User:Terriethomas/Sandbox/phil new

1. Online Civil Registration Records
There are some civil registrations records available online and indexed but collections are incomplete.
 * 1706-1911 - Philippines Civil Registration (Spanish Period), 1706-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection — browsable  images.
 * 1888-1986 - at FamilySearch — index and images, incomplete.
 * 1888-1984 - at FamilySearch — browsable images, incomplete.
 * 1902-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images, incomplete.
 * 1902-1945 - Abra, Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945 at FamilySearch — browsable images, incomplete.
 * 1945-1984 -  at FamilySearch — index and images, incomplete.
 * 1945-1984 - Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1984 at FamilySearch — browsable images, incomplete.

2. Microfilmed Civil Registration Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

 * a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Philippines, Abra.
 * b. Click on "Places within Philippines, Abra" and a list of towns and cities will open.
 * c. Click on the town or city you wish to search.
 * d. Click on "Civil Registration" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Choose the correct event and time period for your ancestor. "Nascimentos" are births. Matrimônios and "Casamentos" are marriages.  "Óbitos" are deaths.  "Índice" is the index.
 * f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

3. Ordering Certificates From the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

 * Civil registry records beginning with the year 1945, researchers can solicit the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for copies of civil registration certificates.
 * Detailed information on how to order these certificates online is found at PSA SERBILIS. It will take you through the process step by step.
 * Requesting certificate copies by mail see Requesting for a Civil Registry Document. All requests by mail should be addressed to:


 * THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL
 * NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE
 * P.O. BOX 779, MANILA CPO
 * 1000 MANILA
 * PHILIPPINES




 * Civil registry records prior to 1945, contact the National Archives of the Philippines.
 * You will find instructions and forms for ordering records from the National Archives from the Archives Collection and Access Division.
 * See Abra, Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division) collection listed above under 1. Online Civil Registration Records to find the starting date for your province.

4. Writing to the Civil Registry of a Municipality
NOTE: All lines of the international delivery address should appear in all capital letters. If possible, the address should have no more than five lines. For more information see USPS International Mail Manual.


 * Many records were lost or damaged in the war. Checking both the national office and the local office might help find a surviving record.


 * Local civil registry offices have retained copies of the civil registry records. The Directory of Civil Registrars for the Province of Abra provides office telephone numbers, fax numbers, and sometimes email addresses. Request by mail, email or fax is accepted. Write, email, or fax a brief request for the certificate copy using the address formats below:




 * Write a brief request to the proper office. Send the following:
 * Full name and the sex of the person sought.
 * Names of the parents, if known.
 * Approximate date and place of the event.
 * Your relationship to the person.
 * Reason for the request (family history, medical, etc.).
 * Request for a photocopy of the complete original record.
 * Check or cash for the search fee ($20.30).

English is the official language of the Philippines. The Letter Writing Guide will help you with organizing your letter and phrasing your requests.

Church Records
Church records are very important for family research. Civil authorities did not consistently register vital events in the Philippines until the nineteenth century. Church records, on the other hand, were well kept from 1569 (in accordance with the directives of the Council of Trent), with some records dating even earlier. They are generally an excellent source—and many times the only source—of names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Key records are baptisms/christenings, marriages, and deaths/burials.

Generally registers exist for the following denominations: Other religious groups in the Philippines:

Contents:
 * Islam (Muslim immigrants and converts 11th-15th centuries, also called Moros)
 * Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian (Some Chinese immigrants arrived in the 16th-19th centuries, but many more arrived in the 20th century)
 * Hindu (East Indian immigrants arrived in the 20th century)
 * Jews (Arrived in the 20th century)
 * Baptismal records: Baptism dates; children’s names; parents’ residence and names (sometimes mother's maiden name is given); witnesses’ and godparents’ names, and sometimes their residence and relationship to infants; sometimes grandparents’ names.
 * Marriage records: Candidates’ names; marriage and/or proclamation dates; often birth places, residence, witnesses, former spouses and parents’ names.
 * Death/burial records: Name of deceased; burial date; often age and cause of death; residence; spouse’s name, especially for women; parents’ names for deceased children.

1. Online Church Records
The limited record collections below include some church records.
 * 1642-1994 - at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, incomplete; Also at: Ancestry ($), MyHeritage ($)
 * 1723-1957 - at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, incomplete; Also at: Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($)
 * 1726-1957 - at FamilySearch — How to Use his Collection; index, incomplete; ''Also at: Ancestry ($), MyHeritage ($)

2. Microfilmed Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

 * a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Philippines, Abra.
 * b. Click on "Places within Philippines, Abra" and a list of towns and cities will open.
 * c. Click on the town or city you wish to search.
 * d. Click on "Church Records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Choose the correct event and time period for your ancestor. "Bautismos" are baptisms. Matrimônios and "Casamentos" are marriages.  "Óbitos"  and Defunciones are deaths.  "Índice" is the index.
 * f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

3. Writing to Request Church Records
NOTE: All lines of the international delivery address should appear in all capital letters. If possible, the address should have no more than five lines. For more information see USPS International Mail Manual.


 * Baptism, marriage, and death records may be searched by contacting or visiting local parish or diocese archives in Spain. Write your request in Spanish whenever possible. This method is not always reliable.  Officials may or may not respond.


 * The Province of Tarragona in the Cataluña Autonomous Community is in the Archidiócesis de Tarragona. Write or telephone to inquire whether the archdiocese holds the parish records:


 * EXCMO. Y REVMO. SR. ARZOBISPO
 * ARZOBISPADO DE TARRAGONA
 * PLA DE PALAU, 2
 * 43003 TARRAGONA TARRAGONA 
 * ESPAÑA


 * Tel.: +34 977 233 412
 * Fax: +34 977 251 847
 * Email: arquebisbat@arquebisbattarragona.cat


 * When requesting information, be brief and write the request in Spanish. Please include the following:
 * Money for the search fee, usually $10.00
 * Full name and the sex of the ancestor sought
 * Names of the ancestor’s parents, if known
 * Approximate date and place of the event
 * Your relationship to the ancestor
 * Reason for the request (family history, medical, and so on)
 * Request for a photocopy of the complete original record

Write your request in Spanish whenever possible. The Spanish Letter-writing Guide will help you with organizing your letter and phrasing your requests in Spanish using the translated questions and phrases.