They say that for the most part, provincial buses contribute to the worsening traffic situation in…read moreMetro Manila. It used to be the case that buses from the south, i.e. Cavite (plying the routes of Tagaytay, Dasmarinas, Cavite City and Trese Martires) would go all the way to the city center of Lawton in Manila, and cause major traffic especially during the rush hour. A few years ago, MMDA came up with a brilliant plan to prevent buses from clogging up our streets - they set up the South West Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal as a hub for provincial buses. If you need to take a trip to one of the cities mentioned above, you would need to head down to the old Coastal Mall to catch your bus. What's great is that the buses are more organized and systematic here, and you can easily catch a scheduled bus to any of the key points in the route sytem. This is where my friends and I would usually catch a bus on the way to Tagaytay. The bus terminal is still very crowded and it could get busy, but it's a good start.

The first time I visited this office was in 2013. And I remember that it took me one hour to get my…read morestudent permit. A few days ago, my cousin and I decided that we wanted to learn how to drive. (Yes, my first student permit expired in 2014 and I forgot all about it.) But first, we'd need to get a student permit. First of all, it's a bit of a hassle to go to LTO Makati if you don't have a car or if no one can bring you. The easiest way to commute to this place is to take a jeep from Landmark and get off at Makati City Hall. From there, you take a tricycle to LTO Makati. If you're going there by car, just get a map and you'll be fine. As soon as you get to LTO Makati, there are huge signs that tell you to say no to fixers. Aww. Shucks. But really, this is good to ensure that only those who know how to drive are given a drivers license. When you step inside, there are two information desks and the people manning them will ask you why you're there and then will tell you where to go next. My cousin and I started filling out forms at 2PM and we done by 2:45PM. That was fast! That just goes to show that whatever system LTO Makati is implementing, it works. The people in all the windows you visit to submit forms, sign documents are courteous and friendly. If you've got some free time, get your student permit already and if you have a license, don't forget to renew it.

This place is very helpful. Processed my renewal very efficient. Rare service that you usually…read moredon't find in Government offices in Manila alone. Their customer service is great. More LTO offices and other Government services should follow their ways. Thank you!

We all know that there are necessary evils in this world. There are some things that can't be…read moreescaped, and we have no choice but to be part of the sinister plot. It is beyond our control, and we all have to renew our driver's licenses eventually. Yes, that card that says "I'm allowed to drive" as opposed to "I know how to drive". In a country where the minimum requirement in order to get a license is having a stub to press the gas with, we're still hassled into lining up every three years as a formality. That's why everyone has their favorite LTO office with the belief that their chosen location somehow processes the whole thing faster. My personal choice is the LTO along Aurora Blvd. It's a large one, and this particular office is well manned. Unfortunately, no matter how early you arrive, there's still a lot of lining up to do. Sure, you get to be first in line, but there's still a lot of waiting to do. At the very least there are enough chairs and fans, and you only have to bear through this every 3 years.

Who enjoys going to the LTO, really? Is there someone, somewhere out there in this tiny country…read morethat DOESN'T find it a ginormous chore? Well, however unpleasant waiting might be, it can't be helped. The LTO is something we all have to go through, which probably accounts for why the lines are so darned long. The LTO in Aurora Boulevard is pretty wide and accommodating, and as far as staff go none of them are rude or slow to work, which is something commendable. For shorter lines, the branch in FTI is a little out of the way, but worth it, since most of the time it's a little on the empty side. Also the staff is just downright friendly, which I really appreciate. The man at one of the desks makes conversation with you if you sit near enough to his station, and the lady behind the webcam that takes pictures for your student permit is always quick to hand out a compliment. I find that nice staff makes it all worth the wait, after all, who wants to sit around for four hours with nothing but grumpy faces for company?