Tablea Chocolate Cafe

While waiting for Karen at JY Square, I stumbled upon this quaint chocolate cafe called "Tablea." I guess it just opened, since I haven't seen this before. Remembering how my grandmother used to make hot chocolate out of tablea and how good it tasted with puto, I decided to wait for Karen there. I ordered a caramel latte and a mallow cluster. It wasn't really that good, I guess it had too much water and the sweetness wasn't really "caramel-y". The mallow cluster though was good. It wasn't too sweet, it tasted just right and there was a generous helping of walnuts and cacao nibs. Aside from coffee, they also serve chocolate drinks, shakes, sandwiches, crepes and some pastries. They also have the Tablea Sampler Box, which contains a piece or two of Tablea's products. I wanted to buy one so I can taste all of their products but since I was running low on cash, I just bought a Mallow Cluster Bar for my sister. ^__^

I plan to try the Chocolate-covered Cacao Beans on my next visit. According to the menu, these are whole roasted cacao beans double dipped in dark chocolate. I love dark chocolate and I love the cacao nibs in my mallow cluster. I'm also curious as to how bitter this would be, since as I remember, tablea is quite bitter in its pure form. :)

Tablea Chocolate Cafe
Branches:
Robinson's Cybergate Mall Don Gil Garcia Street,Cebu City 
SM Cebu Northwing Behind Watsons
JY Square Lahug, Cebu City
Telephone No: (032) 343 6669
Website: tablea.com.ph

The Quest for Government Issued IDs

As I have said in my previous post, I will get all the government issued IDs I could get. I wanted to start out with the BIR TIN card since BIR is just a jeepney away from my place but with the rainy weather, my laziness got the best of me and I opted to call BIR to ask what requirements I should bring. To my dismay, I wasn't even registered! Gah! >.< I don't have a TIN so, I couldn't get an ID. The lady said that the company I worked for didn't pass my requirements and thus, I am not registered. To set things straight, I went to C*******S to clarify things. It turned out that they didn't submit my BIR form 1902 due to some mix up with HR and recruitment. >.<
They said though that I am not evading from taxes, and I should just file form 1902 again when I start working. Gah. So, BIR TIN, you're out of the list.

Then there's the SSS ID. My friends said that I should get there early since the lines are going to be long and they will only entertain the first 100 for the ID capture. They weren't lying. Karen and I went there at around 5:30 AM and the line already reached the back of the building. It's a good thing though that not everyone who's there is going to get their IDs. I was # 44 for the ID capture. So, for everyone else who wants to get their SSS ID's, here's a guide on how to get it:

1. Go to your nearest SSS office. As what I've learned, not all SSS offices have ID capture service so, you better call first to ask if they have the ID capture service. A list of SSS branches with telephone numbers can be found here.

2. Get a priority number. As I've said, they only serve 100 people/day. If you're currently employed, ask your HR department if they have SSS ID capture schedules for your company so that you don't have to fall in line. In our case, they also checked if you have the requirements for the specific transaction you have with SSS. Otherwise, they won't give you a priority number. So, have your requirements ready. For the SSS ID capture, you will be required to present two valid IDs. Valid IDs are any of the following:

• Passport
• PRC Card
• Seaman’s Book
• Unexpired Driver’s License

In the absence of the above documents, any two of the following documents (at least one with photo):
• Alien Certificate of Registration
• Birth Certificate
• Certification from the Office of Southern/Northern Cultural Communities/Office of Muslim Affairs
• Fisherman’s Card issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
• GSIS Member’s Record
• Health or Medical Card
• ID Card issued by Professional Associations recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
• Major Credit Card
• Marriage Contract
• Old GSIS ID Card
• Old SS ID Card
• Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID Card
• Police Clearance
• Postal ID
• Savings Account Passbook
• School ID/Company ID
• Senior Citizen Card
• SSS Blue Card for Company Representative
• Transcript of Records
• TIN Card
• Valid NBI Clearance
• Voter’s ID

3. Fill out the E6 form. If you haven't printed out a copy yet. For a copy of the E6 form, click here.

4. Wait for your turn. When your number will be called, they will check your requirements as well as if you qualify for an SSS ID. Some of those who were ahead of us didn't qualify because they weren't able to submit the documents required when they filed for an SSS number and were required to present either their birth certificate, baptismal certificate or passport. Make sure also that you or your company has made at least one monthly contribution. After this step, they will ask you to wait again to have your picture taken and your fingerprints and signature electronically captured. Don't forget to take the acknowledgement receipt that they'll give you. You need that for inquiries regarding your ID status.

5. Wait for 6-8 months for your ID to be mailed to you. Seriously. THAT'S how long it takes for the ID to be mailed. -_-;

The whole process took around 3 hours, so bring something to kill time while you wait for your turn. We wanted to get our Philhealth ID too but when we arrived at the Philhealth office, there were a lot of people and we're too sleepy and tired to wait. T_T

So, that's it. Next stop: getting my student driver's permit.

Government Issued IDs

Since I currently don't have a lot to do, I decided I should get all the government issued IDs I could possibly get. I already planned on getting an SSS ID and BIR TIN card. They said that a Philhealth ID is already available. Well, let's see tomorrow as I visit these government agencies. I currently have these government issued IDs now:

• Passport
• Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID
• Postal ID

I also have my NBI clearance but I have to renew that. I applied for a driver's license some time in 2009 but never had my student license upgraded to non pro. T_T I don't have a voter's ID because the only time you can get that is before elections and I hate the long lines. I know eventually I would have to get a voter's ID. I promise I'll get one as soon as they allow registrations.

So, to make things easier for me when I get my IDs, I downloaded the necessary forms that I need to fill out. I downloaded the E-6 form from the SSS website and I guess I only need to go to BIR to request for a TIN card. We'll see what tomorrow will bring. :)

It's 3 AM And I'm Still Awake

...And why is that?

Well, aside from the fact that I have chronic insomnia and I have just finished reading The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder for my girlfriend's sister's book report, it came to my mind that I never visited the PICPA website since I passed the CPA board exams last May 2010. So, I did. The site had a major makeover and it's more pleasing to the eyes now and oh, there are the updates and...the login button. As an Accountancy student, I always had this secret fantasy to be able to log in to the PICPA website and feel that I am some part of a secret club where I can read secret stuff which I can only read when I pass the board exam. So, with all the excitement, I clicked the register button, grabbed my PRC license and filled out the form, clicked "validate info" and...it took me to another registration page which asked for more information, filled that one out too, clicked "register" and then:

 So, I clicked "OK" which led to this:

and I clicked "OK" several times and finally gave up. T_T

Geez. I thought my fantasy would come true tonight. Bummer.

I should sleep now.