SSS ID Application for Change of Name

When a woman gets married, she needs to change her surname. This means a lot of filling in and submitting of forms to the different government institutions to get a new set of identification cards. From SSS to Philhealth, to BIR, etc. There's more difficulty involved if a woman has no company to rely on in helping her make the necessary changes. Such thing happened to me. When I got married in 2009, I did not immediately change my IDs because I did not think that there was a need to. Fast forward to 2013, with only a passport as a valid ID, I have realized that I should have done updating my records and IDs a long time ago.

A few days ago, I decided to visit an SSS office and check if their ID capturing machine is working. I went to the Ayala Branch, just across PBCom Tower, at 8:30am. There weren't many people inside, maybe just about 30 are in line for Member's Verification. I immediately saw the line for ID capturing, and I was happy to see it was working. I wasted no time in going to the bank and immediately lining up for my records to be verified. Even if the security guard was quite a snob, the friendliness of the SSS staff has compensated for the unfriendliness of the guard. The whole process, from getting the E6 form to the ID capturing, took me almost one hour. 

Let me share with you some important points when applying for the Unified ID from SSS:

1. Contact the SSS office where you plan to apply for an ID. This is because some SSS offices have defective ID capturing machines. You might waste a lot of time if you've gone there but found out they couldn't facilitate your ID application.

2. Know what forms to get and read directions before filling it in. The form E6 is for the ID application. There are instructions at the back. Better read them than make a mistake. The payment form R6 is also needed for lost cards, change of names, etc. It is to be filled in in 4 copies.

3. Bring the necessary documents. Since the passport is considered as a primary document, it is already sufficient. For applications due to change of name, the old SSS ID card needs to be surrendered. Company ids, an NSO birth certificate, and other pertinent documents can be presented.

4. Don't be afraid to ask. Ask questions to the staff or the security guard. I have noticed that questions asked to other people, other than the SSS staff and/or the security guard, might only cause confusion. You may end up making a mistake in the process. Waste no time, ask questions. It's their job to answer queries. 

5. Thank other people. It brings positive vibes, simple.

Online Banking

Online banking has made a housewife's life truly easier. Utilities and other forms of payment, though may be limited, can now be done online. With just a good internet connection and enough fund, banking has become accessible. As they say, 'with just a click of a button', it's done! I availed of BPI, Unionbank and BDO. Let me compare them*:)

                 

Accessing the online banking facility of BDO is the easiest among the three. Even though, I have forgotten my username and passwords several times, it's very easy to retrieve them or get one through their customer service. The icons and other 'clickable' buttons are easy to understand. Very 'masa' as they say. One can also get cellphone loads easily by just enrolling one's number. The usual banking activities of paying, sending money, or even requesting for a checkbook can be done on their site. Although these can also be availed with the other banks, I think BDO's site is the friendliest and easiest to navigate.

                                         

I use this bank's online facility because of their tie-up with Paypal. When I was still using Paypal with BDO, there was almost P200 deduction from my money. With Unionbank, I can withdraw my whole salary, without deductions!** However, whenever I need to pay bills, their site asks for a transaction password (this is different from the log-in password). I think it is quite a hassle, although I understand that it is just an additional security for one's account. This site is usually unavailable, sad to say. Aside from that, I don't find their customer service perky enough to accept calls. The person who I talked to yesterday needed a lot of pronunciation training:( If not for Paypal, I would not avail of their online banking facility. Their site is usually unavailable also.

I just got my log-in details and password from the BPI customer service. I had to wait for more than 10 minutes to be connected. I guess that was just a short wait compared with the time that I usually have to wait to be connected to the PLDT 171. But that's another story:) Anyway, I liked the color of the icons in the website. Since there were a lot of icons/buttons to choose from, I think it is their bank's way of offering a lot of services. I think 80% of bank transactions can be done on their website. Really offering a lot to their customers. I believe that it is also their way of introducing their products since online applications are readily accepted.

RANKING:

1. Based on the website's look: BDO, BPI, Unionbank

2. Easy navigation: BDO, BPI, Unionbank

3. Customer Service: BPI, BDO, Unionbank

*Comparison is based on personal experience.
**These does not include the paypal fee.

Lessons of Motherhood

I have a baby boy and two kindergarten girls. It was a personal decision not to hire a nanny anymore. As much as I want to have a lot of free time for myself, hiring a nanny can cause more problems than not having one. I get to take care of my kids, from feeding to bathing, to teaching and playing with them. It is really an enjoyable experience for me. I used to have a lot of free time, now i have none. Even though it is physically draining at times, it is emotionally fulfilling in the end. 

Below are some of the things I have learned from being a mother:

1. Each child is an individual.

Children are different from each other. To avoid comparisons which can turn into bouts of jealousy and hatred among children, always remember that each child is an individual. I believe that aside from inheriting some of the characteristics of parents, children have their own inborn attitudes. Although we may want to control our children most of the times, we should remember that we cannot always impose what we want. Do not expect that because one of your children behaves a lot, the other child will also do the same. Since each child is an individual, observe and understand a child's behavior, and accept him/her as is.

2. Parents should listen to their children.

Children may usually experience difficulty in expressing themselves. Aside from the challenge of developing their speaking skills, children may have difficulty in expressing because of their environment. They may feel that no one is interested to listen to them or they may be afraid of being criticized or being made fun of. Parents need to listen to their children. It will improve their confidence in speaking. It will motivate them to share more of their ideas, stories and comments. It may also increase their feeling of worth as a part of the family. Children will be more open to their parents, thus minimizing hiding of secrets.

3. Laugh and play with them.

A parent who takes his/her time in playing and laughing with the children have happier children. It strengthens the bond between a parent and a child. It may also increase the emotional quotient of the child. When we laugh and play with our children, they will feel the importance that we give them. It will also contribute in how they value themselves as a person. Remember, anything good that we do with them, they will treasure it for a long time.

more soon:)