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How the Bureau of Customs Spoiled the Fun

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I participated in a group contest with WOMWorld and teamed up with 3 other tech bloggers from Sri Lanka, Singapore and Australia to figure out a code from clues individually sent to us. We each got a sealed box delivered via DHL.

I was monitoring the tracking logs from the DHL website and saw that the box arrived by evening of Sunday. I figured it should be home by Monday morning or afternoon. There were some delays according to the logs and I got a bit concerned. It finally arrived this morning after being cleared by Customs.

The box is made of hard transparent plastic with a 4-digit lock. You can clearly see the Nokia E72 inside but we still need to figure out the code in order to unlock the box.

Each of the 4 team members also get a clue so we can all figure out the 4-digit code. Unfortunately, I no longer needed the code to get inside the box. Customs has forcibly opened it for me.

Obviously, the inspectors at the Bureau of Customs got very curious about the Nokia E72 despite the fact that they can clearly see what’s inside the transparent box. They just need to closely inspect the items.

So there you go — no more code-breaking for me, thanks to the people at Customs.

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Written by
Abe Olandres

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

316 Comments

MC
mckulit · 17 years ago

wala nang bago sa mga customs na yan mga gahaman talaga mga yan….last month lang nagpadala friend ko ng 3 units ng cell phone sa pinas, pag dating dyan sa atin naging 2 na lang at yung pinaka mahal pa ang kinuha, ang kakapal talaga ng mga mukha ng mga taga customs at alam din ng mga opisyal nila yan dahil kung gusto talaga nila mahuli mga tiwali sa customs napaka dali lang diba, maglagay lang sila ng camera sa lahat ng sulok ng opisina nila eh mahuhuli na nila mga yan….


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IA
iamupset · 17 years ago

@Edgar: hehehe.. nice one bro.. how you respond is who you are.. hehe..

customs responded like who they really are.. mga MAGNA.. CUM LAUDE =)


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NE
neva | manilamommy · 17 years ago

oh shoot!!! i’m so sorry to hear about this abe :T are you considering taking action against the bureau? what have the contest organizers said about this? sana maayos pa rin to.


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AN
Angelito · 17 years ago

Nangyari yan b4 sa akin but with the Post Office. Pinagalitan ko sila yong in-charge sa parcel section at sinabihan ko kakasuhan ko sila and I told them to remember my name. and when another package for me arrived at the Post Office, tinawagan nila ako at gusto nila makita ko daw habang binubuksan nila ang package, hayon natoto ang mga ungas at natakot na rin sa akin. Ngayon when ever I go to the Post Office dito sa lugar namin, serve nila ako agad. Patapangan lang yan. Kung duwag ka ay lulukuhin ka lang nila.


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AE
aedos · 17 years ago

Stupidity.


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AM
Ambo · 17 years ago

Every time i hear news about customs, it pisses me off! I forgot the politician’s name but he said customs is one of the most corrupt agencies in the country!


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MA
Marc · 17 years ago

the philippine government sucks, customs people…………………………………………..haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaysssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss


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EI
Eizan · 17 years ago

Haha! Apparently, hindi masyado nade-deliver ng maayos ang emotions through text only.

Grrr…napa-slow naman yata mag-adapt ng Customs.


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JA
jay · 17 years ago

dapat yung title “How the Bureau of Idiots Spoiled the Fun”


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ER
Erin · 17 years ago

@Randell,Eizan: easy lang. the poster was being sarcastic (notice the smiley). sarcasm doesnt really convey well in written media. saka dapat wink ang ginamit. :)

ciao!


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DE
deuts · 17 years ago

Dapat jan ipadala sa Xxx, at ipa-entrapment operation! abuso na yan ah.


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CO
cornflakes · 17 years ago

I purchased a Macbook online about a week ago and I’m waiting for it.

I do hope na wala itong fingerprints and such.

Navictim na din ako before ng customs. yung binili kong cd sa YesAsia, pagkadating d2, puro scratches and fingerprints yung CD. tapos siningil pa ako ng 500 pesos. DHL din yun dati.


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JE
Jesus · 17 years ago

Wala boss. Sinira nila ang contest. Winakwak pa talaga.


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RA
Randell · 17 years ago

@Elizar, “can’t blame them”? “just doing their job”? “baka ntakot na may bomb or something”? Come on! Are you even aware of their practices? That’s like tolerating those bunch! All of the customs officials and grunts should really be replaced. They’ve done way too much harm already.


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RE
Reel Advice · 17 years ago

That’s Philippine Customs for you! I have been victimized numerous times! Someone should revise customs laws especially now with online retailing and online shipments on a boom.


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EI
Eizan · 17 years ago

@Elizar

Kahit na. Bakit, wala bang x-ray man lang, or any Customs-proper device to inspect goods without tampering them? What they did was bordering on destroying stuff already. So much for being efficient.


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MA
marvin · 17 years ago

ouch! that hurts! sayang naman ang enjoyment. ala na yan thrill.


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LA
Lance · 17 years ago

I’m pissed really. They should have called the owner right away if they’re really curious to see it.

Hay such crocodiles!

Goodluck Abe.


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EL
Elizar · 17 years ago

you really can’t blame them.. just doing their job siguro… baka ntakot na may bomb or something :)


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CA
Calvin · 17 years ago

haha lintek talaga mga customs na yan. daming beses na rin ako nadali. kelangan nila talagang buksan kasi baka raw smuggled item. :P


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EI
Eizan · 17 years ago

Bad! Bad! Bad!
Did you already inspect the unit?
Baka nga napalitan na ‘yan.


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KI
Kinny · 17 years ago

What could their excuse be? Did they think it was a bomb? Was there a real E72 or just a box? Pakialamero naman!


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RI
rico · 17 years ago

ps: did customs charge you tax or anything?

a few years ago, i once received a webcam (personal/gift) from a friend in canada (worth 1500 pesos including stamps na).

the customs in my local post office charged me tax,etc worth 750 pesos!

may mga personal letters kasing kasama sa package kaya kinuha ko na rin. I was busy then kaya di na ko naka-pagtanong sa customs main office if it is really correct and just.


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RI
rico · 17 years ago

ps: did customs charge you a tax or anything?

a few years ago, i once received a webcam (personal/gift) from a friend in canada (worth php 1500 including stamps).

the customs in my local post office charged me tax,etc worth 750 pesos!

I was busy then kaya di na ko naka-pagtanong sa main office if it is really correct and just.


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RI
rico · 17 years ago

sir abe,

we urge you to please file a formal complaint.

since most of us do not know the policy of bureau of customs in regard to packages/electronics being received from abroad.

this would be one good example we all could learn from.


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CA
Carl · 17 years ago

kayo naman.. ngayon lang sila nakakita ng cellphone! x_X


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PE
petken · 17 years ago

I hate customs!!! Yung inorder ko na hoodie sa amazon.com via DHL din yung box ko halatang tampered. Nakadeclare naman dun na clothing yun at from Amazon.com naman yun.


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JH
Jhay · 17 years ago

You got a very good evidence for a solid complaint. Will you file one sir Abe?


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SU
suyog · 17 years ago

what is you clue?


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DA
daddy joey · 17 years ago

sop. hehe! baka inisip nila meron iba pang gadgets nakatago sa loob ng cellphone. lol!


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WH
whaâ„¢ · 17 years ago

wtf?? sayang naman sir yuga ang chance at trill.. lintek na CUSTOMS.


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CL
Clare · 17 years ago

That’s terrible!…Those Customs employees should be reported and slammed-in into jail!


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GR
grafico · 17 years ago

sayang naman ang effort ng WOMWorld dahil sa Philippine Custom.


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CH
chris · 17 years ago

@RJ ganyan tlga sila pati un laptop ko noon binuksan nila. pgdatng skn dami ng finger prints.


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RJ
RJ · 17 years ago

my God! Ganyan ba talaga ka-garapal sa Customs?? Grabe sila, kailangan pa ba talaga nilang i-open yung box?? tsk tsk! Hindi na sila nahiya! Bulok na systema! Sir Yuga, you have to do something about this.. i-report mo sila. :((


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CU
Customs Padilla · 17 years ago

Dapat jan sa mga taga customs i-pabitag kay Tulfo para maturaan ng leksyon at gawin ng maayos trabaho nila.


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LA
lalin · 17 years ago

did they charge you anything? so sad they had to open packages without even the consent of the receiver.. this really frightens people into importing anything w/ or w/o value.

malas talaga tumira sa Pilipinas pagdating sa custom. hope you give them somewhat a lesson XD


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MA
marco · 17 years ago

ganyan talaga ang mga taga customs… mga kurakot.. no wonder madaming taga custom ang mayayaman.. please confirm sir yuga na orig pa din yang unit.. baka pinalitan na nila ng china phone.. ajejeje


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CH
chris · 17 years ago

I hope they didn’t damage the plastic together with the E72. They are just proving that we don’t have enough technology to scan the transparent plastic. They are not respecting the privacy of the people in their own country.


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BU
bugoy · 17 years ago

file a complaint T_T grabe talaga.


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MH
mhon · 17 years ago

bakit mga china phones na nakakapasok sa bansa na hindi nag tatax di nila nahuhuli…

etong nakatransparent na box at halata naman na galing pa talaga sa Nokia at DHL pa pinadala…
sigurado naman safe pero binuksan parin mga kurakot na custom na yan…

baka nainggit sir yuga.gusto ata makahipo ng E72… Papahiramin niyo kasi kawawa naman sila….


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FE
ferdie · 17 years ago

Pwedeng pinalitan na rin yan ng 2nd hand Nokia E72 by the Customs Head who got the same phone hehehe…. tsk tsk.

Bad Gorillas!


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ED
Edgar · 17 years ago

Noticed the text on the sheet lining the box?

“How you respond is who you are”, it says. And how did those customs people respond?

See?


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ON
Onynz · 17 years ago

Tsk tsk tsk…

Grabe talaga mga customs, to think na transparent na nga yung box para hindi na gaano ma question and yet pinilit pa rin buksan.

Sir yuga, i think you should have filed a formal compaint about this the moment you knew that the package was forcibly opened.

Hindi na sila marunong mahiya…


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KO
koolitz · 17 years ago

di ba pwedeng x-ray nalang nila? kailangan pa talaga buksan? grabe


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MA
mack005 · 17 years ago

What’s next? Game over or we got some more task in hand?


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RA
Randell · 17 years ago

Somebody ought to file a formal complaint to those people in Customs.


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RA
Randell · 17 years ago

Brilliant bunch, I tell yah.


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MA
mack005 · 17 years ago

Hey that’s bad, anyway let us try to find the code :)


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DR
Drakulita · 17 years ago

What a very clever lot those Customs people are…


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