Danina Mabel M.

Lim OTFH 1
BSBA-HRM January 26, 2021

"No Record" Documentary

1. How important is the "Birth Certificate" as presented in the documentary?

– The importance of our birth certificates does not only limit to individuals, since it has a
wider scope that enables us to access different aspects in our lives. As seen in the
documentary, Rosa Gatorian has a few details about her and is now living alone. The
problem arrived when she cannot prove her age since she does not have a birth
certificate. This indicates how our birth certificates play a vital role in our life. From
birth, to attending school, to seeking employment and until you reach your golden years,
this piece of paper entitles you to claim your rights as a Filipino.

2. How do you think the documentary is related to our discussion in Citizenship Training (next
week)? How does one's "identity" be a very crucial aspect for one to access basic services
especially that of the government? in the context of human rights?

– The documentary is definitely related to our discussion in Citizenship Training, since this
training gives us the knowledge and skills to understand, challenge and engage with
democratic society including politics, the media, civil society, the economy and the law.
It gives us a voice, may that be in the life of our schools, our communities and society at
large. It enables us to make a positive contribution by enhancing the knowledge and
experience needed to claim our rights and understand our responsibilities. Thus, it
prepares us for the challenges and opportunities of adult and working life. In connection
to one’s identity, we cannot achieve any of the aforementioned if we do not hold any
evidence that we are a citizen of our country. We will not be accepted in schools, if we
do not have that very important piece of paper that indicates who we are in the first
place. It is our right to be identified and recognized under the law of this sovereign state.

3. How can you relate to the situations presented in the documentary?

– Some circumstances that I found relatable in the documentary is that when Rosa
Gatorian received a help in registering herself, because I had kind of the same scenario
when my mother passed away and I did not know where my birth certificate was, so my
sister helped me and we went to the PSA to get a copy because even though that was a
short period of time, I felt unidentified, thus, seeing what Rosa Gatorian has been
through is beyond unimaginable.