My Passport Appointment: Cebu-Bacolod; Bacolod-Cebu

Bacolod Public Plaza - Bacolod Negros Occidental

Hello Bacolod! In case you are wondering why am i here, please check out How I Got my Philippine Passport? In case you are in the same shoe as me, I hope this blog would be a little help.

I have read that there are buses going directly to Bacolod from the North Bus Terminal in Cebu. So without hesitation, I make a schedule with an appointment.

Cebu to Bacolod

I arrived 4 in the morning at Cebu North Bus Terminal for me to choose a ride. I rode an air-conditioned Ceres Bus going to Bacolod via Escalante. Boat tickets are then announced to be purchase separately on a kiosk outside the bus while the bus tickets were issued after departure. At exactly 5 A.M we depart from the bus station and stopped for a while at Carmen to have breakfast. Around 8 A.M. we arrived at the wharf of Tabuelan. 

Ferry from Tabuelan to Escalante

We took off the bus and let us pay for terminal fee and ride on a ferry. The ferry also carries the bus were riding. The ferry was not air-conditioned but the fresh sea breeze ain't that bad anyway. After 3 hours, we took off the ferry and ride the bus again. It was already time for lunch when we have to stop and eat. After that, a long journey awaits you with sugarcane and trees on your viewfinder. We arrived at Bacolod City North Bus Terminal around 2 in the afternoon. It took me 9 hours to reach Bacolod.

Stay in Bacolod

So I wasn’t able to finish my task at the end of the day so I stayed at Bacolod for a night. But wait, where should I stay? It is helpful to have a smartphone with you, loaded with travel apps or just an internet browser. I searched for a good place to stay in using this method. I strolled along the streets in the morning and visit their Church, San Sebastian Cathedral, Public Plaza and the Provincial Capitol Lagoon. The man-made lagoon attracts locals to invest in their body by doing their morning jog on the area, with security guards on duty for their safety.

San Sebastian Cathedral - Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Interior of San Sebastian Cathedral - Bacolod

Provincial Capitol Lagoon - Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Bacolod to Cebu

11 in the morning when I finally completed my mission in Bacolod, Yosh! I’m coming home Cebu! Now where should I go? DFA office is in Robinsons Bacolod which is nearer the North Bus Terminal. I checked the bus schedules and found out that the bus going to Cebu at Bacolod's North Bus Terminal will depart at 6 P.M. Meanwhile the South Bus Terminal has more buses going to Cebu. So I decided to go there, but unfortunately I didn't know how to get there. I ask the driver and rode a jeep route Mandalagan-Libertad and then La Salle to make it to the terminal. I rode an air-conditioned Ceres Bus going to Cebu via San Carlos. The ticket was issued while we were waiting for the bus and it includes the ticket for the ferry.

a sight of pine trees on a mountainous terrain in Negros Occidental

It was 12 noon when we depart Bacolod South Bus Terminal to San Carlos City. I thought that Negros can only offer the views of their vast sugarcane plantation but in this side of the trip I saw huge mountains, clear rivers, ferns and pine trees. The bus stopped by for us to have a break and have pasalubongs. 

Bukayo (caramelized grated coconut)

I bought bukayo (caramelized grated coconut) it was cheap and tasty.  After 3 hours we reached San Carlos City and rode a ferry. The ferry was also not air-conditioned but has double-beds for their passengers. 

Wharf in Toledo Cebu

We arrive at Toledo Wharf around 5 in the afternoon. Toledo to Cebu North Bus Terminal took 2 hours and 30 minutes. It was a 7-hour travel from Bacolod to Cebu.

TIPS:

• It is too expensive buying on stopovers. Bring your own water and snacks.
• If you’re not planning to visit Escalante City, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Victorias City, Silay City and Talisay City take Toledo-San Carlos Route. It will save you time and money.
• Your smartphone should have mobile data and charger. Mobile data access maps that will help you navigate around the area. A power bank would be a great help.
• If you're from Cebu and planning to schedule an appointment in Bacolod, try Dumaguete first. It is not that far from Cebu.

COSTS: (as of January 2018)

• Cebu (NBT) to Bacolod (NBT) via Tabuelan-Escalante – P420.00
• Tabuelan – Escalante Ferry – P130.00
• Tabuelan Port Terminal Fee – P5.00
• Bacolod (SBT) to Cebu (NBT) via San Carlos-Toledo (including Ferry)– P505.00
• Bukayo – P10.00

How I Got My Philippine Passport?

I’m scrolling down on social media news feed and saw some of my friends and acquaintances went out of the country to travel or doing their own jobs. Of course I’m a little jealous and curious how did they do it? So I do a little research and ask them how. Whether it would be for vacation, employment or other reasons, securing yourself a Passport seems to be the first step.

With the technology such as online booking and booking apps, traveling is sure to be convenient. Airports are rapidly emerging in remote places and new airlines are welcome to the country time after time.  Passport is growing in demand and I think it will be a must in the future. So I’ve decided to get my passport.

So I visited www.passport.gov.ph and schedule an online appointment. When I check out the appointment schedule for DFA* Cebu (where I live) the slots are unavailable leading me to secure an appointment with DFA Bacolod.  I was lucky enough to secure an appointment. It takes a small amount of time to have those slots filled. If I didn’t take it, I will probably wait until the DFA announce to add another batch of appointments. After filling up my details the website provided me with the Application Form for me to print and show it on their office. In addition, an original Birth Certificate by the PSA and at least 2 two IDs are required.

I was on DFA Bacolod Office 2pm, 2hrs ahead of my appointment, and went to the information desk and begin the process. It was very going fine but when they evaluated my requirements, they told me to secure a latest birth certificate issued by the PSA**. Mine was an outdated birth certificated dated 2009. So I went to the PSA office and secure one for two hours and not be able to process on the day. I went back to the office on the first hour in the morning and finish the whole process in just an hour. Since I’m from Cebu picking up my passport there is not convenient. They have courier service (LBC) inside the office and let it send it to me after 20 days.  

UPDATE:

TIPS:

• Print your Accomplished Application Form, and Confirmed Online Appointment
• Secure latest Birth Certificate, they require the original.
• Photocopy your IDs.
• Dress appropriately.
• Bringing a pen doesn’t hurt.
• Check you requirements here 

COSTS: (as of January 2018)

• It will took 20 days for Regular transactions that will cost you P950.00 and 10 days for Expedite transactions that costs P1200.00
• P150.00 cost of courier (LBC)
• Birth Certificate costs P140.00

I will update this blog when I receive my passport.

*DFA - Department of Foreign Affairs
**PSA - Philippine Statistics Autority

UPDATE: 

I got my passport shipped by LBC.