Monday mornings in the Philippines are just not like American Monday mornings. Certainly not for me...and most especially not for Mike. He can explain better for himself, but for me it's just another day. Wait, not necessarily "just" another day...but it's no different. Okay, maybe SLIGHTLY different. That being the weekday routine starts up again with the earlier morning slant for Mike and the boys. I had planned on visiting a pregnant friend in Cubao. But Mike said today was his better day to take me to the LTO [Land Transportation Offices] to get my license and so baby O and I agreed... so to speak.
We went to Robinsons East [next to Sta. Lucia] which sits on the corner of Imelda Ave. and Marcos Hwy. [Even though these names have left a bitter political after taste in this nation, I'm glad for other sentimental reasons, the names haven't changed]. The LTO office there is next to the Robinson's SuperMarket but only processes license renewals. Not new licenses...specifically not "international license transfer" from abroad. Like in most legal processing locations, there are very little awareness signs posted. One has to ask English speakers around them which window to go to for what. A nice couple directed me to window #2 where I am told to please go to the main LTO office in Quezon City. There are a lot of satellite offices placed in malls, but they are only good for license renewal. Not for getting your first Philippine driver's license.
Fortunately, Mike had already been through the process several months ago. However, he had gone to Taytay. It's closer to us [Brookside Hills, Cainta] but outside. I asked around wondering if the conditions in Quezon City are also outside or inside because the idea of being outside in this tropical heat is rather repelling. But yes, it's outside in Quezon City too. Thus, not worth trying to find. Might as well go to Tatay where Mike is more familiar with the location, process and timing. At least three hours. Maybe more. [I doubt the timing is any faster in Quezon City].
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*driving directions for foreigners in the Cainta/AntiPolo area needing to get their license (you do have a 30 day driving grace period to get your license from date of entry into the country)*
So, from the main road [Ortigas] that goes through Pasig, Cainta [past Brookside Hills Subdivision on the and Valley Golf (which is where Faith Academy is) -both on the left side of Ortigas] and on towards the hills of AntiPolo, stay right where the road forks. The left goes towards AntiPolo and the right is Manila East Rd. towards Taytay. You will go under the covered crosswalk of SM Taytay, past a huge Pure Gold grocery store [green and yellow on the left], the Barangay Muzon Hall [left], past St. Clement Catholic cemetery on the left, the road Y's again and you want to stay on Manila East which veers left. Further down the road you will see LTO on the left. Blue one story building.
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Be prepared to enjoy the outdoors. In the front is a waiting area. Proceed passed that and to a small window on the side of the building where there are repossessed motorbikes parked along side the opposite wall. Ask for an application for "transfer of license from abroad". You then need to proceed to the back where there's an entrance into a group of other offices. At office "C" you will be taken through the process of finger printing at a little tiny computer stall and give a urine sample. You also fill out the medical exam paper. [Ladies, as in any other public restroom, bring tissue paper!] Above the sink is a little window where you drop off the little urine sample. There it was P300 pesos [be sure to have EXACT change(!!!)] and then they will direct you to the next office where you will be weighed and your blood pressure is taken. Oh, and your eyes are checked. Filipino people are generally very nice and accommodating in these places...all places. Be nice. Be patient. Be respectful....because they are. I'm not sure the purpose of the entire physical exam but you can't get out of it if you try. ^_^ No, I didn't try. All that is pretty smooth. Was quick for me. Then you take your filled out app and medical papers back to the side window of the main blue office. There are places alongside the road, next to the LTO and across the street where you can pay to have someone photo copy your current license [of whatever country you came from] and your passport. The side window person will need that too with your application and medical papers.
Then you stay there in the back of the main blue building. This is the part that takes a long wait. You can expect several hours. Bring your mobile devices, especially if you have a data plan on them. It will help with passing the time. The waiting area had brand new blue seats. I found them to be quite comfortable. There are a few fans to help give a little relief from the day's heat [depending on the time of year you get this done]. Vendors come through with drinks and meriendas of sorts. I like the lumpia. Then of course, just like any other city street, there are several food shanties you can enjoy from if you're not afraid of eating street food. We love it. It's ridiculously cheap, it's tasty and ...well,yah. Good local stuff!
The first call via the loud speaker is for window #2. They take a picture. Put out P20 of cash and take a plastic cover with which you can later insert your new license card. Then you sit and wait some more to be called to window #3. They take another photo there. I don't know why two photos. I didn't ask. Probably doesn't matter what the answer is either. Doesn't change your position in the procedure...unless you're just really curious. ^_^ Then you proceed to the front where you wait to be called to Window "F". That's the cashier window. They call groups of names, you all line up at that window and pay in turn. I paid about P617. That would a good long wait too. Not the line, but to hear my name get called. But once you've put out P600+ cash you can then proceed back to the back, only wait a few minutes [depending on just how busy they are or are not] and you will be called to window #6 where you will finally get your license in hand with the Philippine flag on it.
I prayed, on the way to Taytay, and asked the Lord for some rain. Something to make my LTO epxerience somewhat pleasant with cooler temps. He heard my cry. There were plenty of breezes blowing through, the temperature was pleasantly lower than the day before and I was pleasantly surprised with all the provided shade/covering and seating in the waiting areas. It wasn't the case in the 80's. I remember missionary friends sweating it out under what little tree shade they could find for hours on end and the stress that comes from that combined with all things entailed with geographical transitioning. Today's experience was a piece of cake by comparison.
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