koi

I'm just a small fish in a small corner of this big Laguna, and this is how I've been swimming it

24 November, 2017

Scenes from "development" in Silang







Hope these trees stay forever....many are gone...

Hall of Justice



"Meanwhile...at the Hall of Justice.."  (he he he)

Flag ceremony on November 13, Monday.  Tagaytay City

LTO Tagaytay

     This is my 30th year of driving.  I have been driving in the Philippines for 30 years. 3 decades, in NCR, with the last 8 years Calabarzon.  Wait that means almost the whole 3rd decade in Calabarzon. Whoo. That still amazes me.
Both the fact that this makes me 48 and that I have been a resident of this place for nearly a decade.

  Save for a brief stint in Indonesia where I did not drive, I really have been driving for about 30 years.  I cannot recall each and every license renewal process, but I know that the unavailability of license cards and the length of time the process takes these days is unthinkable.  Instead of improving, the system has gotten worse. 

  I obtained my student permit in Pasay City, took the exams both written and practical for my non-professional license from the FTI terminal, and then later on living in Makati City, went for renewal at the Ayala MRT station branch.  While that branch was a tad more comfortable with its airconditioning, the "drug test" was still a disgusting hassle. I cannot remember if that one was similar to the one in Pasay City where the toilet room doors could not be locked. I remember one not even having a doorknob but a hole in its place!

  Renewing in Robinson's Sta. Rosa was uneventful on my first renewal here.  The second time was crazier.  It took longer,  and when I received my card I saw I had gotten shorter by 2 cms and lost weight! The information on my height and weight was different from my old card. When I asked about this error, I was told their computer could not handle changes.  If they could not handle changes, how did this change in the first place?

  I had never changed my address on my license.  Now, after 4 different addresses, I decided to make the revision.  The problem was, I would have to go to another branch that could do it.

  Calling the LTO Main Headquarters was alright. A polite man answered the phone and was helpful with information.  We decided Binan or Las Pinas were branches I could visit.  I dreaded going to Binan because my husband said he took so long there before, that he decided to return another day to claim his license.  A friend had just taken her son for his student permit and spent an entire day.  Also, Googling Binan LTO resulted in nothing but rants from others who said the processing also took them the entire day.

  I dreaded it so much, that I made random mentions of my errand to random friends and aquaintances. Luckily, a mother suggested I go to the TAGAYTAY LTO!  She was sure they processed revisions, as that is where she applied for her first license.  She also said it was not very full when she went.  We agreed it being located in the vicinity of the Mahogany Market made the trip more interesting.  I could buy Batangas beef afterwards!

  

There are parking spaces within the gates of the compound, but you can park outside it around the Mahogany Market.

 Medical exams are in this 
building, the first one before the actual LTO building.
Prepare Php 300 for the doctor to sign your certificate after asking you to read the eye chart and stepping on the weighing scale.










  

A Taho vendor walks by, followed by a wood carved keychain vendor.  

I will talk about the actual experience another time. For now, I will just say I am so glad I mentioned having to go for license renewal to the mom who suggested this branch.  The waiting/seating area is like a lanai, with trees in a vacant spot behind the seats.  There was a cool breeze when I went, and was out of there an hour and a half later.  The thing is, I left without a card, and was told to call prior to claiming it after month.  At least I won't mind the trip, it being in Tagaytay and at the Mahogany Market!  I did bring home a kaffir lime tree seedling from the fruit trees being sold right outside the fence...