For bar passers next year who will have no one to consult regarding these things, or will be too shy to consult anyone regarding these. :)
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N.B. Request for your IBP ID at the IBP national office in Ortigas, claimable after a few minutes. Request for your Certification/Good Standing/Scores at the OBC, claimable after a few weeks.
- CLEARANCE FOR THE OATH TAKING MAY BE PROCESSED A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE OATH. There’s no need to go to Manila earlier.
- RENT TOGA FOR THE OATH TAKING AT THE GATE OF THE SUPREME COURT RIGHT AFTER PROCESSING YOUR CLEARANCE. Do not rent as a “PROBINSYANA”, the price will be twice higher due to the deposit, write down a city address. (The rented toga is “titoron” so you may have yours made by your mananahi. The cloth will not matter, not even the pleating design, just the color - black.) I haven’t returned my rented toga yet.
- WEAR STURDY AND COMFORTABLE SHOES FOR THE OATH TAKING. Mine never made it out of the PICC Plenary Hall, good thing I had backup flats hidden somewhere.
- DO NOT BRING FOOD, NOT EVEN CANDIES/MINTS. Not allowed inside the hall, you won’t even get them back after leaving them with the guards. I had to throw away mini chocolates and mints.
- DO NOT BRING CAMERA/CELLPHONE/ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Not allowed inside the hall (unless you’re a Congresswoman or something). There’s strict inspection at the entrance.BRING CASH. There’s picture-taking at dollars’ cost.
- GO INSIDE THE HALL RIGHT AFTER HAVING YOUR PICTURE TAKEN. RESERVE A SEAT. Because Attorneys Rikki, Annie, Hej and I were busy tsismaxing and came in only minutes before the event started, we had a hard time looking for seats and had to seat ourselves separately. Lesson: Tsismax inside the hall, when seated, not prior. You won’t enjoy the event when you’re seated with strangers.
- BE VERY EARLY. PICK A GOOD SEAT WITH A GOOD VIEW. Chances of being seen in TV Patrol will increase. :) You will have lots of pictures to claim, too. Me, I only had 2 pictures, those taken outside the hall.
- TAKE LOADS OF PICTURES OUTSIDE. DO NOT ENTERTAIN THE MERCHANDISE/SELLERS OUTSIDE. Ribbons/corsages will not be needed. Uncle insisted on buying me one, so I had to wear it. :)
- GUEST PASSES MAY BE BOUGHT OUTSIDE. EXTRA GUESTS MAY BE SNEEKED IN, DEPENDE SA DISKARTE. An oath-taker is officially allowed only 1 guest.
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- THE SIGNING IN THE ROLL OF ATTORNEYS IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT. BRING YOUR LOVED ONES WITH YOU FOR THE PICTURE-TAKING. When I went to the Old Supreme Court Building for the Signing, I went alone. Everyone else had his family with him. I had to call my father and ask him to come immediately, good thing we were staying within a walking distance from the Supreme Court.
- BRING CAMERA DURING THE SIGNING. Picture-taking is allowed, even during the signing itself. I didn’t have a digicam with me, not even a camera phone.
- YOU MAY WEAR CORPORATE ATTIRE. I saw a lady lawyer (Atty. Mastura) wearing a female fitted Barong and slacks, she looked so dashing in it.BRING CASH. Photographs for sale at dollars’ cost.
N.B. Request for your IBP ID at the IBP national office in Ortigas, claimable after a few minutes. Request for your Certification/Good Standing/Scores at the OBC, claimable after a few weeks.