Easy Step by Step Guide on How to Renew a Passport from the DFA

Even if we don't intend to travel, its better to always have a passport at hand.  So when my passport got expired, I had to go to the DFA to renew it.  This was my first time to renew.  To familiarize you with the process, I made this simple guide.

Step 1: Go to http://dfa.gov.ph > Consular Services > Make an appointment 

Step 2: Go to Gate 2 around 30 minutes before your scheduled date and time of appointment 

• Bring the following:


• Print the Email from your appointment on a long bond paper

Photocopy inside DFA is 3 php/page

• Photocopy Your Old Passport (front and back)


• Bring birth certificate (if you have foreign sounding surname)


• The guard requires you to present these documents upon entry

Step 3: Go to the Appointment Verification Desk and have your documents verified and stamped.

Step 4: Look for your scheduled time and fall in line by the benches.

Step 5: Once your schedule time batch is called, enter the processing area. (Note: schedule time is posted by the door so you'll know if its your turn to enter)

• You will be asked to sign in and your documents will be inspected after which you will be issued an invoice.

Step 6: Wait until you get your chance to sit on the front row and the guard will assign you to the number of a vacant counter.

Step 7: After exiting the processing area, go to the next entrance and proceed to the second floor. 

Step 8: Give your invoice to the cashier and pay the passport fee. (950 php without delivery)

Step 9: Approach the personnel giving your queue number and wait for your number to be assigned to an encoding officer as shown by the monitor.  (NOTE: This may take hours of waiting)

watch the screen

Check where the assigned officer is in this board

Final Step: Approach the encoding officer, hand over your receipt, smile on the camera and place your thumb mark on the thumb mark scanner.

That's it!  Just await for your passport or pick it up on the given date of pick-up.  Hope this helps!=)

My Impression on the new Google Plus (+) [pics] FREE invites

Previously Google has released its Google Friend Connect, Google Reader, Google Cloud Connect, Google Buzz and Google Wave.  Now, it just launched something bigger, its social media network called Google +.  It is currently on field trial and by invites only.  It's available for both android and mobile too.

      So what to look forward in Google +?

• Design 
• Clean and neat but maybe too clean?
• The toolbar on top is pretty handy
• The search bar is pretty cool search through Google profiles, Web pages and Images
• User-Interface
• I find it difficult to adapt.  I even had to find out how to invite friends.
• Features:
• Stream -similar to Facebook status/comment
• Limited - According to the description: "If you initiated a post in the stream, clicking Limited at the top of that post will show you the profile pictures of everyone you shared with. Only the person who started the post can see this information. If you chose to share with your extended circles in addition to other people, clicking Limited will only show that you shared with your extended circles--specific people won't be identified."
• Edit Post - you can edit post and it will displayed  (edited x:xx PM)

•  Photos -sorted accordingly for easy viewing:
• Photos from your circles
• Photos from your phone
• Photos of you
• Your album - my blogger photos showed up here

•  Profile
• Posts
• About
• Google Maps integrated in places lived
• Photos
• Tagging
• See Photo details - flips your photo so you can see the photo details
• Video's
• +1 - Your +1's appear here. +1 the things around the web you like, agree with, or want to recommend to others (similar to Facebook's Like)

•  Circles - you can create groups called "Circles" and Drag-and-Drop your friends inside it.  Through this we can control and limit our privacy.
• Friends
• Family
• Acquaintances
• Following

• Sparks - be updated regarding contents of your interest (Like an automatic Google Reader filtered by interest)
• Hangouts - Virtual Voice and Video Chat Room (Requires Google Voice and Video Chat Plugin)
• You're webcam and mic will automatically be activated 
• You can select the friends to invite for your hang out
• Clicking the green "Hang Out" button transport you to the hang out page
• Once you go into Hangout:
• You're stream will show "your name is hanging out" below it is a button that says "Join this Hangout"
• You can chat with friends
• You can watch You Tube videos
• Notification - updates you on who invited you and who commented something related to your post or comment.  I find this too complicated and confusing.  It extends into mini windows on the upper right of the screen until you get lost where you are.  It would be better if it just directs you where the updates are instead of opening a new one through that small window.  
• Post Functions: 
• Mute this post -hide
• Report Abuse - same with Facebook's
• Block this person - same with Facebook's
• Chat - similar to Facebook's Chat
• Suggestions - same as Facebook's Suggestions

         Overall, I'd say its pretty neat start.  But could use an improvement on the user-interface or they could provide more instructions, description and guides.  It's success also depends on the how well it will integrated with other mediums like Web Pages, Twitter and more because its greatest competitor Facebook has already surpassed that.   It would also be cool if it would have notifications from other Google apps like Google mail and Blogger.  I hope they will also offer apps like games,groups,docs,events, poll, discussion, notes and more?  It pretty bare right now so we'll just have to wait and see what they can offer next.

How about you?  What do you think?

Group buying, Collective buying and Coupon deals Ultimate Guide

Group buying, collective buying and coupon deals websites have boomed after it was pioneered by Groupon.  Here are some tips to aid you in choosing the right deals for you.

List of Group buying, collective buying and coupon deals sites in the Philippines:

 

                                                       

Add me as a friend bliss_stacy888(at)yahoo.com

Note: Malware warning when using Chrome

How to evaluate coupon deals:

1. Know the product being sold and the establishment offering them - Coupon Deals can be good or bad so its better to check as much as you can

• This is very important!  Let me share our previous experience: (will add more as time passes)


• Mingoy's Restaurante from Cash Cash Pinoy (see separate entry)


• Mickey's Delicatessen (closed down issue) from Cash Cash Pinoy (see separate entry)


• Some items are being sold at a minimum of 50% off may be enticing but do check if the discount is really seasonal.  Like a nearby salon that has been handing out a 50% off promo for the past 6 months!


• Check the industry standard for the price.  For example a nail spa may normally cost 200 php.  When you see a deal at 80% off but amounting to 500 php then you're not saving but instead you're spending more.  Unless you really know or prefer that brand, better do more research first if its worth it.

     2.  Check its claiming policy.

• It might provide for a specific date or time which you are not able to meet. 


• It might exclude items you want to purchase.

      3.  Only go for verified coupon sites.  Regardless whether the deal is tempting.

      4.  Take note of the whether the quantity is limited and if not the time left to purchase so that
           you know how much time you have to consider the deal.

           NOTE: Most sites update every midnight but special deals may pop out any time of the
                       day.  Some sites do not offer their deals daily.

      5. Check the payment method to see if you are able to choose any of them.

How to interpret Coupon Deals

1. Check how many purchased to know if the product is good or bad, popular or unpopular and woth it or not.

Use consolidating sites if your out of time like:

http://kuripons.com/metro-manila/
http://www.dealies.ph/group-buying/
http://www.alldealsasia.com/deals/philippines - Shows how many have purchased
http://frugalpanda.ph/ - Great Categories
http://ph-deals.com/


*There are also updates in marketing sites like: 
http://everythinginbudget.blogspot.com

NOTE: may be:

• Incomplete


• Delayed

Try to purchase in local currency to avoid foreign exchange rate losses because foreign exchange rates are usually understated.  

• For example: Although I can avail of 7% discount on my purchase by using my virtual card, I may lose more because of the low foreign exchange rate.  Try and compare each time and see which is the better option.  Problem is you may not know what the rate of exchange the banks will use during the time of purchase.

Keep track of all your coupon purchases to ensure all are claimed before expiry.


To earn more credits, most coupon sites give incentives when you refer a friend.


If you think you cannot claim your coupon, you can still sell them here:
http://www.facebook.com/couponsexchangephil