It's the weekend and a diversion is due. A case of wanderlust and itchy feet.  Nuvali, in Sta. Rosa  -Canlubang, Laguna, south of Manila is a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the metro. A master planned development that is sustainable and environment friendly surrounded by medium to high end subdivisions with a harmonious suburban vibe.  There are pavements wide enough for jogging and walking. There are smooth roads and off road trails ideal for biking. Yes,  you can rent bikes here too.

What's Up Lately? How have you been?

The Holy Week in the Philippines is a huge event. Shops are closed on Good Friday. Everyone seemed to have left the capital, away on a beach vacation somewhere  in one of the 7500 islands or touring in another country for a week long break, others are on a pilgrimage somewhere visiting 14 churches while the rest of us are on house arrest  err staycation. 

The afternoon in the suburbs is dead silent except for our neighbor's roosters who seem to tirelessly belt out karaoke tunes nonstop. Here's wishing that my baby daughter's nap time is undisturbed by its constant crowing.

Currently reading:   Le Jour Ou J'ai Appris à Vivre  par Laurent  Gounelle

                                (The Day I Learned to Live)

It's about a French Man living in San Francisco told by a stranger that he is going to die soon and how this changes his life.

Currently drinking: Kapeng Barako or barako coffee with beans grown and roasted in Batangas, Philippines

Currently enjoying: The scent of sampaguita flowers my daughter picked from the garden.

Currently watching:  I just started watching a local film, Heneral Luna, based on a true story of an arrogant and fiery tempered general who was betrayed by the very Filipino Government that he fought for during the American Colonization of the Philippines in 1899. He was assassinated by politicians to protect their own personal interests and ambitions. Heartbreaking, I can't bring myself to finish watching it.

Currently feeling:

Awakened. (like someone just slapped me, awakened). My laptop died on me this week while working on a friend's project. I'm afraid it can't function well with the drafting programs I have been using.  I was depressed when my laptop crashed. It was the only thing that allowed me to practice Interior Design.  With it gone, it made me question whether its demise and my constant delay of finishing drafting works are manifestations of an actual lack of passion in this domain. It's still a big question mark.  I think in my head  practicing design in my home country I fear may not lead me to where I want to be in this field.  Yes, it did shake my core and I'm currently lost career-wise while being here. 

Currently contemplating and reflecting:

Living a Life with Intention. I have been reading a lot of articles about mindfulness and living with intention on a day to day basis and I am moved by it.  

Here are some interesting links about the topic:

10 Secrets to Living Your Life with Intention

5 Steps Toward Living with Intention

I'm spending this Holy Week answering important questions while profoundly thinking about my answers and what I need to do.

Currently celebrating:

Our 10-year wedding anniversary today.  Wow! I still can't believe we got married a decade ago. :)) 

What about you? What are you currently reading, watching and zzzzinking about?

What are your Easter Plans?
Love & Light,
Arni

In the last couple of months with soaring air fare prices going to Coron, Palawan during the peak season from November to May, it made us wonder how we can travel to Coron with limited budget. Airline prices to Coron/Busuanga Airport from Manila are at a sky high at Php 7500 (USD 162) return per person. I remember Coron residents previously mentioning their frequent travel to Manila by ship for administrative purposes to save on costs.

The archipelago of the Philippines is made up of 7,500 islands. 29 years ago in the absence of budget airlines, the most common mode of transport to get to other islands is through water. The thought of it at first was a frightful one due to a terrible sea incident crossing Batangas and Lubang many many years ago aboard a very small ferry.

If I were struggling to re-create my identity back in my home country after being absent for more than a decade, I can't imagine how it must be for my husband.  Every time he was asked for a second identification card apart from his passport, he had no choice but to give his UAE driver's license that is nearly expiring. 

"Are you ready to apply for your Philippine driver's license?" I asked him a few weeks ago. He nodded and started looking up how to start the process.  Remember when I wrote about my own experience obtaining my foreign driver's license conversion at the Land Transportation Office a while back?  He went  through the same process as I did. 

After obtaining much research and preparing the required documents and copies, (Check requirements here)  we went to Land Transportation Main Office in Quezon City.  For foreign nationals' application, we were advised by a friend of my brother's who works in one of the south branches of LTO to head over to Quezon City.  I'm not sure if other LTO offices do process foreign applications as well. To avoid making a mistake leading to a waste of time despite its distance, we just followed her advice. 

Where is it?

It was a long commute for us. LTO Quezon City is located along East Avenue.  If you're taking the MRT Northbound train headed towards North Avenue, take GMA Kamuning station.

We circled Manila via LRT 1 all the way to Roosevelt Station to avoid the massive queues at MRT Station in Taft Avenue that day. We took a cab at WalterMart and a detour for a quick lunch in Maginhawa Street near Teacher's Village, thinking LTO is closed for lunch. 

Guess what? They're not. LTO is open during Noon. 

When we got inside the premises, we entered the wrong building first. The one next to the Chowking building is for application of transport registration.  We were directed to a much bigger building with blue painted columns.  The guard at the entrance was very accommodating and helpful, he directed us straight to Window 14. There's a central hall  with rows of waiting chairs on either side and a chapel at the center. The main hall is open and airy. A complete contrast to the one where I applied mine.  I'm glad we came here instead. There is good ventilation and the environment is pleasant.

They seem more strict as well. We hardly spotted any "fixer."  If there were any lurking outside the gates, they were not as aggressive as the ones in Pasay City.


We approached the window and we spotted the LTO officer who was preoccupied encoding information. When we told him that we want to apply for my husband's foreign driver's license conversion, he checked his passport and entry date.  We informed him that he doesn't have ACR (Alien Certificate Registration) but he intends to apply for both an ACR and a permanent residence visa.

We were told by the officer that it is mandated that the applicant's visa should be valid at least more than a year from the date of license application and he showed us their memo dated October 2015 of such rule.  We then explained to him that my husband's visa is currently under "Balikbayan Visa",  a free one year stay visa, this is an entry stamp valid for a year to foreign nationals married to a Filipina granted by an immigration officer under their own discretion at the airport on the condition that the couple present their marriage certificate and his Filipina wife be present with him upon entering the country.

My husband's  Balikbayan visa is expiring in September which gives him less than 6 months stay. He intends to start his permanent visa process very soon before his Balikbayan visa expires. We showed the officer our company's SEC certificate and documents showing his name as a stockholder  to convince him of my husband's long stay intentions.

We also mentioned that even if we start the residence visa application, my husband will only be granted a temporary one-year visa, not more, during his first year of application.  He will only be granted a longer one during his second application process  and he needs to drive soon.

The kind LTO Officer verified it with his colleagues after which, he returned with the good news. Yay, it's possible! :)

He was immediately given an application form to fill.  We were directed to get a medical certificate complying with tests such as eye and physical test.  This medical exam and certificate costs Php 200. The medical clinic is located on the first floor above Chowking.

After completing the form with his medical documents and requirements, we submitted them all back to the officer at Window 14 where he was given a number.  His photograph was later taken as well as his signature.  His name was then called at the cashier after 20-30 minutes of waiting. At the adjacent window, his name was finally called where he was handed his fresh and new driver's license.

The whole process took 1 and a half hours. The commute was longer  but it was all worth the wait. Victory dance. Yay!