastwood City to Makati, the site of a satellite Immigration office. So I had to settle on one that would take me to the nearest LRT station instead. As I had discussed in a previous post, taxi drivers in Metro-Manila are selective about the distance that they will transport a passenger, regulations to the contrary notwithstanding.
Lydia and I are past the age where either of has to appear in person at Immigration to pay these yearly fees and can have an authorized agent do it for us. So next year when annual report time rolls around, maybe we'll just hire a bonded courier. I just hope the courier agent doesn't take the MRT.
For more information on the BI and the annual report, click here.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Rockin' In the New Year Philippine Style
As popular an attraction as Eastwood City is, this venue outdid itself last night in drawing a huge crowd to take part in a safe and sane New year Eve celebration. And the best part of it is that my wife Lydia and I, along with our friends Barry and Elma (their own blog site, bjruth.com, is referenced in the sidebar of this blog site) had only to step outside our condo to join the festivities.
No New Years Eve celebration would be complete without a fireworks show. The one in Eastwood last night with a celestial backdrop of a full moon was spectacular. Best of all along with the live musical entertainment it was free of charge and long in duration. The tang of cordite from these dazzling pyrotechnics still hangs in air hours later as I begin to write this post.
As I mentioned, the area was teeming with people. In fact I have never seen in it so jam-packed and would guess the number of attendees ran well into the thousands--perhaps the largest turnout in the 10 year history of Eastwood City. The presence of a new mall certainly played a significant part in this phenomenon. But a bigger factor is that in the Philippines entire families from grandparents to infants (fixed or early bedtimes for kids do not seem to be a part of the culture) attend and stay late at these events. Perhaps it was this multi-generational presence even more than the security personnel that kept rowdiness and drunken misbehavior to a minimum. In fact, a G-rated atmosphere seemed to prevail throughout the evening.
2009 was marked by serious natural disasters including a terrible flood in Metro-Manila and by man-made horrors including the massacre of 57 innocent victims stemming from a political feud in the southern part of the country. Who can know whether the events in 2010 will be any better or worse? Will the national elections (scheduled for May and which include the office of the president) make a difference? Given the the history of the Philippines, probably not. Yet one can always hope that the change in leadership will set the Philippines on a new course or least show the people that there other options beyond wallowing in the mentality of fatalism and fiesta that has kept this nation from progressing and realizing its full potential.
No New Years Eve celebration would be complete without a fireworks show. The one in Eastwood last night with a celestial backdrop of a full moon was spectacular. Best of all along with the live musical entertainment it was free of charge and long in duration. The tang of cordite from these dazzling pyrotechnics still hangs in air hours later as I begin to write this post.
As I mentioned, the area was teeming with people. In fact I have never seen in it so jam-packed and would guess the number of attendees ran well into the thousands--perhaps the largest turnout in the 10 year history of Eastwood City. The presence of a new mall certainly played a significant part in this phenomenon. But a bigger factor is that in the Philippines entire families from grandparents to infants (fixed or early bedtimes for kids do not seem to be a part of the culture) attend and stay late at these events. Perhaps it was this multi-generational presence even more than the security personnel that kept rowdiness and drunken misbehavior to a minimum. In fact, a G-rated atmosphere seemed to prevail throughout the evening.
2009 was marked by serious natural disasters including a terrible flood in Metro-Manila and by man-made horrors including the massacre of 57 innocent victims stemming from a political feud in the southern part of the country. Who can know whether the events in 2010 will be any better or worse? Will the national elections (scheduled for May and which include the office of the president) make a difference? Given the the history of the Philippines, probably not. Yet one can always hope that the change in leadership will set the Philippines on a new course or least show the people that there other options beyond wallowing in the mentality of fatalism and fiesta that has kept this nation from progressing and realizing its full potential.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY
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