Oh God forbid you actually have business to transact inside Manila City Hall. May he have mercy on…read moreyour soul should you do. No, this building is on this list because, like it or not, it's a heritage building. Yes, it's not the prettiest one. In fact, if you look at a aerial shot of Manila City Hall, it looks like a coffin with a cross on top. I'm not kidding. Go check it out on Google Maps. This review isn't going anywhere. To be fair to Manila City hall, it does have that pretty and iconic clock tower. I also love the fact that they've spent good money to light it up at night, because it really, REALLY does make a world of difference.

If the walls of the Manila City Hall building could talk, what stories would it tell?…read moreThe edifice was constructed before World War II and has remained the seat of the city government since that time. The city courts are also located here. Ever since Erap Estrada took over from Fred Lim as mayor, there has been a slow, steady upgrade of the building. The rest rooms are the most surprising feature as they now look like they belong in first class malls or hotels. Not much can be done for the elevators, however.They're still old, but at least are well maintained. Not a problem though as the stairs are all wide and easy to climb. Not too steep unlike some modern buildings. I do have an issue with the front of the building, as it has been permanently sealed off. Anyone needing to enter has to take the side or back entrances. In the hallways of all the floors are various vendors selling foodstuff or offering copying services. They also sell ball pens and the like. Because it' such a large building, it's easy to get lost in the corridors. The only thing that ruins the beauty of this building are the window type air conditioning units that can be seen from the outside.

Conducting business in any government building is always a trying ordeal here. What makes the…read moreprocess bearable at BOI is getting a cup of coffee at Starbucks or Figaro; having lunch at one of the many nearby restaurants; then going for a walking tour of Intramuros or "The Walled City" There are people that direct traffic and guide you into parking spaces who'll charge P100. They'll ask for a little extra for "coffee".They'll also ask if you want your car washed. Bring a Filipino friend who knows the procedure and things will run much smoother for you. Luckily hubby's office sent a person to walk his papers through, so we only had to stay long enough to sign the papers.

Welcome to the Bureau of Immigration sir, mam! Why are you here?…read more 5 min - 1. Please stand in line to take your number and your first form. Ok visa extentions, here you go. Please go outside and make a photocopy of your passport. 10 min - 2. Photocopying outside is 5 php. 15 min - 3. Your documents are checked and you can proceed to payment counter 15 min - 4. Wait in line till you can make payment 45 min - 5. After payment is being made (around 3000 php per month for visa extension) wait 45 minutes till you can pick up your visa. During this time I usually visit Starbucks across the street and wait it out there. 5 min - 6. Ask the USA Boys (United Squatter Area) to flag down a cab for you. Don't need to give them that much, they make 500 php per day. So make sure you have at least 1,5 hours available. Never come on Mondays or Fridays, either go really early, like 10 min before opening or after lunch.

Giving five star because of the workers here! They are very nice and helpful. Thank u for your…read morehardwork guys!!! Special thanks to ms. Gunabe for all the help. Keep it up po. And continue to do good and help others.

I think government offices have that reputation of being labyrinthine and complicated, with their…read moreseveral departments playing host to severely bureaucratic and unnecessary processes and steps that the public has to go through. Also, more often than not, government offices are run-down, with important and not to mention basic conveniences (like A/C, automatic queuing systems) usually out of order or malfunctioning, thus complicating things for the people. There are a few exceptions, though. Commission on Filipinos Overseas may be a little out of the way and a bit challenging to go to if you don't drive your own car, but the processes here are streamlined and are detailed in the citizen's charter, which displays the steps that people have to follow to secure their different trainings and registrations before they are given permits. I think in terms of governance, CFO is doing a great job in preventing human trafficking by providing orientations and seminars on what to expect when working abroad. They also have different programs that provide informative courses and lessons on a broad array of topics, such as financial literacy for Filipino beneficiaries of remittances, wise investing, and the like. The lines are always organized, and the staff are always helpful in answering your questions. There are proper waiting areas and the processes just seem very organized and well-planned. Also, the website for this particular agency has a lot of information and is up to date, something that other agencies must also strive for.

Before every film showing at Robinson's Movie World, a commercial featuring Maja Salvador airs,…read morewhere she introduces the Lingkod Pinoy Center. The center is a service offered in selected Robinson's malls, and it is intended as a one-stop shop for government transactions, including Philhealth, SSS, Pag-ibig, and NBI. Anyway, I had the first taste of this convenience when I had to apply for an NBI clearance for work recently. I applied and provided my details online, paid through a payment center (LBC in my case as there's one near me), then went to the Lingkod Pinoy Center to pick up my form. Lo and behold, there was no line at the NBI booth. I shuddered in horror as I recalled the last time I applied for an NBI clearance (in 2008, I think). That time, I had to line up for HOURS in the non-air-conditioned (read: SWELTERING HOT) NBI office in Quiapo. By the time I had to have my photo taken for the form, I was already looking like an unkempt murderer. Anyway, at the Lingkod Pinoy Center, I was asked to have my fingerprints recorded (using a fingerprint scanner so none of the messy ink here, yay!), had my picture taken, and instructed to come back a week after for my document. Boo on that last one! I had expected my clearance to be released instantly, but perhaps they're still working on that. The Lingkod Pinoy Center at Robinson's Place is located near the Sun Cellular shop at the Pedro Gil Wing. There's a tarp and stairs going down to the Basement Parking. The SSS and Pag-ibig booths were a bit more crowded so prepare for a line of maybe 10-20 people. It could get hot there, though there are electric fans, so it may be best to bring your own fan and keep hydrated.