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Friday, July 6, 2012

Getting a Travel Permit from the US Consulate Cebu

An Aunt who’s presently residing in the US, requested me to get her and her son’s travel permit on their behalf. My, another government agency to deal with. This is usually enough reason to give me palpitations because I know how thick red tape can be here in our dear country. So thick in fact that even Thor’s sword will barely penetrate a government office’s high, solid bureaucracy. But who knows? I’ll be dealing with a US Consulate after all, so maybe this time it will be different.


I first got their telephone number here and dialed to be answered by, as I expected, an answering machine. Amidst the slur este, slang of American words, I deduced that they don’t entertain calls past 12 noon. So I have to call back the next day and it better be early, only from 9am-12noon. My second call was again answered by a machine, which informed me that they are not currently entertaining calls at some certain dates (I already forgot). I then decided that I just have to go there personally even though my schedule is full smack with work. Thankfully, our company decided to exchange the May 1 holiday, to May 4. So, on I went to Waterfront via the Lahug route. Inside its massive lobby, I asked the front desk directions for the US Consulate office and they directed me to proceed to the rightmost side of the building, go down one floor (I useld the escalator), venture outside of the building, then walk left for about 5 metres and there, before an investing firm office (I forgot the name again), is the US Consulate, Cebu branch. Since it was not yet 9am, I waited for a while when I noticed a post right in the front door that they are close on that date, including other certain dates of May. They will be back with full office operations on June 8, 2012.
Fast track to July 4, when I finally had another extra time to go there. I was not expecting much from this visit but to my big relief, the office is open for normal operations! The guard asked for my ID, got my mobile phone for deposit and gave me a number tag so that I can claim it back later. He also gave me a priority number for my transaction and motioned for me to get inside the inner office. 

I heard an audible click as the automatic door instantly closed behind me. A talking voice-on-the-phone registered and I saw a mini-library on the left side while rows of waiting chairs aligned on the right. There were about 3 waiting parties already, and I was very glad as this would mean a quick transaction. So I sat in the comfort of one of their chairs and waited. From my seat, I scanned the books and magazines lined up in the library and considered reading one as two foreigners were already reading. But I decided to just stay in my seat. About 10 minutes passed without seeing any activity from behind the window in charge of our transaction. So I asked the lady sitting at my back, what is her priority number. Said she is number 12 and I was number 14 so I’m near in line then. But another 5 minutes passed so I told her, “dugay no?” to which she replied, “lagi, dugay kaayo, taod2 nato amoa papers naa na sa sulod but gipa-wait pa mi ron.” She also said that her experiences with other consulate services are faster especially the European ones. Hmmmm I concluded that the Phil. government virus of very slow service may already have infected the US Consulate so I have to maintain my composure and be patient. Or else, my temper will get the better of me and I won’t get the travel permits of my Aunt and cousin.


Finally, after about another 10 minutes, the person in charge called my number and asked what is my transaction for. After explaining to him the situation, he asked for my ID first and then the authorization letter from my Aunt and cuz. After which, he examined their approval notice and told me that he will check their names if their travel permits reached their office. When he got back (it was quick), he explained that most travel permits only reach Manila and rarely does it go through the Cebu office. I wondered how this is so since the approval notice specifically contain the Cebu Consular address there. But I didn’t ask him that because he was already giving me a number to contact in their Manila office. And what came out of my mouth was, “Is it okay to go there (in Manila office) directly?” He told me not go there yet, but instead to call the number first to be sure.

So this will be a very long process, indeed. Will update this post once those travel permits will finally be in my hands.


Meanwhile, Cebu Tours has the complete address: 

The American Consular Agency is located on the ground floor of the Waterfront Hotel at #1 Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. The local telephone number is (32) 231-1261. From the US, dial 011+63-32-231-1261; other countries dial 00+63-32-231-1261.

For additional information, do check out http://cebutours.com/legal_capacity_cebu.htm
  


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Exam for a Driver's Licence at Cebu LTO

So here's my overview when I took that exam last May:

1. Be sure to arrive there early (6.30 or 7.00 AM will do).
2. When you are done with the paperwork and fees, you will be called to go inside a room with a lecturer (who is a funny, interesting lady). So just chill and learn from her.
3. By about 10AM, the lecture will start and almost all of the road signs are written on the white board in front of you. This is an open-kudigo as it will not be erased there as you answer the questions. I believe, it has not been erased for a long time now as there are already some vague markings on that whiteboard. The first part would be identifying the road signs and traffic signals and the second or third part (I forgot) will tackle situations.
4. Just listen intently to what the lecturer is discussing because there are practical questions that will come out in the exam and your good judgment will be needed. Say for example, she will give you a situation where two vehicles are entering an intersection. Who should pass first? This does not have a fixed answer because the question may involve traffic signals. So of course, if the vehicle in front of you has the green signal has to go first and vice versa, if you are driver of the other vehicle.
5. Another question may also go like this: you see a certain sign beside the road (which means let the pedestrians pass- especially if the area has a school), what would you do? Then you will be given different situational choices. Of course, pick out the best answer.
6. While taking the exam, you also have the liberty to get a closer look of the signs on the whiteboard. Just don't block the view of other examinees. Or else, the lecturer/proctor will castrate you. *winks
7. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AT ALL TIMES. This is a computerised exam, so if you were not able to shade the choices properly, then of course, the machine will not tolerate it. BTW, take note that the exam is divided to Set A and Set B.
8. At the end of the exam, you go to the lecturer's table and have it scanned right away. You pray then that you will pass. If I remember correctly, the passing rate is 85 or 90/100, I think. So it would be ideal to aim for the perfect score so that when you get a mistake or two, you are still safe.
9. All the answers can be found on the whiteboard actually so, you just have to be confident and use common sense.

10. Do not be overwhelmed by the exam because taking it is a worthwhile experience that you should be proud of. So whether you pass or fail, its a worthy activity on its own. But, if I have done it, why can't you?

Good luck, then!

Most of these signs will come up on the exam:


Road Safety Signs

Signals

Disclaimer: This post does not guarantee that you will pass in the exam but is intended to guide you only. I hope this will help, somehow.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

2 More Nights to BumHood



So here I am, tinkering the wide Webz for any home based opportunity I can start this July. My full time job will end this Friday and the feeling is bittersweet. Leaving the usual for 4+ years is not easy but at the same time, there is a sort of relief that I'm finally going to move on to another exciting chapter of my life. The road will be full of pot holes I know, but there lies the catch- I will never know the difference between a canal and a newly paved highway if I won't tread the road less traveled. So this palpitation inside my being right now, I will utilise to find more contentment. More freedom. More happiness.



With that, I'm offering a toast to everybody who has embraced the glory of BumHood. Here's to more awesomeness - CHEERS!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Missing the Countryside

It's been a while since I've been to Bogo, Cebu so I'll just imagine the breathtaking scenery that can be found there:

Lovely!
 
 Birth of a new day.


 When Sky meets Earth.


In space, find peace.

Images from Photobucket


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Cebu LTO Fees when Getting a Driver's License

Here are usual payments for getting a driver's license in Cebu LTO:

1. For document/receipt printing (I forgot what it was) - P167.63 (round off to 168)
2. Restriction code 1 (for motorcycles) - P150.00
3. Restriction code 2 (for four wheel vehicles) - P350.00
4. For the plastic license - P418 (this was rounded off since they don't give you coin change)
Total: P1,086.00

I am able to provide the Code 12 since my application was for non-professional driver's license only.

For those who are planning the fixer's route, here are the usual fees:
1. Fixer number 1 who approached me - P2,500 and I was able to haggle for P2,300
2. Fixer number 2 who my seatmate dealt with - P2,600

So on top of the medical and drug test payments (roughly P350-400 only), and the fees paid inside the LTO office, the above amounts are to be paid to fixers directly. Please do the math because I'm too lazy to let my brain work with numbers.

BTW, I did not go the fixer's route (Kudos to me!). So details of the exam and practical driving will be provided next post.