Excess Taiwan Visa Requirements for Filipinos

Posted on November 23, 2016 at 14:26 Big Foot 3 Comments

Almost a month ago I wandered through Taiwan with three good old folks from college. It would’ve been my second overseas trip this year had I been granted a Japan visa last July. Getting rejected on my very first visa application turned out traumatizing that I had to read multiple blogs and consolidate all the requirements the authors stated for this trip. My pessimism even worsened when my friends started getting Australian, US, and Schengen visas. Fortunately, in the end, I was granted with my first (of many, hopefully). Listed below are the requirements I prepared. You can only guess which ones made the cut.

All original documents have their corresponding photocopies but only that of the PSA birth certificate was received, making a total of nine requirements submitted. It may have been a bit of an overkill with the documents but screw it, I was too terrified of another rejection. After all, requirements can vary from one applicant to another and it never hurts to come with more than just your war paint.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
41F, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, 1200 Metro Manila
(02) 887-6688
Filing time: 08:45–11:45
Processing in 3 working days for the amount of 2,400 peyses (they also expedite for only a day)
Releasing time: 13:45–16:30

Updated on March 3, 2017: I have disabled commenting for this post as I have replicated it in Itinerant.

Wallowing to Undaunted

Posted on September 1, 2016 at 14:00 Life List 2 Comments

I was 26 when I started prefixing my number with an adjective, to describe what that year would be like. I find sense in it. Last year it was “wallowing”. Nasty-sounding, I know, but after reading its definition after being suggested by a friend, well, “I choose you!” happened. And that’s way before Pokémon GO. Since then, I’ve gone to places and did things month after month but never a single update in this good old hub of mine. About time.

And then I needed to select another adjective. But before that, there was the lovely Calaguas with my very first workmates for our annual summer getaway. Given its distance from the metro, it’s just not right to spend just a night there, which we didn’t do. As one of us also gets a year older on the same month, we did a double celebration a week later with other friends at Walkyrie. Such a long night. I’d consider attaching a GoPro to my head next time for me to watch everything and laugh at myself first thing in the morning. Two days before finally flipping another digit, I skydived in Bantayan and spent a memorable time in Cebu. 😎

Skydiving in Bantayan

Like most people with itchy feet, most of my wanderings are born out of seat sales, so I guess I’m saved from being labeled as a spendthrift wanderlust. As of writing I’m currently in Palawan. My tickets, bought last year, only cost 485.62 PHP. Who could resist that, right? Well, my company last year. But not me. And I look forward to blogging about this trip.

I wouldn’t say I’m getting tired of going to places, and here are the cents I’ve picked up along the way up to this very day:

  1. Plans can go haywire, with most of the group suddenly being unable to make it and then the entire trip crumbles. When planning, it could help to have a group chat with only those people who have something to say in it. Ditch those who just read and send thumbs-up signs. (Yes, there’s a bit bitterness there.)
  2. Even just once, travel alone. Just you and your own two feet. It’s liberating.
  3. Priorities change so eventually all your travel buddies will no longer be able to always go with you. Learn to accept that.
  4. Your priorities will eventually change as well so be prepared for it, because what-ifs and if-onlys are such inglorious bastards.