T&J Weds: Getting a License at the Mandaluyong City Hall during the Pandemic (2021)

As of writing, our application for a license is now on the way. We were able to do everything in one day with not much hassle but it took some hours to finish since we started the process. It's a bit different than before but man, I love that we didn't have to take a leave on another day (other than getting the license obviously). 

Requirements

1. CENOMAR -PSA copy, 210 PHP at SM Business Center; will take almost 2 weeks

2. Birth Certificate - PS copy, 155 PHP at SM Business Center; will take a week

3. Government IDs with Mandaluyong address. Old bills, minimum 6 months prior can be submitted as well in lieu. I prepared 3 bills for this, Meralco, Globe and Assoc Dues and the processor only got the Meralco one (photocopy). I don't have IDs with Mandaluyong address but bothered to photocopy my other government IDs bearing our Cavite address and my condo's IDs but those weren't accepted. 

4. Application Form - submitted and filled out in triplicate.

5. CEDULA - Can be applied in the the city hall as well, the door somewhat next to the guard. (22 PHP each). Be there very early, get a form an fill it up as fast as you can. Line can be long fast.

6. Certificate of Compliance - You will be granted this when you attend the family planning seminar that is now held online. Schedules are Wednesday and Friday both at 1pm which means if you get your forms in the morning, get a slot with the PMO Counselor (not sure if there's a limit but there were more than 8 of us in the room that time) and head back to the city hall before it closes, you can finish everything in just one day like we did.

7. Additional money - when we submitted our application we were required to pay 100 PHP, 120 PHP and 22 PHP. All of which I've no idea what for. Maybe those are the actual fees. There's also the case of donation (not mandatory) to the counselor (?) for the seminar. 

Application

So we don't have any much idea on what happens on the current application process of Mandaluyong during pandemic so we're not exactly sure on how we should do things. We did plan to go on a Wednesday due to one of the blogs saying the seminar is held on this day and so we did in hopes that they keep the schedule even at this time. 

First thing we did was get a CEDULA. We were lucky when the person we asked have actually called for the person who mans the area where you pay for the cedula. He even let us in even though we haven't written anything yet on the small form and made us pay for them ahead of those who suddenly went in queue as soon as they open. The guy looks quite happy when he learned we were getting it to get a marriage license and congratulated us before we left. 

Off to the 2nd floor where we got the application forms. They provided us with 3 papers to write on, one side by the groom and other for the bride. We had to take it home though because one of the important requirements, the Certificate of Compliance will only be granted once you've attended the seminar. 

It's still a bit early and we thought we could just go home (after buying some breakfast from Jollibee (right across the city hall, out of the circle) while we wait for the online seminar to start. But before we left city hall, I was already in talks with Ms. Janet to be listed for the day. She gave me a google meet link (via Messenger) to just click when 1pm starts. 

One of the disappointing things in this experience is that there seems to be no reference to this online that we had to check it at the city hall ourselves. We tried to look for the FB Page even before we visit the city hall but couldn't. So there below, should you wish to attend before arriving, just search for the PMO.Mandaluyong.3 page and message them via FB. Do not forget the dots. They will be sending you 2 links, one is for the Google Meet later and the other is just a simple form with details concerning the bride and groom.

By 1 PM, we've already in the virtual room. They make us have our cameras turned ON before the actual presentation but once it started we're reduced to just voices. The seminar is peppered with information that concerns married life, relationships, sex, contraceptives. There are also a handful of Q&As all throughout where each of the couple were given a chance to speak. So basically you can't just say you attended since every once in a while a couple is called to share. It would be quite embarrassing if when asked and you're not there.

Overall it was a PG setup, and surprisingly fun, since we can see Ms. Janet laughing at our answers most of the time. I'm not sure if it's always like this but we never got the graphic version that some of my friends attest to where you see how abortions are made or the horrific and very painful video of someone giving birth. I'm not sure if it's just intended for us since we've actually told (this is true anyway) that we need to pass everything for the day. We were promised that the virtual meet is done by 3PM, and so it was (even though it felt like she needs to talk more but didn't get to, she has tons of slides). Ms. Janet had our certificates ready for pickup even though she's on a WFH setup too which is amazing since we don't have to wait for the day she comes back. I love that we were able to get it as we got there with no fuss too (3rd floor). 

Okay, second disappointing thing. She's working from home but unfortunately her expenses for this is not paid for by LGU. I'm not sure why that is but wouldn't it be something the city government thought of? I mean, I'm glad that they've allowed online seminars for this type of work that is translatable to an online platform but maybe throw their employees a bone? She shouldn't need to ask for donations for this at all. I'm not complaining for this but it's sad that she had to resort to donations to get by. I'm calling you out Tita Menchie, bekenemen...

Once we got our Certificate of Compliance from the 3rd floor (I don't know why my name is a C instead of a K) we went back to the 2nd floor and submitted all of the requirements above. There were just a few questions, some payments here and there and we're set off our way. I didn't get her name but the processor have me leave a contact number IN CASE there needs to be corrected in our papers so that we are sure that in 10 working days we'll be receiving our license. I hope I would not get the call. Time check, even with the to and fro drives it took us just a day to accomplish everything. I think we got there by 8AM, we're at home by 9 to watch a few shows and attend the seminar until 3PM and finally get back to Mandaluyong City hall to submit our papers around 3:30PM. We're officially done a few minutes before 4PM. THERE WERE NO QUEUES except for the entrance where you had to present your Mandapass. What an amazing day. 

On the paper that was given to us to present for the collection of the license, we were told to come back by May 2 which is a Sunday. Weird. We'll just get it on that week.

Last update, we got our license and other documents back. I'm so happy that they really just took 10 days to do so. Unfortunately we couldn't set a schedule yet due to quarantine restrictions. We'll just check in a few days. If a judge won't be available, a solemnizing officer would do? Hmm...