Monday, April 21, 2008

Mona Lisa Smile

When I was having my passport picture taken, I was politely reminded by the photographer that smiling is now prohibited by the Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I couldn’t believe what I heard. But I was also informed by a colleague of the same thing. Apparently, smiling distorts one’s facial features making them harder to distinguish.

Sadly, I obliged to the no smile policy. I wasn’t comfortable with it. Raft3r always smiles in front of the camera. It's a trademark.

Although after having met Pookee, a model wannabe, I learned to pout – Zoolander style.

While waiting for my turn to have my passport renewed last Friday, I amused myself by watching the video prepared by the passport office.

The video makes it a point to state that although smiling is not prohibited, only a Mona Lisa smile is encouraged. But that’s just a smirk, right?

So above photo is Raft3r’s version of the Mona Lisa. Right now, Da Vinci is rolling in his grave. For the record, I'm not too crazy about it either.

25 comments:

Big Eyed Gal said...

I remember sinabihan din ako dati when I applied for a passport and a US visa...syempre di ko talaga kayang di naka smile so medyo smirking and grinning ang dating tuloy ng picture ko. hahahaha! Ang sagwa!

By the way, pls change my blog's URL to http://www.bigeyedgal.com :-D

Raft3r said...

big_eyed_gal, Hehe. Bad trip talaga!!! I changed your url na. =>

Anonymous said...

Don't feel so bad. You still look way hotter than I do, smiling or not. (My passport shot makes me look like I should be working at the Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.)

Raft3r said...

ganns, Oh come on. You're just saying that to make me feel better. Hehe

pixie27 said...

mukhang ok naman picture mo dito eh...eto ba yung recent pic mo talaga sa passport mo? baka naman kinuha mo to sa mga picture mo pa dati nung medyo bata bata ka pa. Joke! hahaha....Kung eto nga yung recent wow ang masasabi ko lang eh you look so young! ilan taon ka na ba?? parang walang ka stress stress ang face mo ha...

Raft3r said...

pixie27, Nyahaha. Yes, recent photo yan. Noong Thursday lang yan kinunan. Mula noong nag-resign ako sa opisina namin nina Val, para akong nabunutan ng tinik. Hehe

Anonymous said...

parang ayaw ko ng magpa-renew ng passpost..
-CM

Anonymous said...

MODEL?!! In fairness bestfriend,maganda yung projection mo.
Ang gwapo mo pala!
Pasalamat ka sa no smile policy.

Or baka naman epekto ng pag gising mo ng 2AM? Everyday ka na lang kaya gumising ng 2AM. :)

Payperbiz said...

hahaha! You don't look bad den, ako nga mukhang lalake sa passport ko.

Raft3r said...

CM, Nyahaha. Sama mo, ha. Hehe

bestfriend, Hehe. This is the funnies comment ever. Thanks 4 making my day.

sonnet's, Lahat naman tayo may horror stories sa mga pictures natin, e. Nyhaha

Wendy said...

Uy parang kuha pa 'to during the That's Entertainment era ni Kuya Germs a. In fairness, ngayon ko lang nanotice na maganda ang nose mo:D

Raft3r said...

wendy, Nyahaha. Alam mo, ang daming pumapansin sa ilong ko. Pero ako mismo di ko pansin. Hehe

leafLet said...

Oo nga ok naman yung picture ah, mukha nga lang bagong gising, pati yung hair mo medyo bagong gising din,hehe!

Raft3r said...

leaflet, Lagi naman magulo buhok ko. Hehe

Anonymous said...

Denoy, kakaiba nga buhok mo sa passport picture mo. Is that your latest hairstyle? When I had my picture taken last week for the renewal of my passport, the photographer said the same thing, bawal daw nakangiti sa picture. Weird, di ba? Whoever made that stupid policy? (,")

Anonymous said...

killjoy talaga ang mga taga-gobyerno! :D and it's hard to imitate mona lisa's smile.
---------
my other blog:
http://www.eyeview.wordpress.com

Raft3r said...

jella, Machine readable na din ba ang ppt sa Lucena? Hehe. See ya Friday!

salve, Ewan ko ba. Kung anu-ano na lang angnaiisip nila. Hehe. Sige, will visit your other site.

Anonymous said...

reminds me of my own passport pic. c`est terrible.

Raft3r said...

tina, Welcome to the club!!!

Anonymous said...

gawin mo naman sa susunod ang "guess what i'm feeling" smile + stare sa next pic mo.

Raft3r said...

jasper, Nyahaha. Ang hirap naman yon. What will be my motivation for that? Hehe

Mommy Lutchi said...

thanks for the hopped...Naku! raft3r bawala na palang nakatawa sa passport photo...i have to start learning how to have that MonaLisa smile very soon...TC

Raft3r said...

lutchi, I'm sure maganda ang Mona Lisa pix mo. Ikaw pa!

Anonymous said...

oh man! that photo? well, well, well, all i can say is....YOUR DAMN HANDSOME DEBONAIR! PPT4 rocks!

Raft3r said...

anonymous, Nyahaha. You just made my day! You rock!