True Love

I bought this book few years back online because I can’t find it in any bookstore here.  I was informed that it is no longer being produced commercially (at least that’s what they said). But with some research, I found an online seller in eBay who has this book, and so I bought it.

I waited but after a week or two and after the delivery due date, nothing arrived. I thought it was lost in transit and so I sent a message to the seller. He was so apologetic for what happened and reimbursed me the cost of the book.

I have forgotten about the book but after a few more weeks I received a mailing advice from the local post office that there is a package I needed to pick up. To my surprise, it was this book.

- True Love by Robert Fulghum Unleash the weirdness and be loved.

A post shared by Alvin Dane Valencia (@alvin_dane) on May 24, 2015 at 6:55am PDT

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we joined up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.”

I was being weird and feeling a little bit weird. Hence, this book.

I met you few years back; just like this book, I thought there’s nothing more. But just like this book, you came as a surprise (and on my birthday 😊). And just like this book, it is True Love.

Happy 11th! Cheers to more weirdness!

I LOVE YOU! ❤️

Always,

Alvin

How to Renew Your Passport

With all the recent clamors to set an appointment for application/renewal of passport in DFA Appointment System, here I am writing about my recent experience in renewing mine.

For most countries, you may not be allowed to travel if your passport is nearing its expiry (usually 6 months, depending on the country). Mine is expiring in July which calls for its renewal.

Scheduling an Appointment 

I have been monitoring the passport appointment site of DFA as soon as I remembered that I needed to renew mine (who knows, maybe we get to book a promo fare! Yay!). Lucky I am, I was able to book a January 22 slot last January 12. It was not easy, though. The site lags and freezes many times which will expire your current progress (what else do you expect from our government system?). Take note that you only have 15 minutes to reserve the slot or else you have to repeat the process. To reserve a slot, first you have to choose an available slot (just pray and hope that there are still available slot) and then encode your personal details on several screens. Each screen will take you a while to load depending on the website traffic. So, good luck if you need to book multiple appointments (group appointment).

Congrats if you have successfully booked an appointment! You just have to check your email for a confirmation from DFA, verify your appointment as indicated on the email, print your pre-filled-out application form, gather your requirements, and wait for the day of your appointment.

The Appointment

I booked my appointment at DFA-NCR East, SM Megamall at 2:00PM. The instruction on the application form is to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment but we were not allowed to enter the premise until exactly 2:00PM.

There are five (5) steps for the passport processing:

Step 1: Verification

Present your application form at the Verification Counter. There’s a barcode on your form and (apparently) it is there for a purpose.

Step 2: Processing Area

Present your requirements at Processing Window. Requirements may vary depending on your passport needs. If it is an application for a new passport, you need to submit an original copy of PSA (NSO) Birth Certificate. For renewal of an ePassport, you just have to present your old passport, and a photocopy of it and a valid ID.

Step 3: Passport Payment

You may choose whether to process your passport at a rush (if you wish to have your passport in 7 working days) or at regular processing (if you can wait 15 working days and doesn’t have the immediate need for a passport). Fees, of course, will differ. You have to pay Php1,200.00 for rush processing while Php950.00 for regular processing.

Step 4: Encoding

Patience is a virtue; always remember. The longest queue is in this area. Hundreds of people are waiting for their turn to capture their biometrics and ID picture.

Again, the barcode on your application form will serve its purpose here. When it is your turn, you will have to give your application form and the Official Receipt you got from Step 3. With just a few clicks, picture taking and finger print scanning, you are done!

I was advised that my passport will be released between Feb. 13 and 16.

Step 5: Delivery (Optional) / Pick-Up

Since I don’t want to go back here anymore, I preferred my passport be delivered to my office address. A separate counter is designated for the courier services. You just have to pay Php150.00 per passport. Additional 1 to 2 days will be added for the delivery of passport. For those who prefer to pick-up their passport themselves, you may visit again on the schedule of your passport release and proceed to the designated window for releasing.

The appointment you set with DFA is supposedly for just an hour but it took me more than two (2) hours to finish the whole process. But good news! New issued passports are now valid for 10 years!

Some Tips/Advice:

• Be patient in booking your appointment. You should know your are dealing with a Government System.
• Arrive on time because it pays-off being on time.
• Prepare all your requirements prior to your appointment. Don't be like me who forgot to prepare a copy of a valid ID.
• There's a copier inside the premise, anyway. But you don't want to leave your current progress, so, again, you should not forget to produce copy of your documents. Okay?
• DFA-NCR East in SM Megamall is located at 5th floor just around the corner of Bruno's Barbershop. (Although it's address is at 7th floor Building C, it is accessible on the 5th floor of the mall.)

For more details on how to apply or renew your passport, you may visit: 

https://www.passport.gov.ph/requirements/new-application

https://www.passport.gov.ph/requirements/passport-renewal

How to Renew Your Driver’s License

Time will come that your valid ID will not be valid anymore.  Thanks to that date when you were born.

So, I decided to renew my Driver’s License the other day (1/9/2017), several days prior to my birthday.

I arrived as early as 7:15 AM at LTO MRT Ayala Station just to discover that the office will be opened at 9:00 AM.  I thought all government offices are open at 8:00 AM, but it isn’t.  I still waited though after getting advised that soon there will be a long line waiting outside. Anyway, 1 hour and 45 minutes of waiting is not that long (or is it?) and I have a TV series I can watch on my phone to kill time.

At around 8:30 AM, an LTO personnel handed us a form (Information Sheet) that we have to fill-out. He advised us that we will start early at least with the medical requirement.

The Medical Check-Up

I paid Php350.00 for the medical check-up that was performed which includes eyesight check-up, color blind test and taking your weight (is that even a medical check-up?).  Apparently, that's the medical check-up that allowed me to renew my license.  I just don’t know if they would accept your most recent (let’s say, within the last 6 months) Annual Physical Examination you have taken [if you have, because most (or at least, some)] companies require this as an annual requirement to their regular employees.  I think they should, knowing that it was conducted by a more abled institution.  But I don’t know if they will.

Renewal Process

Step 1: Submit Requirements

The next process is to submit the Information Sheet and the Medical Certificate, together with your old Driver’s License at Window 1.  I was asked if I will be changing my address.  I said, I won’t, and was advised to be seated and wait for my name to be called.  If you will, then you will be handed with a form for you to fill out. 

Step 2: Encoding

After a few minutes, I was called again at Window 1 to capture my ID picture and signature, then was seated again for the next process.

Step 3: Payment

I paid Php650.00 for the renewal of my license at the Cashier.  Charges may differ if you renew your license after its expiry date. An equivalent penalty will be paid by those with expired ID of more than a month.

Step 4: Biometrics

After just a while, I was called at Window 4 where biometrics, and another ID picture and signature was taken. 

Step 5: Releasing

Not long after, I was called at the Releasing Counter for the release of my ID.  I just logged down the details of my ID on a sheet of paper. And voila! I got my Driver’s License renewed!

It took me (just) less than an hour to finish the whole process of renewal. 

The license is now valid for 5 years.  So, I'll see you LTO after 5 years!!! :)

Tips / Advice:

• Arrive at your nearest LTO ID Renewal Center early to skip the long queues, but at least know what time does your office of choice opens.
• Bring your old Driver’s License.  JUST BRING IT.  You'll need to present it and they will need it the whole processing time.
• If you're a senior citizen, present your Senior Citizen’s ID so you may skip the long queues and for discount on fees.  You earned it, so, use it!
• Always check the details when the LTO personnel encodes your details in their system.  A screen is flashed outside the window so you can check your details.  You don’t want your name or address misspelled on your ID, right?

For more information on how to renew your Driver's License, you may visit:
http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/284-non-professional-driver-s-license.html

Good luck!