FRANKFURT, 22 March. Nobody’s perfect. Despite repeated reminders of no-visa agreement for diplomatic and official passports, Frankfurt immigration officers occasionally lapse into forgetfulness and hold up Filipino officials.

I was lucky to clear out in 20 minutes. Another Philippine diplomat was held up four hours despite our Consulate’s protestation. Every Filipino official transiting to Frankfurt better bring an attestation of no-visa agreement from the German embassy.

SPORTS. RP rebounded to its “Miracle Team” billing by thrashing Brazil (6-2) in the 1st Deloitte Street Child Football World Cup in Durban, South Africa. Earlier, RP dropped out of the Final 4 after losing to the heftier UK team (3-2) and Tanzania (3-2).

The RP team is coached by Jess Ladangan, managed by Ed Formoso and sponsored by the Henry V. Moran Foundation. It works with Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Childrens Village, Nayon ng Kabataan of the DSWD, Manila Boys Town, Philippine Christian Foundation, Gawad Kalinga and other NGOs.

We’ve come to be among the best in “the beautiful game,” football… a game played in favelas and slums. Award-winning director Jim Libiran (“Tribu,” played by real-life Tondo gang members) wants to invite Zizou Zidane to teach Tondo football. Think on that, hoopla crazed Pinoys!

Joshua Clottey blamed diarrhea for the lopsided defeat. Who wouldn’t do the same in his pants facing the Pacman?

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. The just concluded Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue is feather in the cap of DFA. RP’s last hosting of this magnitude was UNCTAD V in 1979.

The Lebanese delegation represents a country of 18 confessionals and a diversity that can find 80 kinds of tapas on a dinner table.

The Manila Declaration is NAM’s contribution to international peace and development through principles of nonintervention, mediation and respect for diversity.

PASSPORTS. Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales blessed the high-tech DFA Consular Office at Macapagal Avenue last Friday. Wouldn’t both the officials and passport applicants be happier if DFA accepted the sweetheart deal offered by Henry Sy to locate at the Asia Mall?

Philippine machine-readable passports should ease travel for Filipinos.

The catch is they have to apply in person. Applicants who travel as far as 600 kms from Munich who arrive after office hours are unforgiving of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.

Our Paris Embassy solved the problem when honorary Consul Patsy Zobel de Ayala accredited a studio in Monaco to take photos for passport applicants to spare them from coming to Paris.

MISCELLANY.  Supreme Court deferred until tomorrow its decision on the Bulacan contest, allowing embattled Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza reprieve. After tomorrow, full court press!

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez says billboards of Gordon and Fernando exceeded the size mandated by law. Oversized Dick to be pared down.

Comelec gives teachers 30 minutes to cast vote. If teachers need that much allowance, how much time does an  unschooled voter need?

Erap wants truth in poll advertising – news item. Hyperbole only in cinema.

We have 15.6 billion coins in circulation and Bangko Sentral deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo blames the apparent shortage to Mass collections, jueteng bets and Filipino habit of saving coins. Kuripots: Stop dropping coins to the Cardinal’s Pondong Pinoy and start giving peso bills. Feedback:  jaz@mb.com.ph