Sometimes, parents are so endeared by the name “Baby” that they legally register their children under that name. According to Forebears , a name and genealogy resource, 1 in 2,744 Filipinos is named “Baby.”
It can be cute to call little ones “Baby.” However, they won’t remain babies forever. They’ll eventually grow up and pursue professional careers wherein the name “Baby” may not be suitable. For example, having a corporate chairman whose name includes “Baby” can be off-putting in the business world.
Besides parents intentionally naming their children “Baby,” hospitals also commit errors sometimes. They use “Baby Boy” or “Baby Girl” as default identifications for infants in the nursery. Then, for some unfortunate reason, the name “Baby Boy” or “Baby Girl” becomes the baby’s first name on their Certificate of Live Birth. Eventually, their birth certificate will reflect such a name.
If you are legally named “Boy,” “Girl,” “Baby Boy,” or “Baby Girl,” there are ways you can have your first name corrected. Read on to learn how to change your name on your birth certificate in the Philippines.
How to Change the “Baby Boy” or “Baby Girl” Entry on Your Birth Certificate
If Applicant is Born Before 1993
If you were born before 1993 and your first name is “Baby Boy,” “Baby Girl,” “Baby,” “Boy,” or “Girl,” the government treats your first name as if it was not registered. Hence, you need to file a supplemental report. This is provided in Memorandum Circular dated Sept. 12, 2008, re: “Revisions in Paragraph 2, Case No. 1 of Memorandum Circular No. 2007-2008.”
Procedure for Filing a Supplementary Report
A supplemental report is a document you file when there is missing information on a civil registry document. The document owner, either of their parents, or a guardian can file this report. Below are the filing steps depending on the applicant’s birthplace.
For Applicants Born in the Philippines
For Applicants Born Abroad
If Applicant is Born in 1993 or Onwards
If you were born in 1993 or onwards and the first name appearing on your birth certificate is “Baby Boy,” “Baby Girl,” “Baby,” “Boy,” or “Girl,” such first name is officially considered as your registered first name. This can be corrected by filing a petition for change of first name under RA 9048. This is provided in Memorandum Circular dated Sept. 12, 2008, re: “Revisions in Paragraph 2, Case No. 1 of Memorandum Circular No. 2007-2008.”
RA 9048 provides that civil registrars can now correct clerical or typographical errors on the applicant’s birth certificate without the need for a trial. This law amended Articles 376 and 412 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, which require a judicial order in correcting entries on a civil registry document.
As such, anyone who wants to correct clerical or typographical errors on their birth certificate can do so by simply filing a verified petition. You can only file this petition once. The LCRO will then keep a record of the petition.
To file a petition for change of first name, simply proceed to your city or municipality’s LCRO. If you live abroad, you can file a petition at the nearest Philippine Consulate.
Requirements in Filing a Petition for Change of First Name
The law prescribes a particular format when petitioning for a change of first name. Here are the basic requirements:
The petition should be in the form of a notarized affidavit. It should contain the following:
To support your petition, you must attach the following documents to the affidavit:
You should file three copies of the petition together with its supporting documents to be distributed as follows:
Section 5 of RA 9048 requires that the petition be published at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.
The city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general shall collect a reasonable fee for the processing of the petition. The current fee at the LCRO is Php 3,000. If you are filing with the consul general, the cost is $150. If you are an indigent petitioner, you are exempted from paying the filing fee.
Outgrow Your Name
If you find the name “Baby Boy,” “Baby Girl,” “Baby,” “Boy,” or “Girl” unsuitable for you, you don’t have to live with it forever. You have the chance to have it legally changed by filing a supplementary report or petition.
If you need a copy of your birth certificate, you can process it in person at the nearest PSA Civil Registry System Outlet. You can also get your PSA birth certificate online. Just head over to PSAHelpline.ph for a hassle-free application process!
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