I had the [mis]fortune of trooping to the the Land Transportation Office (LTO Main) in Quezon City last Monday. I was to settle a fine on a very subjective violation called "swerving" and collect my most valued ID - my driver's license.
For females who are not of faint heart, bearing an ounce of street smartness and open to all sorts of adventures like myself, you would not mind at all heading to the LTO Compound by yourself. Otherwise, you better have a male companion tag along with you. Why so?
1. Lining up and submitting the ticket.
Upon entering the compound, you will encounter a long queue at the Administration and Settlements Office/ Building. The line - by a hands down majority - is dominated by male drivers. So these are the jeepney, bus, taxi, truck, van and professional drivers league.
The line extended outside the building. I found myself a bit down the corner of the ASO right smack at the morning sun's peak. Oh, before I forget, best if you brought an umbrella for shade and protection (both in the figurative and literal senses).
Admittedly, I got anxious - not for my safety - but more for the time that will be consumed in settling a minor traffic offense. I arrived a little after 11:00 a.m. I think.
Going back, if you are not comfortable in this crowd, do not panic if you are all alone. The guards periodically check for females lining up and immediately usher them inside the building. Why you might ask?
I discovered right then and there that WOMEN ARE GIVEN PRIORITY in the line. Yes. I shit you not.
I found myself seconds later inside an air-conditioned environment, told to get a number and be seated as my papers were being processed.
Okay, one inconvenience down.
2. Document Processing: the WAITING Game.
So noonee, noonee, noo ... checked my watch, "Oh no, it's almost 12:00 noon. They are definitely going to announce lunch break soon. Darn, another delay ... Hold on, why is that guy's paper's being released when I came earlier than him? I have a number to prove it."
I learned that the LTO does not follow numbers issued out. Yes, typical of our Philippine government offices. Makes you wonder why they issue numbers when they don't follow the sequence at all right?
It could probably be the volume of documents they have to process and each offense might vary in the level of paperwork needed to process it. That is how I would put it but then, it still smacks of INEFFICIENCY.
So what happened?
I just waited and prayed (two mysteries of the Holy Rosary). I was so surprised that they did not sound the lunch bell.
The LTO employees just continued processing and handing out documents. Some went on lunch breaks but still conducted work as they chowed their food right in front of us waiting crowd.
Shortly before 1230 pm, my name was called in FULL. (On a side, I have four names.) So just imagine the buzz I created (AS USUAL) with it.
As I approached the counter, I was handed my processed papers (together with a copy of the ticket I submitted from the apprehending officer) and was shortly interviewed about my name and my ancestral roots.
So what is the point of this second entry? Well, just SMILE, be GRACIOUS and ACCOMMODATING to these people - in spite of how things are being conducted in our own government offices. It is probably a treat for them to see a cute, charming and well-mannered yet bad-ass lady driver from a sea of typical male traffic offenders.
Carry this on throughout the day, I assure you, things will just move swiftly and in your favor as a female.
3. Settling the fine (at the speed of light).
I settled my fine at a whopping PhP1200+ and was issued an official receipt right then and there at Window 9. ( I was advised by my cousin, who is a lawyer, that it was just less than PhP500 for swerving. Guess not.)
Soon after, I was instructed to head to another building to attend a lecture and undergo a written examination. I had twenty minutes to spare before 1:00 pm. FYI: the lecture and exam is always scheduled every two hours (8am to 10am, 10am to 12nn, 1pm to 3pm, and 3pm to 5pm).
As I registered my name at the lobby, the guard told me that I would need a ballpen. Since I left my own in my car (which I parked in a friend's residence, not far from LTO to save me the hassle of parking in its uh, confusing, compound), I had to purchase one at PhP10! (Sigh ...)
Lesson: ALWAYS BRING A PEN. No matter what.
4. The LTO Driver Lecture and Exam.
Tip: Remember the things taught to you in driving school and use a lot of LOGIC.
That is the coverage of the written test. If you did not undergo driving in a licensed driving school or your personal driver did not disclose anything essential about driving, you will be in deep shit.
It is a 60-item exam and the passing score is 45. You also have the option of taking the exam in English or in Tagalog.
By the way, women are segregated from the men in the classroom. Yep. All men up the front of the classroom and women at the back.
There's a male proctor assigned specifically to handle the male crowd and another male one to uh, care for the minority of females.
Here, as a female, you are still treated with respect and provided assistance in case you don't understand examination instructions.
Plus, since you are a minority, test papers are checked on the spot, you are given time to review the items marked as mistakes and the passing scores are submitted to issue a certification that you have undergone a short rehabilitation course in driving.
AND, you get a FREE souvenir from the LTO: a handbook on driving. Everything you need to know - offenses and corresponding fines, traffics signs, etc. All the works.
Plus the next time I get apprehended, I was advised by my proctor to haggle it to a lower offense like "obstruction". Hmm ... okay.
5. Homerun.
Last step for this grueling day is for you to collect the much valued driver's license.
As soon as I got my certification, I took my proctor's advise of scooting out of the classroom immediately so I can redeem my license early.
Let me digress a bit, after the examination, we were asked to watch an AV video of the LTO and all you need to know about driving here in the Philippines. When it ended, the men were asked to march to the second floor of the building while we girls (we were three) were asked to stay behind.
I cannot recall why but my guess is that it might be a fraternal thing. I don't know, there might be an initiation of some sort for male traffic offenders. *SHRUG*
Going back, I went back to the ASO (second floor) and submitted my certification. True enough, as I sat down to wait for my name to be called out, my male "classmates" came barging in and the hall was immediately filled.
Minutes later, my name was called out and I got my most precious driver's license back.
What time did my day at the LTO end? A little before 3:30pm. Not bad.
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