Only in my Country!
02/21/2022
What's up, Monday!
A few minutes before my sleep time, but I have a strong feeling I'll not follow this just for now, because I still have to write this one.
What a day it has been for me. How about y'all? Do you like Mondays? Or are you like me who is not that fond of it?
Well, after all, I am still thankful because it's another day, and another chance to make better choices, start productive activities, and improve myself.
The day is best started with a prayer and abit of stretching. This morning, I still was not in the mood to wake up, because I really am NOT a morning person. But I know lots of things should be done today, and I chose to just do it.
I muttered a few words of thanks to God, and did some stretches to fully wake myself up. Oh, and good thing an old habit was back again, and that is, (drum roll), read.cash.
I read and interacted with some users, and of course, it helped with me awakening my sleepy self. Honestly, I think I might have read too much, because I got up a bit later than planned.
Next thing was preparation, which I should have done the night before. I again reminded myself of what to bring, organized the documents needed, and planned the budget I'd bring. I also planned what I'll be wearing during that time. Why do I love cramming? Tell me, why do people love cramming? Lol, I know some of you are not. Good for you, then.
Anyway, so I got out of the house almost an hour later than planned.
Today's the day I was supposed to be applying for a government ID, and claim the other one I have applied for last time in another place. I took a leave from work, a whole day, because knowing I live in a country where government processes take lots of time (and patience), I know I'd most probably set an allowance—immense allowance of time just for the queue.
And that's what really happened, dude. I arrived to the first office in my itinerary, there were almost a hundred persons already. They must have been here so early!I heard there is a supposed "cutoff" system here which means, for example, only the first hundred people will be accommodated.
Without really hearing the status of the people in the queue, I just remained there, silently wishing I could be within that cut off limit the management set.
The office was based on the second floor, and the queue was all the way down to the first floor. There are lots of us!
After almost an hour of waiting, the line gradually moved and I could now see myself in the stairs going the second floor. I was getting closer to the site itself. Then, when I stepped into the second floor, I was shocked by the amount of people still queued there, and that's when I knew, I would have to get my final weapon still hidden in my sleeve: incredible patience.
People were getting numbers, to indicate what counter would accommodate them, and the order in which they will come inside the office proper. You know what number I got?
Counter 1, 98th.
Ninety-eighthth in the list. Boy, that was so close, but it made me genuinely relieved. Thank you, Lord.
Anyway, waiting for the number to be called took another forever, too. Of course. My phone kept me company during that time. I was with a workmate too, who applied for the same thing, and I am thankful because she shared me some snacks she and her friend bought. I was really shy to accept the donut, and the siomai, but it was also embarrassing to reject them. Anyway, waiting made me hungry, too. So why not accept it, right? Thanks to them, waiting is not a hundred percent infuriating nor boring after all. Thanks to them, too, for reminding me the fact that I forgot to have breakfast. Laugh at me now, but yeah, this user forgot that she forgot to have a breakfast. Aha! That's why I feel really hungry even it's not lunch time yet.
Finally, after a few hours, (by which I mean, THREE LONG HOURS), I was finally accommodated, and the actual process itself took less than fifteen minutes. Verification of requirements, biometrics, and picture-taking. See? The time was wasted because of the long queue. I just made myself feel better by thinking that it would be worth the wait once I finally get this primary government ID.
I don't know if I should just laugh it out, or just cry, because the staff told me I have to wait for at least NINE months to pick up the ID I applied for today. Yes, nine months. Not nine hours, nor nine days, not even nine weeks. NINE effin months. And take note, he added, "Nine months up to one year."
Nice. If a pregnant lady applied for this ID, she would have given birth and still not get the ID. Goodness, this deserves a whole spot in this blog, this nine months thingy.
Please tell me if you also have a valid important ID that you can apply for, yet can only claim after at least nine months! Because if there is none, then this one is another thing to be added to out very own "It's only in the Philippines" list.
I did not let this eat me up, though. As I always try to do, I find something worthy to be enthusiastic about, even at situations like these. That time, I just told myself that it's better this way. Because imagine if I applied late, then I could just have my ID next year!
To fasten things up, everything was okay, and I just kept the claiming stub with me, to wait for at least nine months, hoping the ID will be okay, for the time I could not have it.
I went out of the house at eight in the morning, and I finished my business in this first stop I just shared to you about, at roughly three in the afternoon. Oh yes, 8am to 3pm. Seven hours for an ID I will still have to wait for almost a year.
Of course, this day did not end here. Although tired and really aching to go home, I still have some unattended tasks to do, and papers to get; thus, without even having a proper lunch, I headed to my next destination.
And that means, another story to tell.Yes, this Monday adventure of mine is, I guess, gonna have a second part story, to continue. Because this one has been so long.
Right now, I am feeling really sleepy, and I hope you won't mind if you may find some spelling errors or grammatical lapses in my piece. It's not a secret that I am writing this with a tired mind and body. I still have work tomorrow, and have to replenish myself more energy, especially because it has been an eventful day today.
Now that I am thinking of it, I feel really happy right now. Because I feel like I did a good job today. It was exhausting, and even stressful, but the sense of accomplishment I feel knowing I did a lot today, seemed to have defeated the negative emotions I felt.
Wow, even this part has become long. That's so sweet of you to still come to this part. You are amazing!
By the way, the night is getting deeper here. I hope you enjoyed this blog, even it was more of a rant than sharing. Just kidding.
Until next time!
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(Lead Image from Unsplash)
To GOD be the glory.
Luoya sa Pilipinas bitaw.