Reason to Madness (update)
Posted under: 
I went back to the LTO today. I came at 8:30 AM. (They have a sign outside which says OFFICE HOURS ARE FROM 9 to 5 WEEKDAYS) I naturally expected to wait until 9 AM. I was standing in an already long line outside the office when I suddenly decided to check my phone. I noticed that it was 9:10 AM. After getting all the crap for missing out a few minutes yesterday, here they were opening the offices late. The hypocrisy was just outstanding. No wonder the Philippines and its people are in such dire straights right now.
When finally they do open the doors, the sudden thrush of people jostling for position inside the office was amazing. It was as if there was some unseen current urging people to just keep going in. I had my wits about me, so I entered the drug testing center instead and found that I was 2nd in line. Aside from the occasional idiots trying to cut in line and make things faster, the process was pretty ok. As long as you don’t get lost due to the stupidity of the signs and instructions. (Note to self: When someone from the LTO tells you to wait for your name to be called, it means you have to give your forms to the examining doctor/nurse AND THEN wait for your name to be called!) Aside from this minor hiccup things proceeded quickly. (Oh and you have to give a urine sample and pee while the door is open. Thank god, I don’t have a shy bladder!)
Back at the LTO office, I was the only one there. They have a glass wall which divides you from employees. I could clearly see that my form was the only one there. I have no idea why people then would take their time attending to the completion of verification of documents. Anyway, I was just happy to be almost done and sitting in an empty office. It took me 45 mins to actually get my license renewed. But here’s the catch, I had to know where I was going and get the forms the day before.
You see I hate standing in lines. Maybe its not a question of patience since I see myself as a pretty patient person. I would gladly wait if you tell me you are going to be late or will be arriving at a different time. But just being late without telling me is unforgivable. That is why I was so livid yesterday. How the hell should I know that cut-off is at 10:30 AM? It says business hours are from 9AM till 5PM.
Anyway, I’m glad to have my license back and add another piece of Identification card to my arsenal. (I’ve got my company Id, passport, and now my drivers’ license which is valid again.) I then bought a plastic cover for P20 just because my old one so dilapidated that it was literally disintegrating during the entire ordeal.
There is nothing quite like a harrowing experience of renewing your license to remind you that, ‘”hey welcome back to the Philippines!”
And welcome back indeed.
I wish I can tell you that things like these will change quickly but it never does even with progress in democratic countries. If you go to the US immigration department which I had, you will see the same problems you experience here. In major cities in US the DMV is also not that different. Similarly in Europe..