First of two parts
GROWING up in the 1950s, my mother and other parents scoffed at anyone — their own children included — if a daughter, but more so the son, simply hung around the house, another friend's house, or while away the time discussing any topic under the sun.
At the time, I heard it and interpreted it as "istambay."
My interpretation was further reinforced when the song "Istambay sa Looban" became popular. I am not sure if it was one of the hits from the late Fred Panopio (of "Pitong Gatang" fame), Bobby Gonzales, or later on by Victor Wood and Mike Hanopol.
OK, that dates me.
My song idols have gone to the great beyond — except for the Jeproks Originalist. I'm still here standing by.
It was not until I reached college, as well as during my US sojourn, that I realized "istambay" really is a Tagalization of "stand by."
I was also pleasantly surprised to see signs in New York warning of "No Standing," which actually refers to operators/drivers of vehicles warning them that the area covered by the sign means one can only temporarily stop to drop off or pick up passengers, and the driver cannot exit the vehicle or load or unload merchandise.
Another sign that catches my punny button is "Please fall in line."
Yet, the long line of people are all standing — "not following instructions"?
Radio and TV jockeys use the term "Please stand by" in between programming or hosts or if something unexpected happens interrupting the broadcast.
Plane passengers with tickets seeking to board an earlier flight can go on "standby" mode to see if there would be any cancellations or no-shows. Most of the time, there are more passengers on "standby" than seats that become available.
It is the same with US immigrant visa applicants on standby mode — waiting for their interview appointments.
Another term or abbreviation that has metastasized to a quasi-oxymoron status is "DQ."
At one time or another, Pinoy basketball greats of my time — Caloy Loyzaga, Freddie Webb, Jaworski, Adornado, superseded by Benjie Paras, Jimmy Alapag, James Yap and FilAms Raymond Townsend (Golden State Warriors, long before Steph Curry), Jordan Clarkson (Lakers, Jazz) Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) — have been ruled disqualified ("DQ") banished from the game for the night. Sometimes longer.
DQ for immigrant visa applicants now means the opposite — ready to and eligible to play the immigrant selection game by being "DQ," an abbreviation for "documentarily qualified."
Interview ready
Before the State Department migrated the immigrant visa application process to Pivot — "pre-IVO technology or Pivot system" — applicants received immigrant visa (IV) instruction packets:
1. Packet 3. NVC welcome letter providing information and instructions on the next steps that the case parties, petitioner and visa beneficiary/ies should do next.
2. Packet 4. Appointment Package for immigrant visa applicants; and
3. Packet 4a. Modified follow-up instruction package.
The visa packets then and the immigrant visa instructions now contain the following information: entitlement to immigrant classification, case number petitioner and principal applicant names, and priority date.
In contrast with the pre-Pivot system, where applicants have to wait for the Packets 3 and 4 instructions from the National Visa Center for document preparation, medical exam and visa payment, the principal or main beneficiary now has control over their application process.
When a beneficiary's priority date is earlier than the dates for filing applications established by the department and published in the monthly Visa Bulletin, and if it is not necessary to have a labor certification revalidated, the automated system will generate a cover letter to be transmitted to the applicant or their agent with the appropriate information sheets and forms for further processing.
To be continued on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024