Passport renewal experience

I've already read a lot of blogs talking about their passport renewal experience (all good), and I just want to add to that because I had a good experience too.

When I was still planning on renewing my and my son's passports, I was thinking of scheduling it sometime mid-May on a weekday. So I went to the online passport application/renewal site of DFA about 3 weeks before the date I wanted... only to find out that there was no availability on that date.

So, a tip: Go on the DFA portal to schedule your appointment 2 months before the date you want. Looks like they limit the number of applications they entertain daily, which actually is a good thing.

I ended up getting a 10:30 AM appointment for today in their Megamall branch. I chose this branch because I'd read good feedback in a forum.

Today being a Saturday, I planned on leaving the house at 8:30 AM because I didn't want to get stressed in case there's heavy traffic going to the mall. From past experience, I knew that traffic around this area can get heavy in the mid-morning.

We left the house a little past 8:30 and got there at around 9:15, thanks to the driver's fast driving skillz and light traffic past the Cubao area. I checked Waze and saw that the DFA is in Building C, so I had the driver drop us off at Building A. This is the side where upon entering you see Sbarro on the left and Kenny Rogers on the right.

At 10 AM we finally got to enter the mall. The security guard told me that to get to DFA, we have to go up all the way to the fifth floor using the escalator just near the entrance, then cross to the DFA. It was easy enough to find.

There was already a line forming at the entrance but it wasn't long and it moved fast. A security guard by the entrance checked our printed appointment confirmation and application forms then let us in and we proceeded to the verification counter. The two guys who manned this counter checked our application forms, stamped them, and attached a small slip of paper to each. The slip of paper was a list of the procedures we had to go through. We were then told to proceed to the processing area.

The processing area is air-conditioned and comfortable, with plenty of seats to spare. The DFA personnel were proactive in helping applicants check whether their requirements are complete. I knew it was imperative to have all the required documents photocopied, and I did have photocopies of page 2 of my and my son's expiring passports, my driver's license, my son's school ID and birth certificate. But while in line in the processing area, one of the DFA guys said I needed to have the last page of our passports photocopied as well. So I had to go out of the DFA and fall in line at the nearest photocopying shop (Pixografx on the 5th floor).

I went back to the processing area and the same guy who told me I needed those photocopies spotted me and directed me right away to an available window. The lady in Window 8 was very pleasant but I got miffed when I was told to photocopy my application form. She did explain that it's needed because it's going to be attached to my son's application form as proof that I would be the one traveling with him. Ugh, fine. Back we went to Pixografx -- good thing the line was already short.

Going back to the processing area the third time, the lady in Window 8 spotted me and motioned me to come over. Finally, all the documents were complete! While checking them, she even remarked, "Uy, artist!" when she saw our surnames. She said she has one of the pieces Freeway made as a tribute to Tatay. That was unexpected, and good to hear. We proceeded to the cashier and paid P1,200 for each passport.

The next step was encoding. There were about 10 counters in the encoding area, and maybe 3 more for senior citizens and PWDs. There were plenty of seats to spare here too, and the line moved fast. We spent maybe a total of 15 minutes waiting before we were told to go to the next available counter.

At the counter, the lady entered the data for my son's passport, took his photo, then scanned his fingerprints. The lady here was also accommodating and not at all your stereotypical laid-back government employee. After encoding my son's information, it was my turn and it was all very quick.

When we were done, we went to the courier counter to pay for the shipping of our passports, which was P150 per passport. I wish they had the option of shipping all family members' passports in one package, since obviously one package can hold more than one passport. But obviously getting P150 per passport is the courier's way of making money.

All in all, we spent less than 2 hours at the DFA, and it would've been quicker if I didn't have to have some documents photocopied. But overall, it was not a stressful experience at all. I thought I would've been made to wait at the end of the line again upon returning from the copier, but I really appreciated that the DFA guys made an effort to make the process as smooth and as orderly as they could.

Weekend hangover

It's already Wednesday and I still have a hangover from my weekend in Batangas. Someone please take me back to the beach!

In the company of the fit single people I work out with, I had an epiphany. In addition to all the qualities I would like in a guy, he also has to believe in fitness like I do. I realized that when I saw this post on instagram:

Not that I have big muscles like those gorgeous female CrossFit athletes you see on YouTube, but you get my drift. I don't like guys who smoke and lead a sedentary lifestyle. He doesn't have to do CrossFit, but he must be into physical activities -- running, cycling, BJJ, zumba, whatever. So thanks, CrossFit for ruining me and setting the bar even higher.

Zero to hero, baby!

The Raya Razkals joined the 7-under division at the Zobel Football Festival in Alabang yesterday. We weren't really expecting anything. For us parents -- and I guess for the kids too -- it was just one of those tournaments the kids join to gain experience.

As we watched the games and saw how the team had improved, though, we started getting excited. And a teeny tiny pinprick spark of hope started growing... maybe they're going to do well, after all! They played against some of the teams that had defeated them before, and their performance was almost at par with these more experienced teams. They even beat the varsity team of DLSZ. How about that?

First game: Raya FC 0 - Alabang FS 2
Second game: Raya FC 2 - DLSZ 1
Third game: Raya FC 2 - Manresa FC 0
Fourth game: Raya FC 1 - Makati FS 1 (resulted in a penalty shoot out where Raya scored 2 and MFS scored 3)
Semi-final game (for 3rd place): Raya FC 1 - Atletiko Diliman 0

They were all so happy to get a medal!

When they placed third, us parents (and even Coach Sims) could hardly believe it! Maybe just a couple more years and they'll be playing like a well-oiled machine.

Posing with his medal

Yes, it was a tiring but happy day in the south yesterday.

Short week

It's Armistice Day in France on Thursday and I'm taking the day off on Friday so it's going to be a short week for me. I can't wait to enjoy another long weekend! Among other things, I plan to bring Mig with me to watch Megamind. It should be good.