|
SEVENTY NINE May 18 - We don't know what to do , we just found out Alex is an alien
May 19 - Today was one of those days where mortal man battled 3rd world buracreacy. It was pretty funny but, you had to be there. The Storyline: When I shipped the scooter over from Dumaguete I somehow as is becoming a common occurrence misplaced my registration papers. This means the scooter is not legal to drive as there are no supporting documents for proof of ownersip coupled with tage that with recently expired tags. Anyway, I have some friends coming to visit on Wednesday and I need to have legal use of the scooter so today had to be the day to get things straightened out. So at around 12:00 noon Lynn and I went to the LTO (Land Transportation Office) the Philippine equivalent of the Drivers License Bureau. Our first problem came when the guard would not allow Lynn into the compound because she was wearing a halter top which is forbidden. You cannot allow your shoulders to be exposed. I went ahead and then she followed a bit later with a borrowed jacket to cover her exposed shoulders. Our first stop was the records department where they found my records on there only computer and gave us a copy. They told us to go odownstairs and see a lady in another section who then told us to get an emission test with the scooter. It was now 1:00pm. So we drive the Starex to the Scooter shop where the scooter was about to undergo some repairs. The shop is about 2 km away so not so bad. We then took the scooter to the emission test place just beside the LTO. The scooter passed and I then went back alone to the scooter shop and left the scooter once again. 2:00pm I then drive the Starex back to the LTO to get Lynn who told me we were not finished and that the lady now had us going to yet another LTO office to get a signature from one of the inspectors there. She also told me she almost got arrested for running into the LTO compound with the Halter top telling the guard to fuck off as she ran past him. That's my girl. I guess she couldn't find another top to borrow LOL. Itis now 2:15pm. So we drive to the other LTO office right by the SM mall about 5 km father away from town and meet with the inspector who would sign off on our form only to find out he also needed to see the scooter in order to sign off. I was laughing already and tired to convince the inspector by pleading with him to just sign the paper that the scooter was real. I even showed him a photo of the recent emmission test. NYET! He wouldn't have it. So I decide to leave the Starex there and just take a cab back to the scooter shop where I yet again get the scooter. It was now not more than one minute after leaving the shop that I get stopped by no less than 5 cops who accuse me of making an illegal U-turn. I told them they had to be kidding that there was no sign and they then gave me some bullshit reason about a yellow line that was in some handbook. What a crock. I dreaded the next question which of course was asking for my drivers license and registration. I started laughing and then explaind my situation of not having either (Lynn had my license) I told then I had to get back to the LTO to get the scooter inspected so I could get my new registration papers and the inspector had assured me that I would not have any problems with the cops. I begged them to follow me and they agreed. About half way back to the LTO office one of them said he believed me and to go on.They took off in a number of other directions. I arrive back to the LTO and the scooter gets inspected. It is now about 3:00pm. The inspection goes fine and we decide to leave the Starex there and to drive the scooter back to the main LTO to try and finally wrap things up. I drop off Lynn to finanlize this and I then drive for the 2nd time the scooter back to the shop. I then cab it back to the LTO where I see Lynn smiling. Oh no. Yes it's true it was a no go. I then go to the office where that lady was and she takes me into some office where an attorney for the LTO looks over my stuff and basically says they can't do it. It has to be done in Manila where I purchased and first registered the scooter back in 2005. I said frankly that this was bullshit and that had we spent the whole freakin day following this other ladies directions to get the registration replaced and renewed. She finally relented and said ok but we had to get insurance. I went back outside and Lynn and I were able to get insurance quick at on eof the many support businesses fronting the LTO. It is now 4:30pm. I get the insurance and go back into the LTO office Pay the cashier and amazingly 30 minute's later (just at the time they were closing) I get a new registration and a 2008 sticker for the scooter. Hooray!!! It
was now rush hour so we weren't able to find a cab to take us back
to the SM LTO office to get the Starex so we just took a jeepney.
I must admit it was not such a bad day despite the back and forth
with the scooter and was actually kinda funny dealing with the make
it up as you go along buracreacy here. It's what you call organized
chaos. I mean they still use typewriters LOL Things here will always
work themselves out in one way or another oftentimes in the form
of a bribe. Fortunately for us todays experience did not require
one single bribe. 2005
Home,
1a,1,
2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10,
11, |
