“SMILE and the whole world smiles with you” goes the first part of a popular quote from American novelist Stanley Gordon West.
On Saturday, Commissioner Jaime Morente exhorted Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned to the international ports to smile more and frown less, especially when welcoming visitors from around the world to the Philippines.
Morente reminded immigration officers they are often the first Filipinos foreigners encounter on arrival and they give the visitors their first impression of the country.
“The first observation I hear about the immigration officers from anyone I speak to is this: Don’t immigration officers know how to smile?” he said.
“Is that true?” he asked bureau personnel assembled for the BI’s 76th anniversary celebration at its main office in Intramuros, Manila, on Friday night.
Vehement ‘no’
The question was met with a brief pause before someone shouted “No!” eliciting laughter.
Morente, who assumed his post on July 1, the day after President Duterte took office, said that aside from stamping out corruption and simplifying services, bureau personnel should smile more.
“Let us live up to our country’s reputation as a country of smiles and hospitality. As a favorite online Facebook meme says: Keep calm and smile,” Morente said.
“That would be the clearest indicator that, indeed, change is here at the BI,” he added.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III, the night’s guest of honor, urged the immigration personnel to keep up the good work as gatekeepers of the country.
“I beseech everyone their support and cooperation. You are the gatekeepers of the country and please continue doing that, please do it well,” he said.
Morente also encouraged the public to interact with the bureau and give feedback through its Helpline page on Facebook.
He said the Facebook page, @immigration.helpline.ph, is a channel for complaints, queries, feedback and suggestions.
“To be of real service, we must know what our clients need, how well we are doing or not doing our job, and what else we can do to serve our people,” he said.