A 47-year-old Filipino who has lived in Taiwan for more than two decades but never applied for citizenship for fear of the high cost was finally naturalized in October as a genuine Taiwanese citizen, with the help of an enthusiastic registration officer in the west-central city of Taichung.
The woman, who uses the alias Aileen to protect her privacy, arrived in Taiwan 20 years ago, and shortly afterward married a local man in Hemei, Changhua county, United Daily News reported.
Unfortunately, eight years ago her husband was killed in a fall from a building scaffolding. Aileen then became a full-time working mother, selling breakfasts at a small stall in order to support her three daughters.
Because of a poor business landscape, she moved to Tanzih district of Taichung, a prime manufacturing center, four years ago to sell breakfasts to industrial workers.
When the family updated their household registration, the officer found it odd that the eldest daughter, who had just achieved adult status at the age of 18, was named as the head of the family instead of the mother.
The registration officer learned that the Filipino woman had failed to apply for citizenship because she mistakenly believed that naturalization would cost hundreds of thousand of dollars. The fee for an initial household registration and identity card is NT$50 (US$1.65).
For two years, encouraged by her daughters’ teachers and officers in the Tanzih District Household Registration Office, she undertook the application process, including replacing lost documents and taking a course in basic Mandarin and arithmetic.
In October, Aileen was granted naturalized citizenship, and she will receive her Taiwanese identity card next year.
The woman said she was thankful for the kind assistance of the registration officers, proudly adding that she now had a stronger sense of belonging as she could share the same household registration as her children.
A very touching story. 🙂
the government employees here in taiwan are nice and helpful. kodus to you mam. 🙂
congrats to u aileen
Woow ! Being amother. Is not easy specially. Kids no father !brave. Mom @ thank you as well for the taiwanese. Officers who wish to help @ let us foreign people grant. Us. To stay @ plan. For the sake of the family. Mabuhay. Kyo @ god bless !more privileged. To encountered
Taiwanese are very friendly and helpful to all foreigner who are working and stay here in taiwan.congrats ate aileen
Not all. Some of them even looked down on us
Ne Salming I agree with you sis..
taiwanese are really helpful base on my own experience
Liu Ma Rhee in every place there’s a snake, rat, and cats . we live in this world not in heaven
Wow..thats awesome..congrats aileen .thats the best thing in taiwan .i salute the government ????
nice one ???????? can’t wait till the government of Taiwan allowing foreign workers and their families to stay here for free visa not just a months but a year… ????
Wow congrats Dana ako dn
Congrats no guts no glory
Sana ako dn maka asawa ng Taiwanese he he
Aileen congratulations and may GOD BLESS you all the way to your journey.
parang ako , maliit pa Ang anak ko when my husband Taiwanese died ..pabalik balik akong umaapply ng ID card…sabi ng pinaka Boss sa office .. sige bigyan sya …kasi Paano nya bubuhayin Ang anak nya kung wala ID
Job well done fof the Taiwan household officers who help our fellow Pilipino single mother here in Taiwan. Kindly continue to help others and to those who are still in need of your services… More power to you!!!
Taiwnese are very kind and helpful…thank you for the assistance,,,
Keep dreaming then haha
It’s not gonna happen, why would it?