SPA (Special Power of Attorney) authentication in Phil Embassy Singapore

SPA? What does it means? In my understanding this is just an authorization letter notarized by public attorney's office.


Anyway, I was planning to get a housing loan from PAG-IBIG and since I'm working as an OFW,  I need an SPA letter to represent me on my behalf. I chooses my Mom to be my legal representative to all transactions with regards to PAG-IBIG housing loan.


My Mom process an SPA in our nearby public attorneys office with full stamps and signs, they told my Mom that it should be authenticated in the country where I was working to become valid.


Arriving at Philippine embassy
So, Sunday morning past the hour of  9:00 in the morning, I arrived in Singapore Philippine embassy in Nassim road. Going to Nassim road is not that easy. You need to take a cab or walk about 15 - 20 mins from the main road.


At the gate, I signed on the log sheet assisted by the security guards. They asked me what is my purpose then they told me to go window 7. Window 7 is where the the automated number machine is located. I press the Notarized to get a number for window 12. My number is 8096, when check the current numbered being processed is number 8033. 


OMG, this is going to be a long wait. While waiting, I met my friend that is also waiting in passport processing area and we talk about our purposes in the embassy. I shouted out my number and a kind lady in front called me up and  gaves me her number which is 8043. A super thanks to this lady.


I photocopy my IC, passport and my original SPA my mom gave me to authenticate then I sit down and wait for my number to flash on the screen.


When the screen flashes my number, I quickly go to window 12 and give all my documents. He verifies my documents and after a while he give all the documents and ask me to proceed to the cashier window to pay the fees of $42.50sgd and return to him. Hola! after a few more minutes I'm done but I need to come back on Tuesday around 3 - 5pm for the releasing.


SPA Collection
Tuesday, around 2:45pm, I went out from office to go back to our beloved embassy to collect my SPA authentication. Same procedure, I need to get a queue number and wait. Wow, at this moment in time it was so very hot. Anyway after an hour my number is now flashing on the screen. Again, I quickly go to window 12 and present my collection stub.


The lady in window 12 told me, there is a mistake. I need to get a new form and sign it again. So I went to window 3 to get a new form. I have no ballpen so I went to the guard house and borrowed one of their ballpens. I quickly fill up the form and pass it to the lady in window 12. She then take out another form and she asked me to get 2 witnesses to sign the form. Again, I need to borrow a ballpen and need to convince 2 witnesses to sign.


Good thing there is a nice lady sitting next to the writing table, I ask her if I can borrow her ballpen and politely ask her again if she could be my witness and sign the form. Of course, the lady thin twice but after I said that it is okay and nothing will happen to her, she signed the form.


I need one more signature. When I turned around I saw another cute lady and asked her too if she could sign the form to be a witness. I explain to her that their signature is just a proof that I have signed the form. Eventually, she also signed with a smile on her face. 


I went back to window 12 and pass the form. The lady in window 12 told me if I could wait till 5:30pm and I will get the SPA at that day. She just need to complete processing all the queued numbers. I told her I need to go back to the office because I need to finish my work. Then sh replied you can get it by tomorrow and she told me I don't have to queue just approach her and she will assist me immediately.


SPA re-collection
Wednesday, around 9:45pm I went back to the embassy to collect the SPA. I directly go to window 12 and lady smiled at me and gave me the SPA and thank her. While walking out of the embassy, I'm reading the SPA and it shocking that I found out that my name and my mother's name is incorrect. I almost run to go back again to that window 12 and when I reached I asked the lady that our names in the form are incorrect. The lady check the form and went inside their office and after a few minutes she pass me a new form and with a red seal. I verify it again and now it is now corrected. 


Good thing I'm in a good mood to complain. I just wasted my time and money to have this special power from our Philippine embassy's attorney.


The question now is, why we should wait for a long time and need to be back again when they can process an SPA in minutes? 


They should improved this rotten systems.


Hayyyy....deep breath is all I can say.