Philippine Passport Renewal In No Time At DFA Megamall, No Need For Appointment

So my Philippine passport has been expired since 2012 but I have not given it much thought until my US-based sister who is out to go to the Philippines for a short vacation generously decided to give our whole family (well almost) an all-expense paid trip to Macau. At first it got me sad because I realized my expired passport will not allow me to be part of her treat. 

My husband and I tried to set up an appointment for passport renewal online but it just made me sadder. I am sure folks who have tried to use that system will be able to understand. There are no open schedules unless we can wait for about two months. We even considered getting a schedule in DFA satellite offices in nearby provinces but then did not attempt since schedules there are full too. 

Until I saw the exceptions in DFA passport appointment system which includes senior citizens and minors up to 7 years old. My mother and daughters fit this criterion so we all excitedly went to DFA Alimall in Cubao one morning to apply for passports (renewal for my 74-year old mom and first-time application for my 7-year old daughter). 

I picked DFA Alimall since I heard that it was easy to apply for a passport here but I was disappointed. The security officer told us that only my mother will be allowed to apply for a passport since they do not prioritize giving the exception privileges to minors. Apparently, my daughter can only apply if accompanied by a parent is who is a valid passport holder. Since my passport is expired, it was out of the question. I am hoping they would allow me to renew at the same time so my daughter can have a passport but they would not. I questioned their rule because I read that other satellite offices allow it. Besides, they seem to make things difficult for a minor to apply for a passport. 

When I mentioned it to the officer, she made me feel like it is really impossible for my daughter to apply for a passport without an appointment. They even asked me to go to DSWD to apply for a travel clearance for my daughter which will be another tedious and quite costly process. 

I was losing hope when I thought of inquiring in DFA Megamall and was so surprised when the security officer told me that surely a minor below 7 is allowed to use the special lane as long as the child is accompanied by a parent (even if the parent has no valid passport). Apparently, the parent can renew or apply for a passport together with the minor. Thus no need to set an appointment for me too! I was so happy to hear what he said! I cannot believe that the officers in DFA Alimall did not even refer me to DFA Megamall if they cannot accommodate us. Well to be fair, they may be unaware that it is allowed in DFA Mega. 

Anyway the passport processing in DFA Mega is smooth and fast! The officers are all very polite and efficient too. So this post will have a happy ending after all. My husband and I were able to renew our passports and our daughters are now passport holders as well. 

Thanks to DFA Megamall for accommodating us! Kudos for great service! So parents of minors who immediately need to renew or apply for a passport and are also frustrated with the online appointment system. You may want to apply with your kids and try in DFA Mega. 

Disclaimer: This post is based from my experience and I do not guarantee anything with regards to passport application in DFA Mega. As you know, rules may change in time. Let us just hope for a better DFA passport application and renewal system soon.

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Weekend Escapade in Tagaytay

To say that my husband and I (and even my eldest daughter) are busy the past weeks or months is an understatement. It seems we have been running here and there trying to fulfill duties that keep piling up. Well, to sum it up we really need a break. So I browsed group buying sites to search for hotel deals. Luckily, I found this deal which seems to be perfect – an overnight stay for 2 at Tagaytay Country Hotel, free 45-minute body scrub or body massage, dinner, and breakfast. All for less than 3thou and I can even bring my two daughters along!

We originally planned the getaway in time for our 7th wedding anniversary. But alas, hubby needs to work the weekend of our anniv date so we just scheduled our getaway for March. The sched we got seems ideal too because it is the weekend after Sophie’s 3rd trimester exam and right after knowing that I got promoted at work. So it feels like a reward time for all of us.

Well on the day itself, we all woke up early and were out of the house by 7:30 am. Our first stop is Jollibee for a hearty breakfast.  After taming our grumbling tummies, we head on to Tagaytay. The weather was a bit hot but just right for a joyride. We reached Tagaytay proper a little past 10am. It’s still early so we decided to stop by Robinson’s Supermarket to buy snacks and drinks. After about an hour, we are ready for lunch. We want to eat at Eli’s since I read some pretty good reviews on the net but was disappointed to find it closed.

We had to find another resto that serves bulalo and found Diner's Cafe Original Bulalo. The place is not so crowded but I found the service a bit slow. I find the staff  helpful and friendly as well. Good thing, we had a perfect view of Taal Volcano from our spot on the second floor.

The hot bulalo tastes good but maybe they can add more veggies in it. We also ordered sisig but maybe we should have ordered a veggie or a fish dish because i found the bulalo too fatty. Good thing, they serve free coffee on the resto. 

After lunch, we are ready to go to the hotel.

What I think about the Tagaytay Country Hotel - to be continued

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What Can I Do To Become A Healthier Person?

In many cases, people want to become healthy yet don't know which steps to take in order to start experiencing profound levels of wellness. If this is your current dilemma, this article can help you move beyond the world of sickness and lethargy and into a realm of vitality. Use the tips and tricks listed below to start becoming a healthier person right now:

1. Utilize Testing Kits To Identify Disease.

In many cases, the primary reason why an individual doesn't become healthy results from the fact that they have an undiagnosed condition. If you are experiencing adverse symptoms yet don't know what's going on, consider the value of utilizing testing kits from organizations like Diagnostic Automation. There are a wide range of kits you can purchase online. Some of them include:

Elisa test kits
Anemia kits
Cancer kits
Diabetes kits

2. Get Your Body Moving.

Another strategy you need to implement as you strive to become more healthy is getting your body moving. Exercise is important for many reasons, including the fact that it helps improve mood, eliminate toxins, enhance metabolism, and improve digestion. Unfortunately, contemporary American societies are oftentimes sedentary, which is part of the reason that many people fail to experience the profound levels of health they desire. Yet you don't have to fall victim to this behavioral pattern. Get your body moving now by joining a local gym or purchasing fitness DVDs that you can do at home. If you feel that you'll need extra motivation to get and remain on an exercise plan, hire a personal trainer.

3. Create A Meal Plan.

While many people make plans for areas of their life like finance and retirement, it's interesting to note that they oftentimes overlook the value of creating a meal plan. Yet doing so can work wonders for individuals who are serious about getting healthy. When you carefully design a meal plan based on your nutritional requirements and the caloric intake that will help you maintain or lose weight, you'll likely find that you start to look and feel better. Resources like www.cronometer.com can assist you with the process of recording your eating daily habits so you can continually update and optimize your meal plan.

Conclusion

If you're ready to become a healthy person, know that the secret to success is finding strategies that work for you. Use the information found in this health guide to get on the path to profound wellness right now!

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2016 Philippine Holidays

This year has relatively fewer holidays than 2015. But hey, it still pays to be informed. So here is the official list of Philippine Holidays for 2016. Start planning your much-deserved vacation as early as now!

 (From the Official Gazette)

January 1, 2016, Friday – New Year’s Day (Regular holiday)
January 2, 2016, Saturday – Additional special non-working day

February 8, 2016, Monday – Chinese New Year (Special non-working day)
February 25, 2016, Thursday – EDSA People Power Revolution (Special non-working day by virtue of Proclamation No. 1071, s. 2015)

March 24, 2016 – Maundy Thursday (Regular holiday)
March 25, 2016 – Good Friday (Regular holiday)
March 26, 2016 – Black Saturday (Special non-working day)

April 9, 2016, Saturday – Araw ng Kagitingan (Regular holiday)

May 1, 2016, Sunday – Labor Day (Regular holiday)

June 12, 2016, Sunday – Independence Day (Regular holiday)

August 21, 2016, Sunday – Ninoy Aquino Day (Special non-working day)
August 29, 2016, Monday – National Heroes Day (Regular holiday)

October 31, 2016, Monday – Additional special non-working day

November 1, 2016, Tuesday – All Saints Day (Special non-working day)
November 30, 2016, Wednesday – Bonifacio Day (Regular holiday)

December 24, 2016, Saturday – Additional special non-working day
December 25, 2016, Sunday – Christmas Day (Regular holiday)
December 30, 2016, Friday – Rizal Day (Regular holiday)
December 31, 2016, Saturday – Additional special non-working day

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which days the holidays shall respectively fall.

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Is Going Green While Remodeling Worth It?

Remodeling is always a great thing for homeowners to do. However, there is even more benefit to remodeling when one of the purposes of remodeling is to make everything in your home greener. Tax credits are one incentive to go green, and there are many other good things that are an important part of green renovations.

Some Common Areas for Improvement

One of the primary things that many homeowners are concerned with is making sure that they correct existing problems that may affect their home's efficiency. Doors and windows, if not already energy-efficient, can make your home lose a lot of energy. If possible, install doors that don't feature windows in order to prevent extra air from escaping. All your doors and windows should have good weather stripping, and doors should feature adjustable sweeps.

Paint and Flooring Considerations

Many homeowners don't realize how many eco-friendly options are available for both paint and flooring. These products easily compare to traditional options in their versatility and convenience. You'll be surprised, in a good way, with the unique decorating options that are available for both types of products.

Paint and Wallcovering Options

Many of the options for decorating walls are very effective but largely unknown to non-environmentalists. Eco-friendly wall plaster is one option that many homeowners have started to rediscover. If you want a unique vintage look, consider using colorful ceramic or glass tile. Bamboo wall flats make a good alternative to wallpaper. When using paint, consider either low or VOC-free paint, as well as milk paint.

Several Exciting Flooring Options

Reclaimed or recycled hardwood provides the beautiful look of natural hardwood, without damage to environmentally-sensitive areas. Cork and bamboo are two types of sustainable wood that have a good track record for durability. You will also find that natural linoleum offers many of the advantages of its traditional counterpart, while also resisting germs and bacteria. carpeting constructed from recycled plastics is another great option that many enjoy using.

Do You Want to Take More Drastic Steps?

Remodeling is a good time to consider whether you want to take more drastic steps, such as installing solar panels or heaters powered using alternative energy. Cost will be a major factor in such decisions, although you will see decreased energy costs. However, options like solar panels are flexible and allow you to start off small. Every small step you can take will make a good impact on your home, so you will want to get quotes now.

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Enjoy Freebies and Prizes on These Sites

Though I consider myself a technophobic, I can’t deny the fact that modern advancements opened doors of opportunities for me.  For one, I get to receive a decent paycheck by doing stuff for online marketing.  I believe that people who spend so many hours in front of the computer should realize that the World Wide Web and social media are gold mines. With the right knowledge and skills, one can earn money through it and gets freebies and prizes too.

I would like to share that I received freebies from these sites:

EverydayMe This site gives out samples of Procter and Gamble products such as Olay, Safeguard, Ariel, Downy, and many others. One needs to be vigilant though because the samples run out pretty fast.

Nestle Club I simply signed up to this and aside from the cooking recipes and home organizing tips on the site, I have received cool samples and freebies here. I am usually informed of the promos I can avail through the super cool e-newsletters they send.

A1 Online Surveys  For those with extra time and don’t mind answering surveys, this site is for you. Not everyone is eligible to answer a survey and points will not go up overnight so patience is a virtue. I have received a couple of Sodexo GC’s from doing this.

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Putting Your Overhead Bridge Cranes First

When you work with overhead bridge cranes, you carry a big weight on your shoulders. You have a hefty responsibility ahead of you with each job that you take on. You commit yourself to sticking to a schedule to deliver for your client. If you run into trouble with a malfunction or breakdown, it can bring all of your efforts to a grinding halt. You need a dependable source for parts to get your equipment back on track. Turn to the ProservCrane Group to find the parts that you need.

Because Time Equals Money
The team at the ProservCrane Group understands that your time is valuable. There is not a minute to waste when you need parts for your disabled crane. You'll find a comprehensive listing of makes and models, ensuring that your vital parts are available. At the touch of a button, you'll have access to the parts that will help you to hold up your end of the bargain on your current project. If you can't find what you are looking for, representatives are available to make the process go smoothly. Your parts will be shipped as soon as possible to fulfill your demand.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
You've been in this business long enough to understand wear and tear. You know your equipment is going to need regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Let the ProservCrane Group help you to stock up on parts. You'll be prepared when you see a part on its way out. Take care of your cranes, give them the attention they deserve, and you'll get the most out of your machines. Team up with the ProservCrane Group to make sure you are ready for the road ahead.

Take Advantage of a Host of Services
In addition to an extensive parts catalog, the ProservCrane Group can assist you in various ways. Whether you need help with installation, your maintenance, refurbishing, or inspection, you'll find that the ProservCrane Group is a valuable resource. Safety training courses are also offered by the experts at the ProservCrane Group. Keep your cranes in top form and protect your employees. The ProservCrane Group is your go-to source when it comes to overhead cranes. Don't let a malfunction put you out of commission. Let the ProservCrane Group get the parts in your hands so you can get back to business as usual.

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