NBI Clearance: No Sweat!

I started the day early because JP and I wanted to get our NBI clearance for our local employment. Based on the reviews that I have read online, getting an NBI clearance nowadays can be really toxic. Since Mega Data Corporation has ended its contract with NBI, it has also pulled out their equipment resulting to the loss of all the information that NBI has stored since the early 70's. Because of this, renewal is no longer possible and everyone who wants to get an NBI clearance would have to be treated as first time applicants.

I have also read from reviews that the best place to get a clearance is at Robinsons Otis since they have shorter queues compared to the other Robinsons Malls and of couse, NBI's main office. Since we were expecting the worst scenario and we just want to be sure that we'll be able to have everything processed, we got up early, prepared for the day, and arrived at Rob Otis a little before 5:30am. To our surprise and delight, we were the 5th and 6th in line. The only downside of it was that we had to wait for more than two hours outside the mall because the NBI Clearance Center opens at 8am.

After we arrived, a lot of people came and at around 7am, there were probably about 70-80 people waiting in line. At 8am, the security guard allowed us to enter the mall and proceed to the 2nd floor where the NBI Clearance Center is located. We were given application forms to fill out and by 8:20am, the processing began.

First, we had to pay for the processing fee which is Php115. Make sure that you have the exact amount to avoid any hassle or delay in the line. Next, we had to verify the information that we have provided on the application form through the manual encoding. Verification can be done by looking at the monitor facing the applicant while the NBI staff is encoding the information.

After the manual encoding, the next step is the fingerprint scanning and photo capturing which took me only about 5 minutes. Once done, I gave the receipt to the last window and was expecting for an instruction when he handed me my NBI clearance. Whoa! I was not really expecting that it was going to be that easy so I was really surprised and happy at the same time that I don't have to go back for the releasing. Before 9am, I was already holding my clearance.

One thing that I have noticed is that the processing has been fast and efficient so it was really a great experience. I did not mind waking up early and waiting in line because I was able to get what I came there for. Kudos to the NBI staff in Otis!

The Dream Team

One of the moments when I felt proud that I was part of a great team. Yes, we were called the Dream Team for a reason. We loved what we're doing and we're good at it. But some good things just never last...

ME time

It has been more than two months since I left Yell. Two months since I left the company and the people who I thought I would be working with for a long time. But then, things happened. I won't be going into the details anymore because I believe that things happened for a reason and a lot of good things happened after I resigned. Yes, I felt sad because I left some special people behind and I left the job which I have learned to love but I don't have any regrets. After I resigned, I got to enjoy my free time. Specifically, I was able to do the following:

• I got back with my one true love which is writing. (And the good thing about it is that I get paid for it! Isn't that great?) 
• I got to spend more time with my loved ones. 
• I got to stay online most of the day so I was able to catch up with friends who I haven't talked to in a while.
• I got to watch Eat Bulaga and the afternoon drama series. LOL!
• I got to sleep anytime I want and for as long as I want. 
• I got my ME time.

During this period, I also started an online shop selling products from the US courtesy of my mom. I still have to do some more marketing but the business is doing good so far. 

However, as much as I want to stay this way forever, I know that I have to put an end to my hiatus. And so, soon I am going back to the corporate world. Soon, I am gonna be back into the ballgame. 

I am ready. I am stepping up and its gonna be another level of ME time. ;-)

Waiting For a Message

 

Trees help you see slices of sky between branches,
point to things you could never reach.
Trees help you watch the growing happen,
watch blossoms burst then dry,
see shade twist to the pace of a sun,
birds tear at unwilling seeds.

Trees take the eye to where it is,
where it was,
then over to distant hills,
faraway to other places and times,
long ago.

A tree is a lens,
a viewfinder, a window.
I wait below
for a message
of what is yet to come.

-Rochell Mass

Bago matapos ang buwan ng Agosto...

Dahil ang Agosto ay itinuturing nating mga Pilipino na Buwan ng Wika, sa aking palagay ay nararapat lamang na ang anumang naisin ko ay aking isusulat sa wikang Filipino.

Nakakalungkot man na isipin ngunit kadalasan, marami sa ating mga Pinoy ang nagpapayabangan at nagpapagalingan sa kung sino ang mas magaling bumigkas sa wikang dayuhan, partikular sa wikang Ingles. Naglipana ang mga kabataan, propesyunal, at minsan kahit tambay na panay ang ratsada sa wikang Ingles, samahan pa ng 'twang' at 'accent' na mahihiya ang dayuhan na makipagsabayan ng talastasan. Ito ay isang bagay na talaga namang maaari at nararapat nating ipagmalaki subalit nawa'y hindi rin natin makalimutan na mahalin muna ang sariling atin - ang ating sariling wika.

Isa itong hamon, hindi lamang sa inyong makakabasa nito ngunit lalo na sa aking sarili. Ako na naging alipin na din ng globalisasyon at patuloy na transpormasyon ng lipunan para maka angkop sa mga dayuhang namumuhunan sa ating bayan. Sa totoo lang, mas mahirap na magsalita o magsulat ng purong Filipino/ Tagalog kumpara sa Ingles. Ngunit bilang paggunita sa ating buwan ng wika, sisikapin ko na gumawa ng maraming akda hindi lamang para may mabasa kayo, kundi para na din mahinang ang kakayahan ko. 

Bongga di ba.