I have to pay our 2-wks overdue Meralco
bills early yesterday ‘coz I’m afraid they’d cut their service to us so I left
our house at around 8am (yeah that’s early for me, hmp!). I took the Ever-Ikot
jeepneys to shun the difficulty of climbing the Sandigan overpass and a long
walk going to the Meralco center. After arriving at the Ever Mall, the driver
send me to another jeepney passing along Meralco to avoid from being caught by
the traffic police (the Ever-Ikot route is obviously not yet permitted), and I’m
thankful the kind driver returned the fare I paid.
Getting in at the Meralco Center, I
took the lane for wheel-chaired persons, noticing the guards and other people looking
at me going to that lane. Care koh db?! Why
should I trouble myself climbing the stairs when there’s an easy way going up,
hehe… When I reached the guard at the main entrance, he welcomes me with a
smile and greets me a good morning (well, good!). Upon entering the premise,
quite changes I have observe. Well, it’s not the same old Meralco building that
I visited years ago. I was paying my bills usually on bayad centers on malls so
it’s my first time to see the difference since they renovated the structure. My
most appreciated transformation here is their service. Now, they got many
counters to attend to their clients, both payers and inquiries alike. And that’s
what they call serbilis. They also had the energy counter on one corner, which displays
two aircons. I guess it tells you how to count/compute the energy used for
these two appliances, on which I don’t dare to care, haha… Right at the back of
the teller shows the murals that illustrate their services by showing smiling
people, etc. Nowadays, murals have always been used on malls, banks,
restaurants, and yes, even service centers. Actually, our office, a seafarer’s
manning agency had this too. A mural really creates a different aura to the
establishment it presents.
Anyway, back to Meralco, after paying
our bills, I decided to walk along Commonwealth Avenue going to Sandigan
footbridge. Since it’s just a few steps going there, I don’t sweat over that
small stuff (haha!). And here comes the footbridge… ahmm. It’s should have been
easy to climb that great stair if there’s shouldn’t have any obstruction to the
handles on the side. It’s just that there are several beggars on the side on
which I don’t know where I can hold and get the strength I needed to push
myself up. Omg, on panic, thinking I might lose my balance, and end up on the
bottom of the stairs, the last thing I remember is holding somebody beside me,
and told him, “Kuya, pahawak ha, kc hindi ako makaakyat eh!” My goodness! To my
shame, I don’t look to see the face of the man. I don’t know if he’s older or
younger than I am, if he’s good-looking or not. And worse, I haven’t thanked
him for his kindness! Aigoo…
After I crossed that overwhelming
footbridge, I took jeepney going to Cityhall for I had to renew my NBI
document. Arriving at 9am, I’m thinking I was early and confident I could get
my needed document within the day. But to my disappointment, when I asked the
guard, he told me that the cut-time for giving numbers (yeah, numbers for the
people they can serve/attend within the day) ended at 7am. And when I looked at
the queue of the applicants for NBI Clearance, woah…it is so long that the tail-end
almost reaches the Kalayaan Avenue (Philhealth Dept). Some people blab about
they’re being there even before the crack of dawn. Gosh… With no other option
left, I finally decided to go home. But wait, when I passed at Ever Mall early
that morning before going to Meralco, I noticed an ad at the front of the mall stating
they accommodate NBI Clearance processing. So I dropped at the said mall hoping
I could have my most sought after clearance. I went straight to the side
entrance (as the guard instructed), and joined the other “hopefuls.” Later on,
another guard attends to us and confirms what the other applicants told me. They
can accommodate only 500 pax within the day, and all the slots had already been
given. Waah…
I don’t know what else to do. I’m
tired to travelling back and forth, and I accomplished nothing. Sitting on a
bench, I tried to look at the stuff on my bag. Personal things, papers,
envelopes… yeah… On one envelope, I saw the application for POEA clearance (for
new LO) which I processed last week. I’m thinking maybe I can get it now. Why
not?! So I called the number scribbled on the back of the application letter to
confirm if it’s available this time around. And it was. Yay… So again, I took
the COA-Ikot jeepney queuing beside the mall to avoid the troubles of crossing
the footbridge. Then, I rode Ortigas-Ilalim bus going to POEA.
The travel took almost 2 hours, and I
reached my destination at 12:30nn. So I waited till 1pm to while away the
lunchbreak. I went to cafeteria to find a decent meal I can afford to buy, but
unfortunately my budget suits two hopia and a Big Plus juice which I bought on
the street-side stores outside the building. After finishing my hopia-meal, I
went to the 4th floor of the building. By the time I reached the location
of my purpose, the lunchbreak ends. But as what happens usually on government
offices, some staffs were not yet on their posts. Some were doing their
last-ditch hygienic activity (toothbrushing, hair-combing, etc.), and some were
trying to prolong the last minutes of breaktime by chit-chatting w/ fellow
employees. We’re in the Philippines so that’s normal. Lolz… Anyway, on me, I
think I waited another 10 minutes (wow! At least, that’s kind!) before I was
attended (of course, I was first on the line).
After getting my clearance on the
AIRB (Anti-Illegal Recruitment Bureau), I submitted it to the licensing
division together with the other needed documents. Upon checking the documents
I’ve passed, the clerk told me that the NBI lacks my thumbmark, returning all
the documents to me. Aw, where can I find that stamp pad?! Don’t know where to
go, I took the elevator going down to the ground floor. Ah, I think the man who
sells autoload, callcards, and offer fax services had it. So I went there, asks
for a P15 autoload, then I ask him if he has stamp pad. He directs me to the
ID/photo shop just in front of him. Gosh… I saw it but I was hesitant to
approach the man ‘coz I was thinking maybe his stamp pad’s for his customer’s use
only. With no other choice left, I moved toward him and ask shyly if I can dip
my thumb on the stamp. And he says, “Oo, cge!” with a smile. Then after I lay
my thumbmark on my NBI, he offers a rug to clean my thumb. Gosh again… I love you
na kuya! Bait mo, promise! Hahaha…
After thanking the super bait na kuya, I went to 4th floor again. On the
elevator, I found the ever-friendly ‘Nay Elvie, asking the elevator-lady. Her non-stop
question-answering-her-own-questions were, “May library tayo dito db?! Anong
floor ba ung library naten? Fifth floor db?! May ire-research kc ako eh!” I
don’t know if the elevator-lady knows her, but looking at her reaction, I don’t
think so. Hahaha… The lady half-heartedly answers, “Oo.” Nanay Elvie, not minding
if the latter answers her questions or not, turns to look around at us all.
Then she saw me, recognize me, and ask me what I am doing there. I told her I
need to give the papers to licensing division. Then we reach the fourth floor,
and she exits too. She also asks the guard for the location of the library.
Fifth floor. Now, she accompanies me to the receiving counter, where I’ve been
earlier. She told me to give the documents to the teller, so I did. The clerk
told me to follow-up the papers after 5 working days, which means I may get it
next week. Then we left the counter. ‘Nay Elvie told me that after they release
the clearance for those documents, her job is done. I heard the sorrow and regret
on the voice behind that statement. She holds this position for almost 10
years, and although she’s been a slackey one for this job, I know she loved
doing it too. I feel partly-sad, partly-glad to what she says. I admit I’m
happy that I will be having a source of income by doing this, but also sad ‘coz
I know somebody else will lose that source. ‘Though I know that this is just
one-part of her many sources, it will mean a great loss for her.
We part ways as she went to the 5th
floor while I went down to the ground floor. Sitting on the chairs allotted for
the applicants waiting for their turns, I texted Sir Noli and Ma’am Tess
regarding the status of my agenda. Finally, after waiting of no reply for
almost half an hour, I decided to go home. While crossing the Ortigas
footbridge going to the Fairview-Route bus, I received a text from M’Tess
saying she had my ordered shoes, and I may get it at the office in Kalaw. So I
said I’m coming to get it. I was about to do the labor-steps of the stairs when
I received another text from her, “Baka mahirapan ka, malayo pa un!” She was
aware of my difficulties in climbing the stairs of the MRT in Ortigas. When I
read it, okay, there’s next time! Besides, I’m really exhausted travelling,
climbing up and down to the stairs and footbridge the whole day. Gah. So I rode
the Fairview-routed bus, dropped me at the Riverside, then I took the tricycle
going home. I reach our home at 3:30pm. I ate my lunch and take a rest.
Haissttt… my feet and my legs are aching… A really tiring Monday!
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