Friday Madness: My Most Productive Day Off so Far

Hello Steemian friends!

I simply want to share with all of you some lessons I learned today, Friday (here in the Philippines) which is also my Day Off from work. So far this has been my most productive off. In a week, I work for 6 days including Saturdays and Sundays so getting the most out of my 1 Day Rest Day is actually a great thing. I will make this like a diary style with timeline and all of that to make this interesting haha.

6:30 AM - 7:00 AM
I woke up really early today because I have to go to our city's public hospital for a check-up with their OB-Gyne. Actually, I wake up at 6:30 AM everyday to go to work but for my Days off I usually roll out of bed at 8 AM or 9 AM or Margo, my first child, wakes me up by throwing his feeding bottle at my face (which serves as an alarm) 😂. Took a bath, look for the documents I needed and went out to commute.

You might be wondering why the check-up is very early. Well, since it is a community hospital clinic they only accept 20 pregnant woman for the check-up everyday. The nurse hands out numbers 1-20 at 8AM so I have to be there before the designated time. The clinic also has some rules such as bringing a valid Government ID that proves you are a resident in the city, a dress or skirt is the only attire allowed and, photocopy of all the lab results, ultrasound and other needed documents for the doctor to see. Although I have a private OB-Gyne, I want to give birth at the city hospital because it is more cheaper.

7:00 AM - 7:30 AM
Travel Time from Home to Biñan City Hospital.

7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Bummer, upon arriving I saw an announcement that says "NO OB CLINIC ON DECEMBER 1, 2017 (FRIDAY)." So this means my hard work to wake up early is for nothing... But of course, I don't want my day to stop there so I have to do some errands earlier than usual. I let out a sigh and went back home first.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Margo is already awake and asked to watch Wreck it Ralph in the laptop. He loves the animated movie so much that we have to watch it every night before sleeping. I swear I have memorized the characters’ line now. After watching maybe for 10 minutes, I told him we need to head out and stay at his grandmother's house which is the first house at the entrance of our compound. We ate their and I let him stay with his grandma because I have to go to the nearest Cebuana Lhuillier (a local pawnshop).

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM
I arrived at Cebuana Lhuillier and asked the male teller to check if my father already received my remittance. He said no so I asked if I could refund it since I cannot contact my father's mobile numbers and there is a possibility that his phone got lost or stolen since all of his numbers are unattended. TIP: Don't throw away the receipt stub unless you're sure the receiver already received the amount.

I already threw away the receipt stub so the next best thing to do is to get an Affidavit of Loss. Good thing our city offers free notary and attorney service so I don't need to shell out money to get the affidavit.

9:20 AM - 12:30 PM
I rode a jeep and a tricycle going to our city hall and from there I was greeted by the receptionist asking where will I go. I told her I will be needing an Affidavit of Loss and then she asked for a cedula. I was dumbfounded because I didn't know cedula is needed to get an Affidavit of Loss. I think it's a good thing that I'm pregnant right now because she just asked for my ID then led me straight to the office haha. If I have to go back again because of the cedula I would have just leave and not come back anymore.

The staff in our city hall was very friendly and helpful. The details that are needed for the affidavit were the name of the pawnshop, address of Cebuana Lhuillier, reference number, name of sender, name of receiver, date of remittance, date when I found out that I have lost the receipt and amount. I was asked to photocopy the affidavit where I only paid PHP 10.00 for the five copies (2.00 each). It was an easy process but only took long because there are many people being processed.

Total spent was PHP 46.00 or $0.94 (fare and photocopy).

12:30 PM - 12:50 PM
Went straight to Cebuana Lhuillier then I was asked to fill out a new form again making myself the sender and receiver. I remitted PHP 2,000.00 and got my refund real quick!

Note: For refunds, you can only get the amount you have sent, not including the remittance fee you paid for.

12:50 PM - 1:30 PM
Woah! I haven't taken my lunch yet so I texted my hubby-partner if he had already eaten his lunch. He replied that I can join him in his lunch break as somehow they are on flexi-time schedule (which I envy the most in his work). We ate together with his co-workers then I headed to SM Santa Rosa Mall to deposit our savings.

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Travel Time from Balibago, Complex to SM Santa Rosa Mall

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
You can't imagine how shocked I am when I arrived at BDO bank to cash deposit our savings through their machine. What should have taken only 2 minutes took me 2 hours because of the long line plus the staff where fixing the machine while taking out money from the machine. I was not able to capture the scene because phones weren't allowed to be used inside banks. Yes, I was standing the whole time they were fixing the machine even though I am nearing my 8 months of pregnancy (which means heavier tummy) because no sits were available and, honestly, no one really offered their sit for me.

The only person who really offered me to sit down was the guard on duty but I was already the next person to deposit so I decline. Still, I am thankful for the thoughtful guard.

4:00 PM - 4:40 PM
I don't know what's up with long lines and Fridays but it is getting in my nerves. I want to take home a meal of burger with fries from McDonalds and guess what? I have to fall in line again! Ugh, this is super tiring that after getting my order I dashed out the mall and rode a jeepney heading home.

4:40 PM
Home Sweet Home.
Very tiring day indeed.

So, here are the things I learned today:

1. Call first the hospital to inquire if there will be a check-up a day before. This saves time and effort and disappointment.
2. Always call or text the receiver first to let him or her know you are going to transmit the money. My mistake was after I texted my father the details, I didn't follow-up not until a week after which is today. Call first to inform him then call again to confirm if he has received the remittance.
3. Always bring a valid Government ID wherever you go (a must!). No one told me a Valid ID is also needed when getting an affidavit so good thing I always carry one but it would be great if you have at least 2 IDs in your bag.
4. You need to get a cedula for an Affidavit of Loss. A cedula cost PHP 50.00. Get one in your baranggay before heading to the city hall.
5. Always keep receipts especially if it's remittance.
6. Always have a lot of patience wherever you go.

So there! Thank you for reading and I hope you learned something from my crazy productive day!

Note: Hidden are my personal details.

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