How to Renew Your NBI Clearance

It was in 2007 when I applied for my first NBI clearance. I remember having my mother accompany me in Carriedo and having to deal with the long queue and dizzying process. It was the very first time I had to do it, so despite my sore feet and queasy stomach, I had to suck it up, I needed that clearance for my summer job.

Moving forward, in 2012, my friend needed to pass her NBI clearance as her pending requirement for her work so she asked if I could come along. It was timely, since my NBI clearance had long been expired and since I had nothing better to do then. This time around, it was in Galleria. It was around 5 in the morning when my friend and I left our house since we anticipated the long line and we were told that only the first 100 or so were entertained. The line was still disheartening, (just imagine if we got there a bit later and we were no longer given any number, yikes!) but the process itself was simpler and the security personnel were accomodating.

Now six years later, the need to renew my NBI clearance came up. And since I had no idea on the renewal process anymore, I asked some people and was told that I just needed to go online, as easy as that! Talk about falling behind, way behind , lol.

As such, I wrote this post in an attempt to walk you through the renewal process based on my own experience in doing so, hope this helps you out :)

How to Renew Your Philippine Passport

By the latter part of 2017, my passport expired. Months prior to this, I contemplated whether or not I should renew it, considering the 10-year validity of the Philippine passport was still being talked about. But I kinda knew it would be detrimental not to renew it, given how there could be "unplanned trips" ahead. It would be SO sad if I can't go just because I didn't renew my passport when I had the chance.

I listed down the pros and cons, and yes the pros outweighed the other. Hence, despite the 10-year validity taking effect in just a few months, I jumped the gun and renewed my passport before 2017 wrapped up.

What's Up Pilipinas?!

There's been a lot going on in the country to date. Just recently, we had inaugurated the 16th president of the Philippines and the 14th vice-president. If you're up to date with the politics in the country then you're well aware of how chaotic things had been since the proclamation of the winners. Furthermore, its a common knowledge that there has been a gap between the highest positions in our government. Duterte had initially said he would not give Robredo any cabinet position due to his close association with Marcos, who also ran for vice-president. Anyways, to make things short, Duterte changed his mind and gave Robredo a position in the cabinet involving housing.

Also, drug raids and arrests, killings and ambushes that are also drug-related has been a staple in our nightly news. It's kinda scary but this has been part of the change everybody has been expecting. On a lighter note, congested and usually garbage riddled areas are becoming way cleaner, this has been credited to the new administration as well. The new cabinet members have been named over the past weeks and they pretty much started with whatever their respective job entail. 

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And today, we are expecting another matter that would greatly affect how we perceive this new administration. You see, the decision over the arbitration case the Philippines had filed against China is due today. Its been a bone of contention among the Southeast Asian nations and China on who actually has jurisdiction over the area. China has been building artificial islands and bases over the last two years in the West Philippine Sea. Its navy is around the clock over the area and has been the bane of the local fishermen('s) livelihood.

Area in question, so who actually owns it? (Image from http://www.planetarianperspectives.net)

The matter has been in the Hague tribunal and didn't exactly get much highlight. But we are now holding our breaths and mind you its not just us who's waiting on how things turn out. Many countries would be greatly affected --- not just economically. China had refused to address this suit and said that they would not abide with the tribunal's decision at all, huh, go figure.

Here's an excerpt from an article that would give you the 411 on what China thinks about all this.

The Philippines, led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, presented its claims while China continued to refuse to participate insisting it had “indisputable sovereignty” and “historic rights” to the South China Sea.

“China opposes any move by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding,” Hua said.

“On issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will never accept any imposed solution or unilaterally resorting to a third-party settlement,” she said.

China claims the entire South China Sea through its nine-dash line concept which overlaps with the Philippines 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/126097/china-we-are-the-victims-in-dispute-wont-heed-un-decision#ixzz4EB72LQnv

Here are some links to articles regarding the issue: 

http://www.inquirer.net/west-philippine-sea/articles?nav=140909&chan=9

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/140807/hague-tribunal-to-rule-in-tense-south-china-sea-row

http://time.com/4400671/philippines-south-china-sea-arbitration-case/ 

http://cnnphilippines.com/videos/2016/07/11/PH-maritime-case-Whats-at-stake.html
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/07/12/South-China-Sea-West-Philippine-Sea-The-Hague-arbitration-case-explainer.html

So you see, there is a lot of change going on. And the second half of the year has barely began.

Things to Keep In Mind on Election Day

So it's the first of May! Aside from it being a holiday and a weekend, this day also marks how soon we'll be having the election in the Philippines. Have you guys decided whom to vote for yet? Uh-ah, clock's ticking though, D-day is just a week away! Remember, we are #OneGoodVote away to making a difference, so use this time to sift through all the candidates, compare their programs and platforms.

We all know how hectic election day would be for all of us, so to save yourself some trouble and annoyance, know where you're going to vote now and check whether or not your name is actually on the voters' list. The PPCRV has launched help desks in local parishes to help voters look for their voting precinct and assigned room number. Avoid the stress by knowing where to go beforehand, okay? Also, remember that there are some things you can't do during the election. You may not think of them as much of a big deal, but trust me you can wound up in serious trouble if you do them otherwise.

Have You Made Up Your Mind Yet?

March is coming to a close and before you know it, April's here and May would be toddling along! You might think that the election is still a long way off as the hot weather these days seem to make the hours drag, but you really should be contemplating of who you're going to vote for now, lest your mind become muddled on the election day itself and end up voting for someone you don't really like just so you can complete your ballot. That would just be arghhh!

It Pays to Know

Last night, my family and I gathered in the kitchen and live-streamed the #PiliPinasDebate2016 hosted by Luchi Cruz-Valdes of TV5. This is the second of the three-series debates spearheaded by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The event was organized by COMELEC and in cooperation with TV5 and The Philippine Star among others. This was held in UP-Cebu's Performing Arts Hall and was a battle of wits among four candidates only as Miriam Defensor-Santiago underwent a clinical trial for an anti-cancer pill. Nevertheless, her supporters attended in her stead as they say there was a need to "make their presence known".

Image from philstar.com

Social networking sites (SNS) are still abuzz about what happened last night, the reactions were varied from simply being annoyed to downright infuriated. Though, there were times that that the candidates were pretty entertaining (by) themselves. But personally, I haven't really gotten over the delay. It was supposed to start by 5 p.m. and finish at 9 p.m. but it was pushed for more than an hour and finished roughly at 10 p.m.

How to Apply for Makati's Yellow Card

The Makati Health Plus (or the "yellow card" as it is more popularly known) is the Makati residents' health aid from the local government. The card allows the bearer free/discounted access to medical aid in the local hospital, Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) provided that the hospital bill does not go over Php 5,000.00. In case that it does, a Php 200.00 donation is encouraged (as stated at the back of the card). The city has two branches of the local hospital, one in Malugay and the other in Pembo.

How to Refund Travel Tax

Travel Tax is a levy imposed by the Philippine government on individuals leaving the country regardless of their destinations. You can read more about it by checking out the Presidential Decree (P.D) 1183 or check out Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for more details.

Here's who are subjected to it
• Citizens of the Philippines
• Foreigners holding a permanent resident visa Sec. 13 Quota or Preference Immigrant Visa
• Foreign tourists or expatriates who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one (1) year

And here's a table of the tax imposed on travelers set out overseas.

TRAVEL TAX RATES (Philippine Peso)	FIRST CLASS	ECONOMY
Full Travel Tax	2,700.00	1,620.00
Standard Reduced Travel Tax	1,350.00	810.00
Privileged Reduced  Travel Tax for Dependents of an OFW	400.00	300.00

The travel tax is the only thing you have to pay for when you get to the airport as the terminal fee is included in your ticket price. (For more information about the terminal fee integration in the ticket click here).

How to Take the Civil Service Exam

Just recently the Civil Service Commission (of the Philippines) released the schedule for the 2016 Civil Service Examination. In line with this, I figured why not write about my experience in taking the said test? I mean, sharing is caring, right? So, this post is basically about who are qualified to take the test, the application process, what to expect during the test and the result itself.

There are two categories in the Civil Service Eligibility Examination; the Professional and the Sub-Professional. So what's the difference and which one should you take?

The Professional is usually taken by anyone with a four-year college degree while the Sub-Professional can be taken by anyone, even if you are currently attending school. The passing rate (80%) is the same for both categories but the Professional category covers more subject than that of the Sub-Pro.

Another Heartbreak for this Nation

The past few days have been eventful, if I may say so. There has been a lot of things going on in the country. If you are a fellow Filipino, then I will assume you are updated with what has been happening, particularly all the negativity sprouting in all parts of the nation.

The national government's haphazard response and the various reaction of the citizen has been a hot topic, and I understand that this pretty much is an impasse. I totally understand the upset, obviously, there was a lapse of judgement, both parties need to own up to their faults. But, seriously, people of the Philippines, let's not add fuel to the fire! And cease your bright ideas such as oust the President, what would that solve? Coup d' etat , people power or anything in line to these, are not the answer to everything! Let's not forget what the endgame here is, okay? We are all for the truth, but what have we achieve thus far? Just stop pointing fingers! Blaming each other does not change the fact that there were lives lost, disrupted and an impending agreement hanging on the balance.