MMMiii!

Scott and I went to the BoI office in Intramuros. I read various posts about going there via public transportation but nothing really was clear. Or maybe my sense of direction is that bad that I couldn’t understand it. We walked around asking for directions as well but imagine 6 people pointing in different directions with their arms (enter picture of tokusatsu pose… or power rangers for those who don’t know tokusatsu) and each giving different ways to get there.

I live in Quezon City so I will talk about how to go there via EDSA which is probably the fastest way compared to taking a bus or jeepneys.

1. Get off at at MRT TAFT Station and walk to the LRT EDSA Station.
2. Get off at LRT Central Station.
3. If you’re facing the street once you get down, go left. Keep going straight until you see a parking lot to the left.
4. Turn left and when you get to the street, you should see the entrance to the underpass.
5. Go down to the underpass and keep going. There will be a sign that points to the right saying Intramuros. Go up on the right.
6. Keep walking along the sidewalk until you see the entrance of Intramuros to the left.
7. Turn left and enter Intramuros.
8. Turn right once you get inside and just keep going straight. You’ll see various food places to the right and dorms on the left.
9. Once you reach the gate, turn right. You should see a green building (As of July 2010). That’s the Bureau of Immigration building.

For aliens (foreigners) who need to extend their visa and don’t have an ACR I-Card yet…

1. Once inside, go straight to the assistance desk (I can’t remember what it’s called).
2. Ask for visa extension forms. If you’re already overstaying, ask for the Motion for Reconsideration form. The visa extension form just needs your name, passport information, address in the Philippines, address in your home country, and the date of expiration for your validity of staying. The Reconsideration form will just ask you why you weren’t able to apply for an extension before your due date and why you need to stay longer.
3. Remember to bring a pen with you. If you don’t have a pen, you can buy at the photocopying machine. You need to have the first page and the page where the due date is stamped on your passport. Each photocopy costs P2.
4. Submit your papers at the Receiving windows. There are 4 I think. They will compute how much you need to pay. Bring cash with you, as they do not accept credit cards. There is also a “plus $50 or peso equivalent” stated there but not added so be sure to have an extra P2400 when you go to the cashier to pay.
5. Come back in 2 hours. There’s a Starbucks nearby and you can stay there while waiting.

I don’t know what to do for other cases.

I think we walked more than what we had to because of the people who were giving us bad directions. Hopefully this can help someone. I swear I think I lost some pounds walking around. I haven’t even taken any weight loss supplement yet but you can read more info on weight loss supplements if you click here.

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Yesterday morning when I woke up, it was raining. Actually, the night before, it was already raining hard. Pop told me to start putting up my things just in case it floods. I raised my noodle stash, and some other stuff. I put Taba and Teacup on the top bunk as well. Usually when it floods here inside the house, maximum would only be 6 inches deep, so I wasn’t bothered. When the water started coming in, it was just coming in slowly. And then it was rising more and more… and it was rising fast. I told myself that I didn’t want to step in that murky water, but I had to.

The half-foot deep of murky water became a foot. And then more. And then it was knee-deep. Mama was able to save my clothes. I wasn’t able to save my shoes. They were already floating about. I tried to save some of the lower drawers, boxes, whatever I can save. I dumped them all on my bed. Some stuff were falling off the side, and when I knelt on my bed, it sank. My bed was floating already. I quickly got off. I’d rather it float than have it soaked.

The power went out as well. We were just using candles, and my UPS was still able to power up my router and modem. My netbook still had some life to it. Tried to go online for a bit to read up on what was happening to my side of the world. And if my colleagues were able to go to work. With chest-deep water and higher, some opted not to risk their lives just to go to work. It was just not be worth it. Even if I try to get a life insurance quote to wade through the waters to go to work, I’ll probably not go too, if I had work last night. Good thing it was still my rest day.

But now I’ve got to get some rest. I’ve got to sleep. I’ve got work tonight. It’s not raining much anymore. I’ll go to work. There’s no such thing as severe weather condition as a reason for not coming to work.

I know I’m lucky that the water has receded at my place. In some areas the water is still high, and people are stranded inside their very homes. For now, I’m good. For the others, I’m hoping for everyone’s safety.

For ways to help, please visit this link.

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I graduated yesterday, actually. In UP Diliman (I’m not sure with other campuses. I’m ignorant, sorry), we graduate twice. The college graduation where we actually go up the stage and get our certificates (not the diploma) and shake hands with the Dean, and the university graduation where we watch only the students with the highest grades or awards go up the stage and get their awards. That’s probably the biggest difference. Both events have speakers, speeches and awarding of the best in the batch, swearing/pledging and so on.

The College of Education graduating batch of 2008 is a special batch. We’re graduating on the 100th year of the university and the 90th year of the college.

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My family isn’t really very poor. Although, around the time he was elected into office in 1998, my family was experiencing a bit of a really rough time. My father came from a somewhat well-to-do family. My mother was practically a princess in her youth. And they both supported Erap. Actually, they still do. If Erap runs for presidency, they’re going to vote for him.

I knew they were Erap supporters, but I only realized how strong yesterday.

I told my mother that I won $200 dollars, and that I’m going to get about $300 from my PayPal soon. Then she said that’s not really a lot these days. And I do agree. That’s only about P12000. Not even enough to get the cellphone I want.

Our conversation progressed to how Arroyo sucked so bad and how Marcos was an even better president than her. During Marcos’ time, when prices went up, it was also mandatory for the basic salary to go up, or something like that (according to my mother). Now, the dollar exchange goes down, food prices and gasoline keeps going up, and the salary remains the same. My salary as a call center agent will not really be enough to live on with the way things are right now. I’ll be living on instant noodles, probably.

My mother never really supported Edsa II. She would have gone to Edsa III if she was really up to it. She said, Erap may be corrupt, and even if he does buy luxurious things like a rest house to give to his women, are the poor still being supported? Life wasn’t really as bad when Erap was seated into office. The country really started crumbling during the time or Ramos. And Erap was just there to clean up the mess Ramos made. Why should Erap take the consequences?

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Finally, today, I was able to get two other valid IDs. I’ve been having this problem for so long now. I had to get money from xoom.com before but stupid BDO was asking for two IDs even if it was written on the site that I could have 1 valid ID and a password. The only (supposed to be) valid ID I had that time was my school ID which they said that since the semester ended about a month ago, it’s not valid anymore. I thought to myself, “One day, I’m going to have a LOT of damned valid IDs and I’m going to slap it on your face.” I went to a pawnshop that also does xoom transactions and I was able to get my money.

Five months later, aside from my company ID, I now have a TIN Card and a Postal ID. I applied for them last week, and surprisingly, for government IDs, they were prompt. They said one week/3 days, and I got them on the date they told me.

At BIR, I almost had to wait. I arrived there a little past 7am and they still weren’t really fully open. So I bought some donuts and when I came back, they were letting people in already. I asked one of the people there where I could get my ID and he told me to go in the office in the back. I went there and I asked again where I could get my ID, the guy there told me that it’s still early and sit down back in the front and wait. On my way there, the first guy I spoke with asked me if I already got my ID coz I was so quick, so I told him that I was told that it was still early. He stood up and said, “If it’s still early, why is he there wasting electricity then?” then told me to follow him and then after two minutes of looking for my ID, he finally found it.

I had it laminated just outside BIR and ate Pancit while I was having some documents photocopied and the ID being laminated. I was good to go to UnionBank.

Last week, I applied online for UnionBank’s CyberAccount and to get the card, I needed to present two valid IDs. I only had one at that time, so with my newly laminated TIN Card, I could finally get it.

However, I was more than an hour early, so I hung out in Starbucks and read the papers until UnionBank opened. So now, I have my Debit Card but it will be activated next week. But still, at least I’ve got it now so I could soon get my PayPal money!

If only they would accept my school ID, then I would’ve applied for it sooner. But no. They didn’t. It wasn’t valid anymore.

Valid IDs are stupid. They won’t accept my University ID because I graduated already. It’s got my picture. It’s got my signature. It’s got a barcode. What more do they want? Just because I’m not enrolled for this semester (because I don’t need to anymore), they won’t accept it. That’s real bull. To support my identity, I also have my birth certificate, Barangay, Police, and NBI Clearance (the last one being a real biatch to get). I have my TIN application form, my pink SSS application form which I heard is supposed to be accepted as an ID as well. What kind of documents do they want to prove my identity? It’s just really stupid.

Such a stupid world.

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Yesterday, I went to SSS to apply for an ID because I really needed another valid ID. But after waiting on the line for almost an hour just to get the form, when I went to the line for filing, I asked the person who was giving me a number if I could apply in the first place, and I gave her what I know–that when I checked online, it says ZERO but I know my company has deducted from me already for three months. Then she took my number and said that even if the company has deducted me, but if they haven’t remitted anything, then I’m not qualified to file for an ID.

So… Blah. Annoying. What a waste of time.

I went to school afterwards and waited for this teacher so I could have her sign my clearance papers. And after waiting for her for almost 45 minutes, she asked me to have another person sign first because she wouldn’t know if I borrowed anything from the office since she only took over a year ago or so, so I ran downstairs because it was 11:45 already, and lunch was at 12. I had the said person sign, and ran back up to get that teacher to sign, and then she said that since I already got that person to sign, then she won’t need to sign anymore.

I was like… What the heck. I wasted my time on that teacher. *Angry >_<*

I needed two more signatures. So I asked around where I can find the division chairman. They told me where and his door was locked, so I stayed on the desk in front of his door for about 45 minutes again, and put up my portable electric fan (which was pretty awesome). Until this secretary person maybe came and was staring at me for sitting on her desk. I stated the purpose of my presence while packing up my stuff. She said that that teacher I was waiting for came at unpredictable times and that it would be better if I just leave the papers with her and come back for it at another time.

So..... I left the papers with her and thought about what to do next. It was already lunch time for most offices, and I'd need to go to the university registrar to file for the university clearance. Then I remembered that I needed to go to the bank to pay for our Sablay--probably the equivalent of most universities and schools' Toga. It's kind of like a sash with the colors of the university with writings on it. I'll put up my pic later when I go back to my desktop.

So I went to the bank because they don't really have a lunch break. Waited for about an hour. Went to the Alumni Association office thingie and gave the bank receipt and got my Sablays (I got one for Sarah too).

It was way past lunch break already so I went to the University Registrar to file for my university clearance and to get my transcript as well. It wasn't a very long process there, but getting the stuff I filed for takes about a month or so. The clearance I can follow-up next week (That doesn’t mean I can get it already if I follow up) and the transcript, good thing they have an option to have it mailed through a carrier (an extra fee, but at least I won’t have to go back and pick it up just to find out that it’s not ready yet).

And finally, I go back to the Division Chair’s office to check if the person has come by and signed my clearance papers. And no, he hasn’t. After doing other stuff for almost 4 hours, he hasn’t come by.

I went to another office to get the Centennial Planners I ordered last January and it says on the door that the planners can only be claimed Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm.

Broke and tired after paying for the Sablay and clearances, and trying to accomplish everything, I just took a jeep with the intention of going home. Part two follows.

I think I need to get some life insurance quotes just in case I get a heart attack from this country’s public institution systems. lol. I’ll get sick from running around accomplishing nothing.

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With the bomb explosion at Glorietta 2 yesterday, several questions are being raised.

What was the motive of the bombing? Who was behind it?
I can’t help but notice the timing. GloMac’s currently in hot water for the alleged bribes, and of course, I wouldn’t put it past her to be behind the bombings so people would steer away from her current issues. There’s just too much controversy regarding the explosion. What’s worse is innocent people got hurt.

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I attended the Bloggers Kapihan event at MonSay yesterday and I must say, it was very informative. It was called Bloggers Kapihan 2.0: Blog Ed 101. Before it started, I went to Cubao and met with Mama and I got myself a new wristwatch! And then I went to MonSay and climbed a mountain. With a not-yet-fully-healed sprain, it was really a high mountain to climb. I chatted with Mr. Lalon dela Rosa about the CEP, school stuff, future plans, what’s wrong with the Philippines and the Filipinos and a lot of other stuff. That was for about an HOUR (The event started late).  And then I asked questions… voiced my opinions… and stuff… The pancake donut thing of Mr Donuts is gewd!

I registered as “Mi” again. Maybe I should write Miii instead? Lalon asked me, “Why Mi?” maybe I should make up something prophetic… nanchatte :D (darnit! I still can’t figure out how to make wordpress accept japanese characters again T_T)

Oh. Ok. the forum.

The first speaker was Prof Danny Arao of UP Diliman and Bulatlat.com.

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A few months ago, this Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez branded UP students as destabilizers and naked runners. This is because of UP’s tradition of the students speaking their minds, being activist or leftist, and so on. The UP Oblation run where a bunch of fraternity men run naked was and is a form of protest against the government or whatnot.

Well, think again. That may be true before, but not anymore. A lot of students are now apathetic. Not just students of UP but the youth in general. They don’t care much about what’s going on with the world or with the country–unless it is required of them to know.

Admit it.

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