Anne in Chicago [Summer '07]

Work Hours: 8:15am to 5:30pm

Today marks the last day of my internship at the Consulate and my completion of the 200 hours required for POS70. Yay! I spent my last day at the Consulate at the section I enjoy the most - the Consular Section.

Since it was my last day, everyone was being so nice and telling me just to "relax" and "enjoy my last day." I insisted on working though, so they eventually let me, but I didn't really do much. I looked up several passport applicants on the Look Out List database in Ate Maggie's computer, scripted several passports, and answered some phone calls. 

I basically spent the day doing any of the tasks I mentioned above. I also had a chance to chat with Consul Hilado about the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Exam, and he gave me several tips on what usually comes up and which subjects to prepare for.

At the end of the day, as I was saying goodbye to everyone and telling them it was my last day, I felt terribly sad. True, work was monotonous at times but I gotta admit that I enjoyed my internship at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago. I'm really gonna miss it!!! :(

Work Hours: 8:15 am to 5:25 pm

Early in the morning, I reported to Ms. Toledo, hoping for a new assignment. She called the Tourism Office (the Consulate's attached office located on the 9th floor of the same building), but nobody was picking up. She was supposed to let me work there for half the day, then spend the rest of the day helping out at the Consular Section. Since no one was answering the phone, I spent the morning at the Consular Section.

As usual, I scripted passports, answered phone calls and addressed the callers (I really know how things work now! Yay!!!), and laminated passports.

After lunch, Ms. Toledo tried to reach the Tourism Office again, but apparently they're really busy and didn't even have time to give me a short briefing on the workings of their office. Instead, Ms. Toledo made me read the Consulate's latest Post Report so that I had an idea about what all the branches of the Consulate did. When I finished, I went back to the Consular Section and worked there till it was time to go home.

Tomorrow's my last day. Whew!!! :D

Work Hours: 8:15am to 5:15pm

I spent the whole day at the Consular Section. I'm so proud of myself!!! I was able to do almost every kind of work that has to be done over there! :) I took phone calls and successfully answered all the questions that the people on the other line were asking (regarding passport applications, documents, etc). I laminated passports, I looked up people on the Look-Out-List (LOL) database, and released passports to people who claimed theirs.

For the bulk of the day, however, I was recording details of people whose new passports were resent through the mail. I think I started with around 10 bundles of paper to record, and left Kuya Rommel with just 2 bundles to continue recording tomorrow. :p

Although work at the Consular Section seems to be somehow mechanical, I love the company there, so I love being there!!!

Work Hours: 10:00am to 1:00pm

Since almost everyone (except for some of the people from the Consular Section) went home at 12:15am this morning when the ballot counting was done, the office was practically EMPTY.

Only the people from the Consular Section were there on time (they have no choice anyway since today's not a declared holiday and people were coming to get their passports renewed, etc). Everyone else was either late or absent. The Consul General flew to Washington D.C. this morning for a meeting with the other ConGens in America (perhaps regarding the elections). 

Before going home yesterday, Ms. Toledo told me to work at the Consular Section today. So that's what I did. As usual, I scripted passports and laminated them too. It's good to be back there. :D

A lot of people left work early, and so did I! :p People who stayed for more than 12 hours at the office yesterday deserve some time off right? :)

Work Hours: 8:45 am to 12:15 am (OF MAY 15!!!) COULD YOU BELIEVE IT???

Since I got back at 12:15am yesterday (or should I say earlier today), I was too tired to even post a blog entry. :p

Anyway, most of the Consulate staff and officials who had an important role in the May 14 ballot counting were already at the Consulate starting Sunday night (May 13). The others (like me) who weren't officially appointed to do anything by the COMELEC, however, were required to come the next morning (May 14) and stay till the counting was over. 

Though the counting officially started at May 14 2am, I was told that it actually started at around 7:15am because there were so many questionable ballots to be settled. When I got to the Consulate at 8:45, barely 100 ballots were counted!!! Basically, I spent the whole day [and night] watching the ballot counting and helping out with preparing food for the very busy SBEIs (who also lacked sleep).

For Chicago, Francis Pangilinan got the most votes, followed by Ralph Recto. (Talk about a lot of Sharon Cuneta and Vilma Santos fans here) hahaha! :p

Almost everyone stayed till 12:15 am of May 15 when everything was settled (the papers/forms to be submitted to COMELEC). 

THE ELECTIONS ARE FINALLY DONE!!! Wheeee!!! :D

Work Hours: 8:15am to 5:00pm

This must be the lightest day of the week. In the morning, I was just asked to fix Ms. Toledo's different OAV (election) files. I enjoyed lots of long breaks wherein I waited for another assignment while reading today's paper. I answered some phone calls (I'm glad that I was of help to those people who called), and I realized that I'm really getting the hang of working at the Consulate.

The SBEI people for the elections, together with ConGen Cabrera, Consul Hilado, Vice Consul Bernardo and Ms. Toledo, had another training/meeting from 3pm to 5pm. Since I was left alone doing nothing in Ms. Toledo's room during all that time, I decided to go to the Consular Section and volunteered to help with some consular work. I really miss that place!!! Hehehe. :p

Before calling it a day, Ms. Tagle asked me to pull out a voter's file to that they could verify the questionable signature on his ballot. It took me less than 5 minutes to do the job, considering that those files have been my "friends" for the past two weeks due to all the RTS work. 

Consulate staff who are part of the SBRCG andSBEI for the elections have to be at the Consulate by 9pm on Sunday May 13 [since counting starts at 2am of May 14]. Since I'm not really needed overnight, I guess I'll just go to the office on Monday (when they're probably still counting).

Oh well. What a week. It actually turned out ok after all. Next week is my last week! :(

Work Hours: 8:25am to 6:35pm

The first thing I had to do for today was to double-check how many registered dual citizens have mailed in their ballots already, since Chicago PCG was asked to make a report on dual citizens' participation in this year's elections. As of this morning, 209/714 have mailed in their ballots. Not a good percentage, right? :p

Apparently, we only got to finish calling till September 2006 [for the election phone brigade], and the October 2006 registration files miraculously showed up somewhere on Consul Patrick's messy desk. :p I had some time to read the paper and help out Ms. Toledo before Consul Patrick gave me another list of people to call. Since time's running out and ballots won't reach in time even if they were mailed this afternoon, the numbers given to me were only of people who lived within the Illinois area, so that the voters could personally submit their ballots at the Consulate if they had the time. 

I ran some more errands for Ms. Toledo (arranging Consulate files and stuff), before the Consulate staff had their oath taking as SBRCG and SBEI (I'll get the meaning of the acronym tomorrow, I kinda forgot. :p hehe) members for May 14's counting of ballots. I took so many pictures using Ms. Toledo's camera, which are gonna be used in reports to be sent to Manila.

I seriously can't wait till the elections are done!!! It's my last week at the Consulate by that time though. :(

Work Hours: 8:25am to 5:00pm

Finally, no more phone calls to make for the phone brigade. Ate Winnie and I finished calling all the people from the November 2005 to October 2006 OAV registration files. Woohoo!!! :D

We had 4 return to sender ballots today. Unfortunately, none of them could be reached since all of their phones are already disconnected. Today wasn't too tiring. Most of the tasks that were assigned to me were related to the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV). I had to double-check some people's ballots with the official list from the COMELEC, fix and photocopy some files, update several OAV files in Ms. Toledo's computer and type out/accomplish the daily report to send to COMELEC.

I also had a lot of time to read some magazines and look through coffee table books in the Administration Library to kill my time. It was a great, relaxed day. :D

Work Hours: 8:05 am to 9:05 pm (because of the reception at the Consulate's Social Hall after office hours)

At first, I thought today was no extraordinary day. As usual, I was the Administrative Officer's "best friend" since I stayed at her office/room the whole morning, calling people for the phone brigade [of the OAV] and reminding those who promised to send their ballots for today. (Thank God there's no return-to-senders today. Whew!)

Then around lunchtime, most, if not all of the staff of the Consulate went to this Fancy Food Fair at McCormick Place. The exhibit hall was HUGE. And since it was the last day, aside from giving out free sample food (pizza, sushi, hotdog sandwiches, you name it), they were giving out their products!!! (And by that I mean like the way you get food from groceries -- the packaged ones, for instance, packaged pickles, bottled drinks, etc etc). All of us ended up spending more than an hour at the fair, and carrying huge heavy duty bags (which were free too) full of FREE groceries back to the office.

We started preparing for Eliza Wangerin's art exhibit at the Consulate's Social Hall at around 4pm. Ms. Wangerin is a native of Bacolod, who married an American, and obviously she's a painter. Hehe. Basically, all the finger foods/cocktails served at the reception were prepared in the Consulate. A lot of people came to the exhibit, which was pretty cool since I got to mingle and even practice my French on Ms Wangerin's professor [who was a guest as well]. :) Sometime during the reception, I also had some time to talk with Consul General Cabrera, who commended me by saying that I'm "doing a really good job," and that I'm "very hard-working and resourceful." After all the guests had left, I helped in tidying up the place, then we called it a night.

It's a REALLY tiring day, but I sure enjoyed it. At least it's a break from all the phone calls and monotonous work. Still not getting the hang of wearing high heels either. :p My feet hurt like hell but I had a great time today. :)

Work Hours: 8:05 am to 6:05 pm

Monday morning flag ceremony at 9:30am.
Had some free time to read the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune, before being given yet ANOTHER list for the "phone brigade" by Consul Patrick.

At around midday, another batch of return to sender ballots came in. Thank God it was only 14 ballots this time. As usual, dig up the files, photocopy them, then contact the people if numbers were available.
Ran errands for the Administrative Officer.

32 ballots came in through the mail, giving Chicago PCG a total of 367 mailed in ballots as of today. I kind of "watched" Ms. Toledo and Mr. Mamalateo as they verified and classified the mailed in ballots. Pretty tedious procedure.

Tomorrow should be the last day of the "phone brigade", as there's no time left for mailing ballots since the deadline's on the 14th already. Oh well. I wonder what I'll be assigned to do. :)

Seriously. I'm counting down the days till the counting of the ballots for the Overseas Absentee Voting. Because only then will my phone calls to the registrants end.

I was kind of annoyed at work this morning because I was given a long-bond typed list of OAV registrants by Consul Patrick for the "phone brigade" which we've been doing the whole week. As usual there was a higher ratio of people who we left messages to, then there were those whose phones are disconnected already, and the lowest ratio of those we actually get to talk to. I didn't get to finish calling everybody on the list, since 62 returned to sender (RTS) ballots were mailed in by the COMELEC. That's quite a lot considering that the past few days we've only been getting 19 max of RTSs. Aside from having to run errands for Ms. Toledo, I had to dig up the files of those 62 RTS people, photocopy them, and if they had a phone number in their application, call them.

At around 3pm, the officers of the Consulate had another mock election. (This time not everyone was asked to join.) So I just finished digging up the RTS files and had them ready for calling, before I headed to the Consular Section across the hall to continue my work there. (Everyone from the Administration Section was busy with the mock election.) At around 4:30pm, I finished calling all the available numbers, and out of the 62, I only got 2 (who were a couple) new mailing addresses. Jeez!!! After that, I spent the rest of my day chatting with my friends/coworkers at the Consular Section, then spent some time with some people from the Admin Section after their mock elections.

More than 100 hours down. :p Yay!!!

Work Hours: 8:25am to 6:45pm

Work Hours: 8:15am to 5:55 pm

I spent most of the day at Ms. Toledo's (Administrative Officer's) room. Basically, I was filing papers, calling people, leaving messages for the people I called, typing stuff up [on the typewriter, mind you :p haha], photocopying papers, answering the phone -- the same things I was doing yesterday.

In the afternoon, though, I took a small break and hung out with my coworkers/friends from the Consular Section. God, I miss that place.

That's all for now. Nothing too interesting today. Hehe.

Work Hours: 8:20am to 7:00pm

It might seem like a tedious day for me, since I stayed for almost 11 hours at the office. It wasn't, however. I pretty much spent the day helping out the other officers. I wasn't assigned to do anything new or specific.

In the morning, I had a lot of free time to read some local papers. Then, Ms. Toledo (the Administrative Officer) asked me to run several errands for her (file papers, photocopy papers, call people, and the like). A little bit later, Consul Hilado gave me another list of people to call regarding the OAV (it didn't take up much of my time since most of them answered this time and I didn't have to leave the lengthy voice messages).

After lunch, another batch of "return to sender" ballots came in, so as usual, I had to look up and photocopy their records then call the people about their ballots if phone numbers were available. I know the drill. :p

In the afternoon, I helped out the Cultural Officer with a press release (I had to insert pictures, captions and sort of format the document). 

That's all for today. Not too interesting, but not too tiring either. :)

Work Hours: 8:25 am - 5:45 pm

Today was an ordinary day. Actually it seemed like a continuation of last Friday. With the elections coming up (in this case the OAV or the Overseas Absentee Voting), more and more things pertaining to it are being assigned to me. In the morning, I was asked by the Administrative Officer to file several communications/reports on the OAV, and then I was given another list of people whose ballots got returned to COMELEC. (I know the drill).

Then a little before lunchtime, I was called to a meeting with Consul General Cabrera, Consul Patrick Hilado, Vice Consul Bob Bernardo, and other Consulate staff for what they called a "telephone brigade." I, together with 2 other staff, was assigned to call ALL (of course there was division of labor between those who were calling) of the OAV registrants starting from January 2006. (From the files I alphabetized last week). Basically we had to ask the registrants whether they have received their ballots through mail, if not, get their mailing address to follow up, and if the machine picked up, we had to leave a message.

Before I called it a day, I was given another list of registrants who had their ballots returned to COMELEC, so I searched and photocopied their records, then headed home. ( I didn't have time to call all of them anymore).

The telephone brigade thingy is gonna take ages. We aren't even in March 2006!!!! Hahaha. And the files are till October 2006. Jeez! Thank God for the holiday tomorrow. :)

Work Hours: 9:00am - 5:55pm

In the morning, I finished calling all the people whose ballots have been resent by COMELEC (those people with contact number records at the Consulate, at least). For today, I got to talk to 3 who indeed have confirmed new mailing addresses and for most I left messages on their answering machines (some even called back already. yay!).

At around 3:00pm, I finally finished alphabetizing the OAV registration documents (which I started last Wednesday, but didn't manage to finish since I had to find the records and make the calls to the "returned to sender" ballot people). 

At 4:30pm, the Consulate Officials and Staff held a mock election in preparation for the 2007 Senatorial Elections in May. Basically, the designated officers ran through/had a dry run for the verification and counting of votes which would begin on May 14, 2007 2:00 am, Chicago time. Procedures are VERY meticulous (the mailed ballots have to go through several verification processes before finally being considered a "valid" ballot). 

I know I keep on saying this, but I'm gonna say it again... PHOTOS TO FOLLOW. I just need to find time to upload them into my LJ. Hehehe :) Happy weekend everyone!

2 weeks down, 3 more to go! :D

Work Hours: 8:30am - 5:15pm

Disclaimer: I'm too tired, so I'll just write everything in detail tomorrow. :p

Ms. Toledo (Administrative Officer) started the morning by giving me a list of 77 people (whose ballots have been returned to sender). Basically, I spent the first half of the day looking for their registration forms and photocopying them (to get the details and verify them with the returned ballots). The second half of the day, I spent calling the numbers of those 77 people to inform them about their ballots, and ask them whether they have new mailing addresss or if they would be available to drop by the Consulate to pick them up. 

After office hours, I accompanied the Cultural Officer to the launching of the 4-day Artropolis: Chicago's Celebration of Art, Antiques and Culture at Merchandise Mart. We went to this HUGE art exhibit (trust me, it wasn't boring and there were LOTS of beautiful and interesting artwork on display). *photos to follow*

That's all for now, I'm pretty beat. :(

Work Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm

I was finally taken out of the Consular Section. All of my work for today had to do with the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Files. In the morning, Ms. Toledo (the Administrative Officer) gave me a list of Filipinos whose ballots were returned to sender [and are now at the Consulate since COMELEC sent them]. My task was to find their contact info and telephone numbers from their OAV Registration Forms, so that I could call to inform them about their ballots. The challenge was, however, that the files were SO disorganized that it took me FOREVER to find the people's contact info (actually I only found half, the others couldn't be found).

At around lunchtime, I attended a luncheon hosted by the Consulate at the Consulate's Social Hall for 27 Muslim & Non-Muslim youth and adult leaders currently participating in the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP) at the Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. There were presentations/dance numbers from the students and speeches from the "important people." I mingled and got to talk to some of the students and the professors who joined them. *pictures to follow* :p

I spent the rest of the afternoon alphabetizing the 2006 OAV registration files by month. So far, I've alphabetized from November 2005 to May 2006. I have to finish the rest of the work tomorrow.

Funny coz I kinda miss the Consular Section and my company there.

Work Hours: 8:25 am to 5:00 pm.

Since one of the Consular Assistants who was on leave went back to work today, there wasn't a lot left for me to do at the Consular Section, but help out in minor tasks. (I was still assigned at the Consular Section today, though.) Basically, I just laminated LOTS of passports, and helped in stamping the restrictions and other stamps needed for the new passports, to have them ready for issuance to applicants. (This is usually done by the Passport Issuance officer before anything else).

Aside from this, I was just waiting for a new assignment and at times chatting with my co-workers. Haha!

I guess the "high of the day" was when the Consul General praised the report on Mindanao (which I wrote yesterday). Apparently, the report I made was pretty good. Yay! :)

After talking to the Administrative Officer before going home this afternoon, I found out that I should have a fresher, more interesting assignment for tomorrow. Details tomorrow, then! :P 

I was at work from 8:05am to 5:20pm today. Since it's Monday, there was the 9:30 flag ceremony at the Consulate's Kalayaan Hall. 

I was assigned to the Consular Section again. I gotta admit that the work is getting monotonous, and it's starting to bore me. Same old - I laminated passports, scripted passports and searched passport and visa applicants on the Look Out List. The only upside to this though, is that I'm getting the hang of it. I don't ask as many questions as I did when I first started at the Consular Section. Which is a good thing, right? It means I'm actually learning. :p

Well, as usual those tasks took up most of my day, but I also did some other stuff. I was asked by the Cultural Officer to write a report on an article found in "The Mandala" (a newsletter of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies published by Northern Illinois University) about the ongoing Mindanao Conflict. 

I was also taught how to release passports. Basically, the person claiming the passport will give you his claim stub, you look for the new passport (which is bundled with the application form, the requirements and the new passport), you give the old and new passport to the person claiming it, ask him to check whether the details are correct, then ask him to sign his name and the date today on the lower portion of the application form (which the Consulate keeps) if everything is okay.

I was also asked to bring passports for signing to the Vice Consul (whose office was across the hall from the Consular Section), then bring them back to the Consular Section for lamination. Basically, I was a "transporter." Haha!

That's all for today. I really hope I get an exciting assignment for tomorrow. :)

I guess I was too tired yesterday night, that I forgot to mention that after the regular office hours, at 5:30pm, I was asked to accompany the Consulate's Administrative Officer and its Cultural Officer to the opening of an art exhibit sponsored by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic. We met up with staff and officers from other Consulates here in Chicago, but what I liked best was the food they served. Haha! :p

Anyway, today, I worked from 8:25am to 5:00pm. Since manpower was needed at the Consular Section, I was once again assigned there. I really enjoyed my stay there today, since I felt more at home and familiarized with the work. As duty called and the paperwork/passport applications came in, I did either of the three things I learned on Wednesday: search the passport or visa applicants on the Look Out List (LOL), laminate passports or script passports. Today's work wasn't as boring and mechanical as yesterday's, since I kept on switching from one of the three aforementioned tasks as needed. Also, at the Consular Section, although there is a lot of work to do, there's a lot of food as well!!! (Therefore, one doesn't get too stressed! Haha!)

As for the working environment, I really enjoy working with the Consulate's officers and staff. They're very welcoming and supportive people! :)

After office hours, I attended another function with the Consulate's Cultural Officer. This time, it was the opening of an art exhibit at the Mexican Consulate General. I was really thrilled to be there, considering that I have a Mexican citizenship by birth (and I love Mexican food :p haha!). I was introduced to the new Mexican Consul General and some other officers from the Mexican Consulate, then I revelled in the delicious cocktail that was served.

All in all, I'd consider today as a good ending to my first week as an intern at the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago. :D