Standing in Line

Everywhere you go in Cebu you have to stand in line. We went to the immigration office on Monday to renew our Visas. I failed to do enough research about the process. We stood in line to get a forms to fill out for the renewal. After filling out the forms, we stood in line again to give them to the man at the window. He informed us that we needed to make copies of our passports. Funny how he didn't mention that to us when he gave us the forms. So Jill went up stairs and waited in line to copy the visas, while I got in the window line again and finished filling out the forms - see how smart I am. Once we turned the items in, we received a number. Yet, this time we didn't have to wait in line - just wait. After 40 minutes, our number was called to go and pay. Come to find out I had estimated the cost wrong and was 8000 pesos short, or $200.

So I asked if there was a ATM close by. "Sure, just 3 blocks from here," someone said gladly. Leaving my family behind, I ran out the door thinking this would be a quick run to the bank. After running a block the size of the blocks on the Vegas strip, I got a ride on a motor tricycle. Luckily I did because the bank was 3 blocks away, but two down the street and one block over - no one mentioned that. After searching for the bank, I had to search because the tricycle guy dropped me off at the wrong place and didn't bother telling me where the bank was, he just pointed with his lips down a street - the wrong street - I waited in line to use the ATM. The security guard said that my card wouldn't work there and that I had to go to another bank. He suggested a bank two blocks away and so I ran there. I found that bank and waited in line to speak to the teller.
"Where is your ATM machine?" I asked.
"Outside, but it is broken this morning." He answered.

So I decided to run back to the previous bank just to give the ATM a try. I waited in line and gave it a try. It didn't work. So I asked the security guard for another bank reference. He pointed me down another street about 3 blocks away. When I found that bank there was . . . you guessed it, a huge line waiting to use the machine. I was going to wait in the line, but noticed a sign on the ATM door that said, "Machine Temporarily Unavailable." The Internet must have been down in the area.

Now, beyond frustration, I went back to the immigration office and sent my family home in a taxi to keep them from destroying the place after waiting over two hours. Our entire morning was ruined.

To find a bank, I went to the major mall - SM. When I walked in the mall there was a huge line that ran throughout the mall. I assumed that one of the department stores was hiring because everyone had papers that they were filling out. There had to have been more than 20,000 people in line. No exaggeration. The line looped through the entire mall which is about the size of 2 1/2 Fashion Place Malls.

I found an ATM that worked and got my money.

While in the mall I decided to go apply for a 2nd internet line and phone line at Globelines. When I walked into the store they gave me a number - another line just to talk to a sales rep. I waited 45 minutes which was not so bad because Mr. Bean was on the TV. I don't know what was more fun to watch, Mr. Bean or the Filipinos watching Mr. Bean. It was quite entertaining. When my number was called the nice gal gave me an application and said to fill it out and bring it back later. - What?! I couldn't turn it in now because I don't have a ACR number, or in other words I am a foreigner. I will have to get my landlord to put the lines in for me.

Before I headed back to the immigration office I went down to the food court and saw the big line again, but this time it was the start of the line. This is what I saw:

Sorry about the photo, it was my cell phone. It says "Survivor Philippines." The 20,000 people were waiting in line to apply for the popular Survivor television show Filipino style. I had to laugh! I guess some things are worth waiting in line for.

In the end, I returned to the immigration office and paid the money for our passports. I waited again for another 30 minutes for them to stamp and record the passports. If I wanted to, I could have left the passports and returned in two weeks to get them. My day was already shot, so 30 more minutes was nothing. This time I was smiling watching all the other Americans go through the frustrating process of standing in line.