ONE SMELL AT A TIME

If only I had the money to splurge on bottles of perfume, I would be getting myself these:

CLINIQUE HAPPY

VERSACE BRIGHT CRYSTAL

LANVIN ECLAT D’ARPEGE

BURBERRY SPORT

DKNY BE DELICIOUS

and UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON BODY MIST

While typing this, I couldn’t help but…

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• dream
• perfumecollection

HOW TO: APPLYING FOR THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS (L.E.T.)

This post is meant to help out those who will be applying for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (a.k.a. LET). I have never worked in PRC so expect that the guidelines are based from what I experienced this afternoon. You know, applying alone is quite difficult. It is better if you apply with a friend. I’ve talked to a lot of people just to know where I should proceed next.

Anyway, let’s begin with the guidelines, shall we?

TIME
Time I was in PRC: 11:26 A.M.
Time I left PRC: 3:24 P.M.

WHAT TO EXPECT/BRING?

1. LINES. Lots n’ lots of looooooooooooooooong lines. You better have leg strength to survive the application process. You know our government agencies, right?

2. HUNGER. Better have snacks with you since the looooooooooooooooong lines will drain your stomach. I was unlucky that I didn’t have any grub with me. Good thing my body endured this!

3. NEW-FOUND ACQUAINTANCES. Yes. Expect that someone will approach you and ask if you’re a first-timer, if you’re already teaching blah blah blah. After knowing 3/4 of your life, he/she will begin to give you advices about the LET. You’ll have an instant mini seminar on test-taking strategies. How convenient!

4. PEN. Okay, you know what this is for, right?

5. GLUE or STAPLER. You will be sticking or stapling one of your 2x2 pictures in one of their documents.

6. *This is optional* STAMP PAD. Stamp pads are found within the area but it’s like gold being “stolen” and never seen.

BEFORE HEADING TO PRC.

1. Before you go to PRC, make sure that all of your requirements are complete. They would be looking for your:

• Original Transcript of Records (For Board Purposes)
• Original copy of your NSO Birth Certificate
• Original copy of your Cedula.
• Two passport-size pictures with name tag.

2. For the original copies, prepare a photocopy of each of those. They will be checking these after they assess your documents.

3. Make sure that you have already accomplished the online application. Life would be easier if you do this before going there! How I wish that all of the application thingies of the government would be virtual. Click here.

4. Passport-size pictures! I highly suggest that you have your pictures taken outside of PRC. Yes, the ones inside PRC may promise you “1-minute” printing but a lot of people are having their pictures taken there - so that means looooooooooooooooong lines for you and moooooooooooooore time spent unwisely. I had my picture taken at Fujifilm. The package I got costs 275php. It includes eight 1x1 pictures, six 2x2 pictures and six passport-size pictures with name tag. The good thing about Fujifilm is that they store your photo for six months, meaning, you can have it reprinted within that span of time.



5. Wear breathable and comfortable clothes. It’s a bit humid in the area though there are aircon units inside the rooms. I am not sure if shorts are allowed, but I saw several people werkin’ dem short shorts inside. To be safe, just wear a plain shirt and a good pair of jeans.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
*DISCLAIMER: The application system may differ depending on the number of PRC employees present or the number of those who are applying. The windows where you will be proceeding may change too. Some of my friends who applied weeks ago proceeded to windows which were different from where I went to.

1. On the FIRST FLOOR, look for WINDOW M. In this window you will be claiming a documentary stamp. The DS costs 21php. The window says that you must pay in exact amount but who cares, right? With the thousands of people who paid, don’t they have enough money for change? Anyhoo, you will not receive your stamp yet. You will be given a receipt instead. Keep this. Keep this carefully.
*TIME I WAS IN THE  LINE: 11:31 AM
*TIME I WAS OUT OF THE LINE: 12:00 NN

2. I suggest that right after Window M, go to WINDOW T to buy your metered envelope. It costs the same with the documentary stamp. No line here! :)

3. Now the exhausting part. Let’s start from here. STEP 1:Go to the THIRD FLOOR and proceed inside the room for professional teachers. Locate WINDOW 11 for the assessment of your requirements. Now this is where the looooooooooooooooong-line-mania begins. Stretch dem legs! Prepare your requirements here - all the originals and photocopies. Now, one of the employees might announce to drop one of your 2x2 pictures in the box found at Window ___. In our case, we dropped our pictures at window 13.
*TIME I WAS IN THE  LINE: 12:15 PM
*TIME I WAS OUT OF THE LINE: 1:35 PM



4. STEP 2: Once you are cleared with your requirements, you will be given a card. Fill in the necessary info in the card and paste your last passport-size picture where it needs to pasted. Have your thumbmark stamped on the space provided. Aside from the card, the photocopied documents will be returned to you with a number written on it. Proceed to WINDOW 14. I’m sorry but the looooooooooooooooong line doesn’t end in Window 11. Present the card and the photocopied documents that you have received from Window 11. They will now print your application that you have filled in online. This takes awhile since they have to check if you did the online application.
*TIME I WAS IN THE  LINE: 1:35 PM
*TIME I WAS OUT OF THE LINE: 2:16 PM



Once you are successful, go to the cashier for the payment.

5. STEP 3: Now this is tricky. You may be fooled by the wide gap between the benches and the cashier windows. You may think that there’s no line and the people seated are just resting. NO! Ask where the tail of the line ends or else you might get a “boo” from the impatient crowd. There was a couple who went to the cashier windows without knowing where the line is. They were bashed by the people like they were criminals who deserved to be crucified.



The line here moves quite fast. As a matter of fact, you wouldn’t savor your seat because you keep moving after a minute or two. I guess this is more tiring than standing for a long time. 

The fee that you will be paying costs 900php. Again, they will ask for an exact amount but I’m rich. I only carry 1000php bills with me. Haha! Just kidding.
*TIME I WAS IN THE  LINE: 2:17 PM
*TIME I WAS OUT OF THE LINE: 3:04 PM

6. STEP 4: Go to WINDOW 15 to claim your NOA or Notice of Admission. Present the card, the photocopied documents, the receipt of the documentary stamp and the receipt for the 900php application fee. They will print your NOA and that’s it! You’re ready to take the exam on the 29th of September.
*TIME I WAS IN THE  LINE: 3:05 PM
*TIME I WAS OUT OF THE LINE: 3:24 PM



At the end of the day, these are the papers that should be with you:



Metered Envelope, NOA and the receipt for the application fee

The application process can really drain your energy out! So after claiming these papers, treat yourself with a Fully-Loaded Meal + large fries at KFC. Well, that’s what I did. I had my lunch late! Perhaps I could have avoided the looooooooooooooooong lines if I went earlier. My final tip, go there in the morning! Do as I say, not as I do. 

FINAL THOUGHT: As I was observing the looooooooooooooooong lines, I couldn’t help but ponder on how the Philippines is enduring a long line towards economic growth and development. I wonder where we are now. Pang-ilan na kaya tayo sa linya? Malapit na kaya tayo? 

Now we know what to do on May 13. Vote for the most competent people who will make the line to success shorter and faster.

*A gargantuan thanks to Stella for giving me tips on what to expect at PRC.

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