Pasaporte

image from: http://fbeupjr.blogspot.com/

It’s been a while since I updated my blog. I just so miss writing but the moment I started typing, I was lost in words. Ganun cguro talaga pag hindi inspired! :)

Not until today that I finally (finally!) received my e-passport! Weeehh! I’m so excited! Yesterday was supposed to be the delivery date (together with Sir Jun’s- an officemate) but upon checking at LBC, wala pa raw sa kanila. Odd kz I have another officemate who renewed for passport that same day I applied (hapon sched nya and finished 9 in the evening) but his passport was delivered Aug.3, two days earlier than mine! The only difference was that he was assigned at 2GO while we had LBC. (I had my e-passport delivered Thursday, August 05).

Bottom line: Ask for 2GO or any other courier other than LBC if you have a timetable to meet.

I applied for an appointment at DFA website. First visit sometime in May, earliest available date was September. When I visited again last June, I was surprised to see July 22 as the earliest and so I, together with two girl colleagues, picked July30- in time for payroll. Few days after, I checked again and earliest date was moved to July20 and so I re-sched. That was morning so I was surprised to hear from Sir Jun and Jeff that they got an appointment on July 06 that afternoon. Needless to say, I had my final appointment on July 06 at 10am.

Bottom line: Be persistent. DFA available dates change from time to time.

One of the instructions was to show up at DFA New office along Macapagal Ave 30mins earlier than the scheduled time. I was there 9:30am with no foods and water on hand (and no breakfast yet). I thought I would finish the entire process in 3 hours max, pero nanigas na’t lahat binti ko kakatayo sa pila sa labas at nakatulog na ako’t lahat sa loob, di pa rin tinatawag number ko (which was what? Pang 4thou++ eh around 11am pa lng nun). Nung nanginginig na ako sa gutom (haha literal!), I decided to grab a snack at the nearby gasoline convenience store. I took my time pero nonsense, pagbalik ko mga 100 applicants pa before me. I was accommodated din nmn pero after payment sa cashier sa 2nd floor, I waited for hours again for photo capture. To sum it all up, it took me (and my officemates) SEVEN long hours for both New Application and Renewal as I finished at exactly 4:30pm. Nakakalungkot.

Bottom line: You can actually show up earlier than your scheduled time, I mean even earliest at 8am. They will just check if you have schedule for that day. My two girl friends were scheduled at 10am but they went there 8am and finished the entire process before lunch.

Have some baons with you as biscuits and drinks. Okay, foods are not allowed inside, but you could always steal a bite and gulp once in a while (pasaway) or just eat outside the hall.

Last (and optional) step was passport delivery. Just imagine my relief when everything was over, finally! I went to the back stairs and passed by this separate hall which was labeled Travel Agency. Then I realized, pwede pa palang magpa-process ng passport thru agency! Akala ko kz since appointment system na ang DFA, mas mabilis and efficient na yung proseso, no need for agency assistance na. But just the same, appointment itself lng ang pinagkaiba, same pa rin sa haba ang pila!

Bottom line: You may opt for travel agency assistance for 1-2hrs passport processing for additional fee to save you from queuing for hours (as in hours!)

Commuting all the way to DFA New office at Macapagal Ave is just an easy breezy bus ride from EDSA with DFA sign passing along SM Mall of Asia, or you may just ask the conductor if they will pass by DFA. (I came from Pasig and I really don’t know how to go there via commute, alone).

Hello Philippines, Hello World it is! Yey!

San ko kaya unang magagamit ‘to? ^ ^

Regular- P950 (20 working days)

Rush- P1,200 (10 working days)

Delivery Fee (Optional) - P120