How to apply for LET like a pro, circa 2017

Hey there! I'm back after a year of not typing a single word on this blog. No, I haven't gone to some fancy beach or burger house again; there's too much going on in my professional life, what with me graduating and all. Oh yeah, now I am a full-fledged teacher!

Speaking of graduation, most new teachers apply immediately for the licensure exam for teachers (LET, or the official name BLEPT - Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers). To do so, we have to go personally to the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) and submit documentary proof that we are eligible to take the exam. Sounds easy in theory - walk in, pass it, and go. Right? Nope.

Before going to PRC, I searched the internet for steps on how to apply for the LET. Some of the procedures were outdated, given that PRC had a few changes in application procedures in the last year. These steps were nonetheless helpful since I knew what to expect upon stepping foot in the PRC compound.

So, I would like to share to you guys how PRC does things this time around. Um... I applied at the Central Office in Morayta, so these steps will apply there, but other offices will probably follow the same flow.

Before anything else, check that you have your requirements:
1. Your TOR, with picture and remark that it is "for Board/LET purposes only". The remark is important, because PRC wouldn't accept the TOR with a wrong remark, or none at all. Photocopy it.
2. Your NSO/PSA birth certificate. Photocopy it as well. Some were saying that PRC won't accept ineligible birth certificates, so to be safe make sure your copies are as clear as possible.
3. Your passport size photos with name tag, collared shirt, white background, and visible ears. Optionally, get a 2x2 photo as well for your online profile. You'll need at least 2.
4. Your community tax certificate, the one we know as "cedula"
5. Your application form from online

Don't forget it, okay?

Now, the steps!

1. Log in to www.prc-online.com to create your online profile and transactions. PRC doesn't accept walk-ins anymore, nor do they give out application forms; everything must be done online. The procedures are in their website, and if I write it here I won't probably finish typing this post until September 24. Prepare your 900 pesos, and if you'll opt to pay via DragonPay (their online payment provider) shell out an additional Php 45. And, if you pay via Bayad Center, add another 35 (so that's 970. What? Seriously? "Yes," said my friend who paid via BC). And make sure you select a date and time that will suit you.
2. Make sure you print your application form! Once you're paid, you can download and print it by logging in to www.prc-online.com and going to the "Existing Transactions" menu. Make sure everything is correct. Never mind the texts that went beyond their borders, PRC won't mind that (it's their system that did it anyway; they won't complain). Affix your right thumbmark and signature, but you can do it at the PRC office anyway. You can print it in either short or long bond paper. PRC didn't specify, I printed mine in long, and I saw applicants passing the form in short bond, so it's totally fine.
3. On your appointment date, go to PRC Central Office, inform the guard that you are an exam applicant (show your form) and look for the documentary stamp counter. It's in the left side once you enter. Buy one stamp for Php 25 and let them attach it to your application form. And while you're at it, go to the PRC photocopying center (you can see it from the exit gate, near the cashier and you won't have to go inside the building) and buy a metered envelope for Php 30. You'll know it's the one when you can see the printed PRC name and a window (you know, the one where you can see the address in Globe and PLDT billing statements). Don't bother buying from outside because PRC won't accept it (they know).
4. Go to the 3rd floor in the main building, to the Application Section (stairs are beside customer service counters and the elevator will stop in front of the Application Section). Look for "Processing" counters (they have Step 1 written). Pass the originals and photocopies of your documents EXCEPT the cedula, and ONLY ONE ID picture. The originals will be returned to you. You'll be asked for your digital signature, then be given a card to fill out. Your application form will be returned as well with your documents stapled with it.
5. Fill out everything on the card (I forgot what it's called, sorry), and you have to paste another ID picture, affix your signature and thumbmark (stamp pad and paste readily available at the tables).
6. Pass your documents and the card on the "Issuance" counter (Step 2). When asked for the metered envelope, give it. Your Notice of Admission will be given to you along with the metered envelope.

And, congrats! You are now a successful applicant! Room assignments will be given 1-2 days before the actual exam, so review well until then!

PS. Sorry, I don't have any picture. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to take photos, and I'd rather not risk it.

PPS. Need directions to PRC-Morayta? From the south (via Lawton), ride a jeep with signboards that say: Quiapo, Morayta-UST-Espana, Project 6-SM North-Trinoma, Pantranco-Delta. From the north, maybe you can go to Trinoma and ride a jeep going to Quiapo. Buses plying the Quiapo-Fairview route all pass through Morayta as well (you can ride from either Lawton or Philcoa depending on where you came from), as do UV Express vans plying Buendia-Fairview. PRC is on the FEU side (cross Espana via the footbridge if coming from the north), look for Greenwich and walk along the small street that leads from it. If you can see a lot of ballpen/envelope vendors, notary publics, and review center tarpaulins, you're on the right track.

LoadCentral Retailer registration

(Taglish)

Sa lahat ng interesadong maging LoadCentral retailer, ihanda ang mga sumusunod:

1. Isang cellphone (preferably Android, pero okay din ang kahit anong phone)
2. Isang SIM card (prepaid or postpaid, pero kailangan na hindi pa nare-register dati sa LoadCentral ang number)
3. Minimum load wallet investment of Php 500.00

Wala po akong hinihingi na registration fee. Libre lang ang registration. Loadwallet lang ang gagastusan ninyo.

Steps:
1. I-message ako sa Codename: Red Sherry FB page (https://www.facebook.com/redsherryteam/), ilagay ang sumusunod na detalye:
a. Full Name
b. Age
c. Complete address
d. E-mail address
e. Number na ire-register
2. Hintayin lang ang aming message (either thru text, FB, or e-mail) para ma-confirm ang inyong application.
3. Pagkatapos ninyong ma-register, basahing mabuti ang manual bago galawin ang inyong account. Magpo-provide ako ng custom manual after ma-register.
4. Mag-deposito direkta sa bank account ng Uniwiz at ipa-verify ang inyong deposit details upang makuha ang initial load wallet. Ang detalye ng pagdedeposito ay nakalagay sa manual. P500 ang minimum deposit sa bangko, kaya ganitong halaga ang nire-recommend ko na pang-initial ninyo.

Kung may katanungan, mag-message lang sa aming FB page.

-Julius, driver na forever

Want to try a business?

Yes, I know. The first time I made this blog, it was intended to be a travel/food blog. However, it's pretty hard for our circle of friends to go out now for a roadtrip, with most of us graduating and all :) Also, the fact that we don't have enough money yet :) So it'll be a while before most of us get to have a serious roadtrip.

Speaking of money, if you want to have a business, why don't you try being a LoadCentral retailer? For those who are not aware of LoadCentral, it is a universal loading platform that can provide electronic PINs and cellphone load. With hundreds of products, some exclusive to this platform, LoadCentral has grown to become the largest universal loading platform in the country.

As a registered LoadCentral subdealer, I can register you as a retailer. More details will be written in my next post. If you are interested, don't hesitate to contact us thru our Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail!

-Julius, still the driver

1st adventure - Kaybiang Tunnel

Kaybiang Tunnel
Date: March 19, 2016
Written by Julius Angeles (the driver)

The tunnel entrance, with a simple reminder of where you are

This day marks the start of the final examinations in our college. Thankfully, none of us in our circle of friends had any schedule, and since we were just celebrating the end of our thesis, we decided to have a long roadtrip to the edge of Cavite. We decided on going to Kaybiang Tunnel and Nasugbu.

Kaybiang Tunnel, located at Maragondon near its border with Ternate and Nasugbu, is the only mountain road tunnel in Cavite. With a length of 270 meters, Kaybiang Tunnel is the longest of its kind in the Philippines. Yes, it's just 270 meters (you can't believe it? I can't believe it either). Despite its length, it is an essential transport link between Cavite and Batangas. You see, it connects two segments of the Ternate-Nasugbu Highway together, allowing it to pass thru Mt. Palay-palay National Park. Travellers between Manila and the beach resorts in Nasugbu can experience a scenic trip through the mountains of Cavite as an alternative to the traffic-choked urban centers in Aguinaldo Highway and Tagaytay, which was, until the Kaybiang Tunnel opened around early 2010's, the only road connection between Manila and Nasugbu via Cavite.

Before going to roadtrips, make sure you got enough gas.
This is full tank already! :)

At around 10, we were already on our way from Dasma to Kaybiang. We passed thru the urban centers of Manggahan and Trece Martires, and by 11:30, we were already at Naic. We stopped for lunch at a certain elementary school in town, where one of our professors serve as the principal. The team got to see how school principals spend their time in school.

We continued our trip at 1pm. As it is a weekday noon, traffic is pretty light. Roadsigns along the highway assured us that we were on the right track to Kaybiang. We passed by major tourist attractions in Ternate, like Puerto Azul and the starting point of the Pico de Loro hike, until we reached a junction at KM post 67.

Open roads as we enter Maragondon's north border

A lot of motorcycles and tricycles at the Maragondon-Ternate road

Roadsigns are there to remind us where to go

Straight goes to Caylabne and Marine Base

Turning left at this intersection, it's three kilometers more to the tunnel. The winding road is breath-taking (probably because all of us never encountered these kinds of roads in Dasma, hehe). Anyway, after a long descent down the mountain, an overhead sign reminding motorists of the height clearance of the tunnel told us that we reached our destination.




Passing by KM post 70 and a left-turn bend, we caught sight of the tunnel. Needless to say, the team was impressed by what we saw. It's not everyday that we got to see these kinds of sights, after all.





There are stairs leading to the top of the tunnel entrance. We took the chance to climb it and have photo-ops around the tunnel.

The view from the top of the tunnel entrance

Since there are pretty few vehicles passing thru, photo-ops
in the middle of the road are feasible as well.

After the tunnel, we continued our way towards Nasugbu. A kilometer ahead, after another long downhill ride, we are treated to a fantastic view of the sea in a rest stop.

The rest stop

This is what you can see if you decided to stop

As we continue our roadtrip around Nasugbu, we realized just how mountainous this part of Luzon is. The highway has a lot of steep climbs and sharp curves! It's truly an experience for us who were used to travelling on the relatively flat roads of Dasma.

We went for a quick visit to the resort barangay of Calayo to check out the beaches there.

Between barangays Looc and Calayo, fields flank the 2-kilometer
straight road section

A quick visit to Brgy. Calayo to check out the beaches.
These boats can be rented for island hopping, apparently.

After the quick visit (read: ocular inspection), we continued towards home via Nasugbu and Tagaytay and ended our happy roadtrip at 7 in the evening.

This is only the beginning of our adventures. I wonder where our feet will take us next.