Licensed!

Renewed my license(s) today. Had to take the day off (happily) from work, yet again. Yes, it's my birthday, tomorrow not today. Yi-pee (**sarcastically**).

I spent around P650 for my driver's license....

--P50 for my "medical" which involved checking my eyesight--i.e., reading a bunch of letters off a chart a few feet away, i think it was on line 8 (one of the smallest). I read them all, 20/20 vision kasi ako. The attendants also took my weight and my height, and that was it! The "certificate," however, showed i had normal blood pressure which they never took and no communicable disease. Ghee, how could they tell? I'm impressed!

--P300 for my drug test (one of those rare times i wasn't thinking "positive," hehehe) which involved giving them my urine sample and voila, in a few minutes, i was "negative" for drugs. Have always been curious, do they actually test your urine for drugs?

--P248 for my license fees.... nothing spectacular here, just went up to the cashier and paid after having my photo taken and signing for my license (electronic signature).

--P20 for my that little packet where you insert your license ID card with the LTO logo and stuff. The man from the photo booth hand u your license with this thingy and tells u "P20 lang." Wala kang choice, u had to pay for it even if you don't want it.

It took me all of 1 1/2 hours, give or take. I'd say not bad for a Philippine government agency, though we can actually do without the drug test. Well, at least business is booming on that side of town.

Next up was my professional ID.... yes, folks, i'm a professional despite my certain demeanor to the contrary. Had to get my photo taken again, this time with my "name tag" below the picture. It's a must! Buti na lang, electronic na rin ung name tag. Before, they used a narrow chalk board where your full name is written so your photo will be taken with that tag. It's not unlike your mug shot, hehehe.

Anyway, as i reached the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) entrance, i was stopped, together with a woman, by the guard. Apparently, shorts wasn't allowed, and so were sleeveless shirts. Wahaaaaaaaat?!!!! "Sir, kuha muna kayo ng gate pass dun sa gwardya sa may exit." And so, i did. Note: I wasn't wearing sleeveless shirt, it was that woman, hehehe. I was wearing shorts knee-low (knee-low???! hahaha!) and tsinelas.

Almost blew my top at that "regulation." I told the guard, how discriminating! A pair of flip-flops and shorts, or sleeveless shirts do not a professional unmake. Uhhmmmm, let me rephrase that. The above apparel doesn't make me any less professional than the next person in trousers or sleeved shirts. Grrrrrrr! And how was i supposed to know this rule? "Sige sir, next time po ha. Pinagbawal po kasi and naka-shorts at sleeveless." Yeah, next time, in 2011!

But the breeze in which i finished processing my PRC ID more than made up for that ealier fiasco. In a matter of minutes, i was out of there. Grabe, and daming tao, at sobrang init! I was just so glad to have it done and over with. Though, unlike my driver's license, i had to go back for my ID in about 1 1/2 months.

Wow, look at the disparity--I had my driver's license in 1 1/2 hours, i get my professional ID in 1 1/2 months. Pareho ng bilang, magkaiba ng unit of measure!

Sigh.... and this is how i spend my special day in the Philippines, at least every three years, renewing my licenses. Bakit kasi hindi na lang ginawang birth month instead of on or before your birthday!

Happy birthday, moi!

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