In the summer or 2017, I was confronted with a dilemma – I was given an opportunity to travel abroad, but my passport was about to expire with about two months left. Some people would mistakenly think that that would be enough, but as a rule, passports have to be valid for at least another six months if you're going to travel internationally. I haven't experienced it personally, but I have heard horror stories of people being held at departure for this very reason. What a waste of fare and effort!
Being the naive barely adult that I am, I didn't think much about renewing my passport until the day I had to plan my trip. I've never had to renew my passport before since my mom usually did it for me and I would just come along for the necessary photos and the biometrics. I vaguely remember the process pre-internet age: you had to line up unbelievably early on the day itself, hope to secure a slot, and transfer from room to room until you fulfill the necessary requirements. Being a minor, I was basically spoonfed through the whole process (can't say the same for my mom though). So when it came around to me doing this for myself for the very first time in my life, I was in for the biggest shock of my life.
But wait, you might be reading this and thinking, This is interesting and all Viv, but I don't really have any plans to travel abroad soon! Well, hun, if you're still unconvinced as to why renewing your passport is the best thing you could possibly do for yourself right now, here are a few more reasons:
1. It's a valid ID.
- It actually just might be the most recognized and most widely accepted ID. Next would be the Philippine Postal ID, which you should apply for if you haven't already. I'll be writing a separate post about that soon, so stay tuned!
2. According to Republic Act (RA) No. 10928, the Philippine passport is now valid for 10 YEARS from a previous 5 years (http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/02/duterte-signs-law-extending-passport-validity-to-10-years.html). That's DOUBLE! A whole decade of not stressing out about it! (I'm hoping the Philippine passport system has massively improved by the time I'm 30) For minors under 18, it's valid for 5 years. Side note: I, unfortunately, had my passport renewed a month before this was RA was signed, thus mine is only valid until 2022. Still, I'm just relieved I had it renewed at all!
3. Although our passport kinda sucks because we basically need a visa to visit every major country in the world, there are still a ton of visa-free countries we Filipinos can visit! Taiwan recently became visa-free for the Philippines (https://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph_en/post/2950.html) and countries like Singapore & Hong Kong are good old Filipino favorites for their close proximity to the country.
4. Having a valid passport prepares you for anything. Life is crazy and anything can happen at any given moment. You win a scholarship grant abroad. Your company decides to send you to a conference all the way across the world. You become the lucky winner of that family vacation raffle you almost forgot you joined three months ago. All of this will be much smoother with a valid passport ready to go.
5. I hate to say it, but passport (or any necessary Philippine ID) application and renewal in the Philippines is A TERRIBLE PAIN, and it's only expected to get worse. Just search about it on Google or Twitter and you'll see what I mean. I'm sure we are all aware of our government's shortcomings, but this one takes the cake. Unfortunately, unless you're well-connected or a very high-ranking government official, you have to suffer like the rest of us plebs. Don't prolong the suffering. Do it NOW.
Now that I've probably convinced you, you're probably scrambling to get on that Department of Foreign Affairs website to book an appointment. Ah, yes, I was just like you once – all excited and hopeful. Until I saw this:
Chances are, if you try to book an appointment right now, it'll also look like this. Nope, it's not a glitch. Every branch convenient for me was literally booked AF. There was a five-month waiting list for the main branch DFA Aseana alone!
Being based in Manila, I initially thought my only options were the DFA offices in the metro. But I was on a mission, and little by little, I expanded my search to different regions, and almost even considered flying (or sailing) to Puerto Princesa, Palawan where so many slots are enviously open. (One of my friends told me her sister made the trip all the way to Puerto Princesa while they were on vacation in Cebu – the renewal desperation is real people, and it's not just me!)
In the end, I got lucky and discovered open slots in DFA Calasiao (let it be known that prior to this, I have never even heard of Calasiao – sorry, Pangasinan) which thankfully, was still in Luzon and required neither plane tickets nor a boat ride to get there. I crossed my fingers, successfully booked it, and anxiously waited for appointment day.
Since I don't really drive, I knew I had to commute going there. I was wise enough to book my appointment in the afternoon (I was lucky to even have options) and decided the best way was to take a bus all the way there. I love road trips so this personally wasn't too stressful for me, but you might want to reconsider Calasiao if you hate long commutes. Calasiao, Pangasinan is 3 hours away from Manila (even more if it's traffic) and I was completely alone going to a place I've never heard of before (confession: I didn't tell my mom because she would've killed me and stopped me from going, but please don't do the same if you're not confident you can do it on your own! Better to be safe than sorry). Being a bit adventurous and independent, I must confess the idea excited me quite a bit.
Fun fact: Founded in 1588 by Dominican friars, the municipality of Calasiao is the second oldest in Pangasinan. Its name comes from the native word "Kalasian," which means "where lightning usually occurs."
The day of my appointment came and I made sure all of my requirements were prepared and ready to go. Here is a list of the things I brought with me (items with asterisks are REQUIREMENTS):
1. Confirmed appointment code (will be generated after you complete the online appointment process)
2. Duly accomplished application form (downloaded from the DFA website) *
3. Original copy of Birth Certificate issued by NSO *
4. Valid picture IDs and supporting documents proving your identity – in my case, I brought pictures, elementary & high school certificates & diplomas, proof of university enrollment (again, better to be safe than sorry!) *
5. Expiring/expired Philippine passport *
6. A change of clothes for the passport picture
7. Snacks!!!
I took an Uber to the ____ bus station in Cubao and bought a ticket to Calasiao. Make sure to do plenty of research about the buses and terminals before your trip. I was turned away at the first station I went to since the bus had already left (despite the posted online schedule saying otherwise) and had to cross to the other side of EDSA to get to another bus company.
It goes without saying, but whether it's your first time or you're a commuting veteran, you must take great care to protect yourself and your belongings. Here are some of my tips for commuting:
1. Dress down & dress modestly for the trip. I wore a hoodie over a relaxed fit shirt, black leggings & sneakers. Oh, and a cap. Don't wear any expensive or flashy accessories such as watches & jewelry.
2. Bring a lowkey bag and keep an eye on it at all times. I used my trusty olive green Fjallkraven Kanken backpack. It's a long trip so don't store it in the overhead compartment – keep it close to you. I personally like to let it sit on my lap, especially since I knew I was bound to fall asleep during the bus ride. Hug it and have it with you at all times, but also...
3. Don't act as if you're carrying anything valuable, even if you are. The only valuable things I had were my iPhone, my documents & cash – stuff I really needed. Leave the expensive laptops and cameras at home if you have no necessary use for them.
4. Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Be polite, pay promptly, and speak the language if you can. Although English is understood by many, I spoke in Filipino the entire time. Keep a low profile at all times.
5. Bring your own snacks and water. Although public buses have plenty of stopovers along the way, I'd much rather stay on it if I have no business going down whatsoever. This also draws less attention to yourself.
6. Tell family & friends where you're going and what your plans are for the day, as well as your expected time back home. I don't like bringing my phone out on the bus, so I made sure to tell my friends beforehand. Include details such as the address (in this case, Robinsons Place Pangasinan), the bus line & plate number (better yet, send a photo), what you're wearing and your expected time of arrival back home. Update them whenever you can (in my case, when I got to the DFA office).
7. If possible, sit beside/near families, particularly those with children. I've found that families are much kinder and usually "adopt" you when they see you're alone. Plus, you'd be viewed as less of a target if it appears that you're part of a group.
8. Keep your personal details and travel purpose PRIVATE. Story time: A man sat beside me halfway through the trip and tried to make conversation even though it was clear I had earphones on (BONUS TIP! Wear your earphones even when you're not listening to music so people think twice about bothering you). This particular stranger was very persistent and I tried to answer his questions politely, but when he asked for my name so he could "add me on Facebook," I said I had none and gave a fake name. When he asked what my purpose was for coming to Calasiao, I said I was visiting my grandmother. I also lied about where I studied. Chances are, you WILL encounter people like this on public transport. Be smart and vigilant.
My ... a bus left its station in Cubao at around 7:30 in the morning and I arrived in Calasiao at 11 (almost four hours because of all the stopovers). The ride was pretty much incident-free, save for my little seatmate situation. Fortunately, the bus I rode drove directly past Robinsons Place Pangasinan. The DFA office was on the fourth floor, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was no line at all. I approached the guards and told them I had an appointment at 2 o'clock, and they replied with "Ma'am, pwede na po ngayon." (Ma'am, you can actually go in now). Imagine my joy!!! However, since it was fast approaching lunch time and I haven't eaten anything other than my snacks on the bus, I asked if I could eat first to which the guards said yes. I then proceeded to the supermarket (which also doubled as a food court), ate a light lunch, changed my clothes, and washed my face & did my makeup in the ladies' room.
I went back to the DFA office around 12:30 PM and the guards allowed me in as promised, despite being two full hours early for my appointment.
THE MALL
THE DFA OFFICE
THE PERSONNEL
THE SERVICE
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