Mr. Foreigner and I

Chapter 10 (Way's to be Uncle Sam Sweetie)

        Good Morning, Everyone. I am going to tackle about the provision that allow an alien to become a Filipino.

            Before we proceed with that we need first to learn how one can acquire Filipino citizenship.  

What is citizenship?  According to Encarta Dictionary, Citizenship is the legal status of being citizen of a country. It implys that you are a legal resident of a state and you have the right to stay and live in that particular country.

According to the Philippine Constitution, Article IV.

Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines: 

[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;

[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;

[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and

[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be deemed natural-born citizens.

                                                                        Source: Philippine Constitution of 1987

            Who among you here failed to qualify to become a Filipino? Nagbibiro kong tanong sa mga kamag-aral ko.

            Ito si Bert kulay ginto ang buhok isa itong Feel-Am (Feeling Amerikano). Nanuksong wika ni Joy

            Natawa kami sa kapilyahan ni Joy.

            I think all of us pass the requirement. Praise God nobody will be deported to other state. Nanunukso kong wika

 There’s no place like our motherland. It is the only country who has a government that subsidise lazy people who claim to be poor. I have known some who receive monthly allowance; instead of buying food they are sitting the whole day playing card.  It’s really more fun in the Philippines.

            Now, I know all of you are excited how a foreigner becomes a Filipino Citizen.

            I know some of you have an idea how they become one of us. And I guess, Bert has something in mind. Please stand up.

            Kinabahan na tumayo si Bert at pasulyap-sulyap sa paligid naghihintay ng grasya.

            Binulungan ng katabi niya si Bert.

            Citizenship by Naturalization. Sagot ni Bert.

            Galing talaga ng coach. Natatawa kong wika.

            Commonwealth Act No. 473, approved June 17, 1939, provided that persons having certain specified qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization.

Republic Act No. 9139, approved June 8, 2001, provided that aliens under the age of 18 who were born in the Philippines, who have resided in the Philippines and have resided therein since birth, and who possess other specified qualifications may be granted Philippines citizenship by administrative proceeding subject to certain requirements.