I am only give a review about the DFA branch within the government centre, not including the online…read morebooking system. Arriving at the mall, be sure to use the right entrance, this would be the one beside a 7-eleven along P. Tuazon. Lines are expected to be long, and in multiple lines, and you'd need to determine which line to be in, especially if your appointment with DFA is at 10AM. And the system is highly inefficient and also exhausting, lining up outside in the heat, and once appointment has been confirmed by the guard, another queueing inside, before being led to the third floor for another queue. We got called in at roughly 10:40 instead of 10:00, but once inside, the process is speedy and staff were friendly, from document checking (step 1) to paying for passport delivery (final step of renewal), it took me about half an hour.

My license has been expired for almost a year now and I finally had the energy and time to face…read moreLTO. I've been hearing nothing but good things about their satellite office in Ali Mall so I decided to have it renewed there. To my surprise, there was NO MORE LTO OFFICE there! While I was disappointed, I was also impressed to find that there was an (almost) complete government service center there, every office you'll need! They had a satellite for almost all departments with everyday concerns like DTI, SSS, NBI, DFA for passport renewal, even our local baranggay office! I loved how it was so accessible to the people without it having to be a headache (although you still had to wait for your turn). It's great to see private-public partnerships like these. They don't have to be huge collaborations, simple projects like these really help the people and the country progress!

I think complaining about the government is almost as pointless as the "G" in lasagna. There is…read morejust so much corruption and bureaucracy, that it annoys me to listen to the news and hear about the incompetencies of our government agencies. However, one of the few government-related agencies that have remained quite faithful to their service to the Filipino people is the Social Security System. I didn't even know what was the point of contributing to SSS before my company signed me up for one of their in-house seminars. SSS in Quezon City has a sprawling building and it has several floors of offices and function rooms. Their seminar was held in one of the bigger halls, and it was a session about how to make the most out of the benefits that contributors and members can derive from their monthly contributions. They showed a couple of informative videos about loans and grants that we can avail as SSS contributors. After the videos, there was a complete panel of experts that answered questions from the audience. I am glad that they have a full suite of SSS awareness seminars and I think everyone should attend their basic class on Benefits once so that they can have the information on how to make the most out of this efficient system. I didn't know that I was entitled to a lot of different loans that I could avail in case of dire emergencies. It's nice to know that I have a safety net apart from my savings account (which, to be honest, leaves a lot to be desired). They were also nice enough to feed us, which was great. They handed out snacks and giveaways like desk calendars, pamphlets and booklets on financial literacy and personal finance.

I was really, really dreading going to a BIR because of the long queues and how stuffy the place…read morecan be. But, I found out that I needed to transfer my TIN number to a new district for my new job. Apparently, all my previous employers never told me that I needed to do this like... 10 years ago! At least this was going to be a learning experience and, even though I had to travel all the way to Makati, I had no choice but to do it. Surprisingly, the whole experience lasted for about 45 minutes with me. It would have been shorter had I not made a mistake filling out the wrong form. But, seriously. The whole process was done so efficiently without anybody giving me a hard time. Also, the representatives at the entrance will explain EVERYTHING you need to know before you even get in line. That way you and the processor know which officer you need to go to. Being the OC person that I am, this was an amazing experience! I hope that all BIR offices are this efficient now! :)

Honestly, there will always be a line at any government office. But, SSS always has a looong line…read morebecause of the number of people who need their services everyday. That being said, please remember that the officers in charge are also humans and can only do so much. For them to move fast, they have specific guidelines and operating procedures which YOU should follow too. Now, this branch just opened this year and, so far, this has been the fastest processing for my SSS card! I mean, back in the day, there were so many steps to go through and, well, you had to pay people to get things done. Today, the whole experience is way way different! I actually didn't even register online when I went here. I just wanted to apply for my UMID (YES! We now have a Unified Multi-purpose Identification card! Woohoo~). Before I arrived though, I did have my TIN, SSS, Philheath, and other documents ready. Plus, I wore a collared shirt just in case I was going to get my photo taken that day. The staff who meet you at the door are very nice and really informative. They already have a spiel for the whole process. Basically, fill up the form, line up, get your biometrics, and have your photo taken. Straight to the point, love it! So, I followed everything and they did find that I had registered for a UMID like a year ago and they had to cross check the information. I was led to another window, the lady helped me get all the information in order very quickly, and I was back on the biometrics line. After my prints were taken, I finished with my photo taken. The lady who assisted me then told me to expect my UMID within 2 months time and that I could call them if it didn't arrive. Would you like to know how long this whole process took? 1.5 HOURS! That was seriously not bad! Everything was done efficiently and I am very grateful that the officers made it a point to "move quickly." Best part to this whole experience? I received my UMID in the mail 3 weeks later! UH-MAZING!!! :D

open po ba ngaun ang office? For releasing po ng passport? sana po may sumagot thank uread more

I am very pleased to have had my passport renewed at DFA Megamall. It was organized and quick -…read moreless than an hour! The only thing I was a bit bummed about was that I brought too many requirements, when all they checked/asked for were copies of my valid IDs (I had 4, only 2-3 are needed), second & last pages of my expired passport, and the actual passport! Eh I also had my police & barangay clearances, as well as my NSO-certified birth certificate! Better safe than sorry, I guess. I opted to pick up the new passport instead of having it shipped; I have an excuse to go out! Hehe!

Commonly known as BAI, this is where the government conglomerate all their animal-related offices…read moreand solve animal-related issues all over the country. Most of my transactions with this bureau were with the Animal Quarantine Division (and a few times, with the Animal Welfare Division). It's where you get permits for your pets (or any animal for that matter) traveling with you internationally. Usually, my trips here would be rather short and simple. I go to Quarantine office, present the animal requirements I have, play with the resident alpha cat (who has been there for the two years I've been going in and out of here), go up to their records office, get the paper stamped, and I'm off! It's really a hassle-free (not to mention FREE) process. (Sort of surprising for a government office, actually) What you can get here is the pink and white form called "Vet Health Certification" that the airport requires to let your animals in. To get this, you need a Vaccination certificate (with a 30-day old or more vaccination stamp of Anti-rabies shot), Veterinarian certification that your pet is safe to fly, and Microchip numbers. What just boggles my mind is that in a place of a HUMONGOUS congregation of veterinarians, there are SO MANY kittens all around. Not even a spay and neuter program for their own compound? It got me wondering if being the animal industry in the government is only an 8-5 job thing, and nothing else. And oh my goodness. There are sheep. Hungry, dirty, emaciated sheep. I don't really know if I'm in a government bureau or a farm. Those sheep are put under the exposure of the sun inside an unkempt pen (and that is an understatement to describe the conditions they were living in.) Ghandi said the progress of a country is only as good as how they treat their animals. I guess Bureau of Animal Industry just really stands for the "Industry" part. It's a total heartache to go to this place.

Taking public transportation and commuting is one of the most stressful things about living in…read moreManila, and its epitome would probably be the MRT along EDSA. PROS: Well, it costs a little more than bus rides with the same route. Plus, there's no heavy traffic. Unless your train breaks down, of course. CONS: During the times I had the misfortune to use this rail system, it will always always ALWAYS be crowded. How could Manila city developers stomach the fact that a three-hour wait in queue is this train's default status? That when you ride the MRT, *expect* that it's going to be tiring, stressful, congested, and possibly life-threatening?; If you've made your way through the line, the train coaches will be filled to the brim. According to news sources, it has a capacity of 300,000 passengers, but it estimates that 600,000 people ride the MRT every day. The fish inside sardine cans have it better. Seriously, riding the MRT is awful and dehumanizing. You know what other trains had that number of people crammed inside its cars, so close to each other that it was "standing room only"? Holocaust trains carrying Jews to concentration camps. TL;DR: When I need to travel by PUV to and from different places in Manila, MRT is always my last choice.

Oh, the MRT. Let me just start by saying that EDSA is a horrible pain in the ass. It's traffic…read moreliterally all the time, buses are normally full, and past 5PM you're likely going to end up stuck for hours if you decide to brave the roads of EDSA, no matter what method. Therefore, I must reluctantly admit that the MRT is really the fastest way of getting from point A to point B on EDSA. Sure, you don't have any convenience and the chances of you getting a seat are pretty much zilch, but it'll get you where you need to get to in no time at all. That's where the compliments end though. The MRT is kind of busted property, and it has been for a pretty long time. Unless you're riding on a Saturday or Sunday, expect lines to be longer than the stairs you used to get up to the station. Also expect the eternal struggle of trying to get the hell out of the doors when there's a hundred people in front of you who do not understand "PALABASIN NIYO MUNA KO PLS." Sure, the MRT is airconditioned, but the chances of you feeling that airconditioning are nonexistent. I gotta admit though, as much as I dislike riding the MRT on rush hour, it's great on downtime. The aircon is stronger than you think it is. Maybe if there were more trains, the MRT would be very serviceable. Howell, papel.