How To Apply for an NBI Clearance Online?

If you are in need of an NBI clearance right away, worry no more because the process is now automated and the pre-registration is all done online.

Just a brief background, before, once you arrive at the NBI office, you will fall in line for a couple of hours then you have to do the registration manually on paper. That'll will take time. And if that is not enough, you will still have to wait another couple of hours to see if you have a "hit". A hit means that some parts of your name or your full name have a match with another individual which has a criminal record. That means, you will still need to wait a week so that NBI can clear your name and you your clearance. You will dedicated a day or if you have hit, two days. Hassle huh?

Well, luckily it is less of a hassle now because the registration is done online. You will sign up in the NBI site entering your personal information and plot a schedule in your preferred branch. This way, before you go to the branch, a "hit" can be searched beforehand. Although, the falling in line part will still take around 2 hours.

Note: You can't apply for a clearance now without an appointment made online.

To apply for a clearance, follow these steps.

1. Proceed to https://nbi-clearance.com/ . The website looks like the below image, if not, do not proceed. Some sites copy government websites to just get your personal information.

2. Register.
3. Log-in.
4. Your profile is displayed. Check if your information are correct. If not, click the Edit Information. If all are correct, click the Apply Clearance.

5. Select a branch.
6. Select a schedule.
7. Select a payment option, then pay your clearance for P115.00. Once your payment is paid, proceed to Transaction.

8. Click Details and print your application form and bring it to the branch of your choice with your valid ID.
9. If you don't have a hit, you will get your clearance the same day.

How To Get Your Airfare for Half the Price?

Free stuff! Who doesn't want one, right? If you can get half of the airfare price for free, that is a chance you should not pass. But would you be able to do that exactly?

Disclamer: I am not a Credit Card promoter/agent or whatever. If you are interested, contact the bank or there are so many agents promoting in malls. Just make sure it is a Cashback or Rewards type of card.

Almost a year ago, I changed the way I look at a credit card. It's not credit for me, it is POINTS. I use it not to buy things that so expensive that I "needed" to borrow money, I use it to pay regular bills that I will pay for anyway in cash or at the bank. In this way, I earn so much points monthly without going out of my budget because, IT IS MY BUDGET.

If you want to know more about this habit that I have adapted, proceed here. I am using a Rewards Card from Citibank and so far, I have accumulated 53,000+ in one year! Because of this, I have booked a flight to Korea for about PHP 6,000 instead of  PHP 12,000 (with tax). And note that, I booked this only 3 weeks before that actual flight.

If you are interested for a packaged tour in Seoul, South Korea, Trazy.com is a good source for discounted tours!

How To Study and Live in New Zealand?

Education is an investment you will never go bankrupt in, especially is it is taken in a country with high standards. Having an education taken up abroad is a really big plus on your resume and also on your personal development.

Here are the steps explained simply:

Step 1. Decide what you want to study. 

Note that the course you should take should be relevant to your background. Meaning, your educational background and experience should be connected because immigration would likely refuse to give you a student visa.

For example, you have a health related degree in your country, it is unlikely that you will be approved by immigration. Technically, you can apply, you just need to justify the career switch. Some acceptable reasons are you already made the career switch in your country (you should provide proof for this like Certificate of Employment in that line of work) or you are inheriting a business and you need the education to manage it.

Step 2. Look for schools that offer your target course.

The universities in New Zealand are much more expensive than other type of schools such as polytechnics and private schools. Usually, their websites provide enough information on the their offered courses. While you are at their website, you should also check the required IELTS band score for their admission.

You should also check with NZQA about the school standing you are interested in. You should target an education provider with 1 or 2 rating.

Step 3. Take and pass IELTS.

Most of the schools in New Zealand require a minimum band score of 6.0 which is relatively lower than other countries. You may opt to review in a facility like http://ninerreview.blogspot.com/ or do a self-review.

Step 4. Apply for the school and complete your requirements.

There are multiple educational agencies that offer their counseling and assistance for this but you can do this by yourself. However, it it better to have assistance from people who have ample knowledge about this stuff. Requirements usually include Transcript of Records, Diploma, Birth Certificate, and Passport.

Step 5. Process your student visa.

Once you've accepted the letter of admission from the school you are entering, you can now start applying fr your visa. Your Statement of Funds is an important factor here. You should have enough funds to cover the tuition and living costs. There are scholarships available however, some of these require the scholar to go back to their country for two years after schooling. If education is you only target, this is prefect for you but if you are aiming for migration, you might want to pass on this one.

Step 6. Go study!

NOTE: These information above are the ones I've learned while attending seminars and inquiring immigration. I am no expert on this.
Goodluck! For any concerns, just drop a comment below.

How To Go To Bonifacio Global City From Ayala Using The Fort Bus?

There is a  'BGC Bus' Terminal at Ayala-EDSA corner. You can buy a single ticket at teh ticket booth or buy a Tap BGC card for P150.

For more information  about the routes, visit BGC site:
http://bgc.com.ph/maps-and-guides-in-bgc/files/

How To Use GrabTaxi / GrabCar?

An app for social good, that is what GrabTaxi app is. (Although, in my theory this is the cause of the spike in traffic in the Metro because of the high number in car investments as business). A user must first download the GrabTaxi app in Playstore or in Apple Store.

There are four types of services this app offers:

• GrabTaxi
• Grab Express (not yet deployed)
• GrabCar (Sedan)
• GrabCar (Premium)

GrabTaxi

GrabTaxi is a service used by already existing cab companies. To book:

Step 1. Open the app. Make sure that your location services or GPS in enabled.

Step 2. Select GrabTaxi in the option below.

Step 3. Select your Pick up Point and your Destination. Pick-up point is usually automatically detected based on your location but you can customize it by tapping the Pick-up part of the screen.

Step 4. Select the Next arrow icon. Enter Notes to Driver (optional) and Promo Code (optional). Your estimated fare will be displayed also.

Step 5. Tap 'BOOK GRABTAXI' and wait until a driver is assigned to you.


GrabCar (Sedan)

Repeat the steps above but instead of selecting GrabTaxi at the bottom, select GrabCar (Sedan).

GrabCar (Premium)

[Under Construction]


You can always view your History in the upper left part of the screen.

Hope this helps in your public transportation lives!

How To Eat An Onigiri From A Japanese Convinience Store?

When you go to Japan, it seems that everyone is on hurry. And by that comes food in which you can eat in hurry, especially when you are on sightseeing and you want to maximize every second of your trip.

Worry no more because Japan has lot to offer when it comes to instant foods. Every block, you can spot a convinience store called "combini" in Japanese in where you can buy from chips to rice meals.

One of the most popular food in Japan is the Onigiri. They even have a special lunch bag shaped just for this meal. It is a rice shaped like a triangle with different viands inside it. It is wrapped in seaweed and then sealed by a plastic.

It is a little confusing on how to open it in a way that you dont mess up the seaweed wrapping around it. Instructions are written below.

But for further demo, here's how:

1. Peel of the part where number "1" is written. Usually, it is the top part.

2. Go all the way down and around the back until you peel off a strip in the middle part.

3. Pull off the sides labeled "2" and "3".

4. Take a bite and enjoy! I recommed Tuna Mayo Onigiri! :)

How To Commute To Laguna From EDSA Using Public Tranport (Bus)?

There are numerous bus terminals in EDSA that can take you to Laguna. This post is specifically for commuters who would like to go to Calamba, Laguna or to Pansol, Laguna.

From EDSA, ride a bus bearing Calamba, Lucena, Lipa, or Batangas signboard. You can opt to ride a bus parked inside a terminal which waits for passengers or just wait by the side of the highway and hail one. Once inside, tell the conductor, you wish to be dropped by Turbina.

Upon reaching Turbina, cross the road to ride a jeepney bearing SM Calamba/Crossing signboard. You can ask the driver to drop you off at SM Calamba since it is the most known and safest place for tourist to start with.

There are many tricycles parked there that can take you to famous locations in the place (Rizal's Residence, Pasol Hot Springs). The fare is only P20 minimum if I am not mistaken.

Enjoy the travel and adventure! :)

How To Commute To Manila From Tagaytay Using Public Transport (Bus)?

There are numerous bus passing Aguinaldo Highway which is the main road in Tagaytay. If you would like to be dropped off at Buendia, take the bus with Taft LRT Buendia signboard. While, if you would like to be dropped off at Cubao or anywhere along EDSA that is along the way to Cubao, take the bus bearing Kamias Cubao signboard.

The fare will not exceed a hundred pesos. Travel time will be a little bit longer compared when you take a private vehicle since the bus passes through Cavite instead.

Good luck and enjoy! :)

How To Commute To Tagaytay From EDSA Using Public Transport (Bus)?

There are buses parked in EDSA Pasay Rotonda that has the sign board Olivarez, Tagaytay. Those are the bus you'd want to ride. There are ordinary and air-conditioned buses available. The fare doesn't exceed Php 100.00. 

However, the travel is a little bit longer compared when you would hire a private vehicle because the route is different. The shorter route is through SLEX and the bus takes the Cavite route instead. It would  take approximately 3 hours to get to Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay.

When the conductor asks you your destination, tell him Olivares. Upon arriving Olivares, they would should it immediately, you just need to keep an open ear for that announcement.

The way back to Manila!

Good luck and enjoy Tagaytay! :)
For further inquiries regarding Tagaytay trips, just put up a comment below.