Certificate Of Illegitimacy?

How racists is that? I’m talking about asking a single mom to get a certificate of illegitimacy for her minor child so the child can secure a passport. How oppressing this can be, isn’t this illegal now that the new family code was passed?

I was mortified when I heard the travel agency personnel enumerated to me the requirements for securing a passport for a minor. My ears rang when she mentioned that I need to secure a “certificate of illegitimacy” from the National Statistics Office. Seriously, I don’t want such document for my child, isn’t that enough that I get a certificate of no marriage and the child’s baptismal certificate and birth certificate? What the heck does a certificate of illegitimacy prove the bureaucracy but to brand my child as illegitimate?

After hearing the requirements I walked out of the agency to get hold of my senses. After a couple of minutes, when my head was clear again, I went back to the travel agency and asked the agency staff nicely, “Do I still need those requirements even if its just a passport renewal?” I think she saw my disappointment and said “No ma’am you just need to present her old passport!” I was very much relieved hearing that.

So, I suggest to those unwed single mothers out there to secure a passport for their child while they are below 8 years old so you don’t need to secure the above mentioned requirements that is very much discriminatory and could be traumatic for the child and you as well. After all, even if there’s a new family code allowing illegitimate kids to acquire their father’s last name, there are people out there who will look down on you and brand you as something you know you are not.