DFA, Manila Passport Renewal

Prepare for your renewal of passport by logging into the DFA's Passport services website.

Look into the requirements, schedule your appointment and download the form needed. Make sure you print it in the required paper size (LONG BOND PAPER).
My schedule was at 8am, I was there around 7:30am. I was done before 9am.

Things to bring:
1. your requirements.
2. A book or a gadget to keep you entertained.
3. your requirements.

It helps if you've filled up your forms and photocopied all required documents, whether it's the 1st or last stamped pages of your old passport, before arriving or your birth certificate or whichever is in your list of requirements. Please take note that requirement differs for what type of application you are requesting for. Believe me, taking a good look at the website list will save you time. You don't really need any agents for this one.

Step 1: Processing and Evaluation
All you need to to is give out your requirements.

Step 2: Payment/ Cashier
The step title said it all.

Step 3: Encoding/ Enrollment
They'd give you a number, wait to be called. You'll be ushered to a booth for your picture and some details.
Tips for your pic:
1. make sure you love what you wear, it will forever be in your passport. There wasn't any strict requrement so long as you wear something with a collar. I was wearing a shirt at that time.
2. you are not allowed to smile. But you can smize. Do practice in the mirror.

Optional:
If you want it to be brought to your home (recommended), you just need to pay a small amount of money it will save you the hassle of transportation to the embassy.

It was easy really. I was surprised at how efficient the process was. And this is Philippine governement.

Politics your ass!

I cringe at the “sound” of politics. Though I can probably give you my 2 cents worth of opinion, or maybe not, since I don’t read the news anymore, and haven’t really been in front of the tube for the past few freaking uhhhm… can’t even remember, I’m contented already with my DVDs.

Probably because I had too much of it during college… over as a member of the student council, activist groups, socio-political organizations, and even those pa-sosyal organizations. You can’t really escape them, even when you start working.

Not that I don’t care… I really do. I just got tired of debating the unsolvable. Plus such a topic is like lullaby to my ears. I get Lethargic. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not entirely apathetic. With government politics, I do get to do my obligations.

My piece of shit to those who complain much about the government? If they are already at the right age, I ask, “Did you vote at the last election?”

If you say no, I tell you, don’t complain in front of me. You’ve got no freaking right.

If you did vote, by all means, complain. Be my guest. You did your part. Now you may start blabbering!

Kinda like if you’re always complaining about how slow the road constructions are taking, I ask, “Are you paying your taxes?”

Stop whining if you don’t. You leech! And don’t even give me that crap about the government being corrupt. You still have to give Ceasar his salad if the salad is for Ceasar, give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar kung baga (ano daw? Putek ang corny ko, pataying nyo nako!!!). Then let God’s wrath strike Ceasar when he doesn’t give to his people what is due for his people. That and the Ombudsman (if you deem them effective).

REGISTER. VOTE. TRANSFORM.

So now, to all those kids out there who are now eligible to vote, do register. Then let’s discuss freaking politics you assholes!

Visit www.comelec.com.ph or email ftv.project@gmail.com for more details.

*Disclaimer: To all my friends who are weirded out with my use of “shit”, “freaking” and other words that you don’t really hear me use, please forgive me. I’m still at the last phase of my topak (crazy) moments. I’ll get back to my old self soon. I’m just posting this one unedited. Lazy lazy fucking me. (sorry sorry!!!!!!!!!!, di kaya ako ma MTRCB nito, apologies to my sponsors, weh! As if meron! Putek bset! Adik nanaman!).

*Thank you to my blockmate Carmi for the above picture from her multiply account.

Chateau Verde, UP Diliman

“Where the food and ambiance is an experience”

Name: Chateau Verde
Where: Apacible St., UP Campus, Diliman Quezon City
Contact details: (+632) 928 81 80/ (+632) 927 30 35 (They accept catering services and party planning)
Cuisine: Spanish and Continental Cuisine
Food rate: 8.5 out of 10, this is one of those places where simple food is transformed into an art. I’d have to give them two thumbs up for presentation

Ambiance: I’d say 9.5 of 10. I liked the place. Aside from the garden effect the place gave out, meeting up with Tita Goring Cervantes (The owner of Verde, I assume) is such a feat. She’s such a bubbly woman, chatting with those who dined at her place. And it’s no surprise that she knows most of her patrons. You’d probably hear her tell stories from the eighties. If you find a foreigner, you’d probably expect her to chat a bit of the places she’s been to. It makes you feel at home, with a very gracious host to liven up the day.

Service: I haven’t been at a time when “busy” is an understatement so, I’d say, the service is good, for now. Though some of the waiters were chatting much, but they were easy to call on anyways.

Cost: It’s a restaurant. Not fastfood. So expect prices ranging from simple 150 to 300. Dessert is at 70-150. But still relatively reasonable if not cheap.

Some Recommendations: Mango crepe. Mango crepe. Mango crepe. Ok, try also their grilled chicken, their beef tenderloin, fish. Then mango crepe.

Overall Assessment: A must dine-in place in UP Diliman. And if you’ve studied in UPD and have not graced the serene garden of Chateau Verde, I say shame on you.

Note: I'm still trying to fix my blog. hehe. so I'll just fill in some food post for your tummies, I took pictures of the main dish, but sadly, I couldn't find it in my saved folders, aarrrgghhhh!

Sonya's Garden, Cavite/ Tagaytay

Note: I apologize for the lack of posts recently. been rather busy with work and travel. As this blog was supposed to be a travel and food blog before changing it from "Misadventures of a toxic mind" to the current "Toilet Thoughts..." I'd just be inserting short food reviews in between my emo posts (hehe) so as to fill in dead "dates" on this blog. hehe. For the tags that I haven't answered, I'll try them this weekend. Thanks for your understanding.
I’ve been looking for a place to relax a bit. Somewhere quite near Manila. And I guess I’ve found one of those that I can call my haven, my place to enjoy my solitude (and if lucky, my corny cheesy moments witha loved one).

Name: Sonya’s Garden Restaurant & Country Bed & Breakfast
Where: Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines (Actually, its more known to be close to tagaytay)
Contact details:
Restaurant: +63917 532 9097/ +63928 507 3300
Bed & breakfast: +63917 53 5140
Spa: +63928 507 3302
Fax: +6346 413 2081/ +6346 413 2082
e-mail: info@sonyasgarden.com
Website: http://sonyasgarden.com/

(click read more for more info)

Cuisine: Healthy, vegetarian to Filipino (go to website for menu)
Food rate: 8.5 out of 10. The menu is quite limited, but still they are quite delicious. Most are healthy choices and are rather guilt free.

Ambiance: 9 out of 10. Garden people would love this place. And if you’re looking for a change of environment from the busy City life, this is the place… unless you have allergies to plants, pollens, flowers etc. of course.

Service: It acts as your usual restaurant. The thing I love about this place is that though menu is quite limited, you can actually request for your food items (lunch mostly but I’m not sure about breakfast) to be refilled, so it is almost like an eat all you can restaurant.

Cost:
Breakfast costs around 420 Php
Lunch/ Dinner: 610 Php
Bed and breakfast: 3,000 - 3,400 overnight (includes 2 meals)

Some Recommendations:
Hmmmm… I suggest you bring a date to this place. The nice cozy and relaxing atmosphere of this place is meant to be shared with a loved someone. I’m actually thinking of proposing for marriage in this garden, ala treasure hunt style (wag lang syang atakihin ng allergies). Hehe.

Plus!!!!!! They have event too! Wait for my next next next post regarding their Creative writing event.

Overall Assessment:
I’d say, I found my hiding place.

How to get there:

From South Super Highway, exit Sta. Rosa. Upon reaching Tagaytay main Aguinaldo Highway, turn right towards Nasugbu, Batangas. Go past rotonda proceed 10kms. After Splendido Golf Course and Sunrise Hill make a right turn on Buck Estate. Drive 2kms. Left gate.