Sometimes I just can’t help notice how time flies by so quickly.  Just a few years ago, my 2 older kids were all so little.  They didn’t have much cares about anything around them.  Now things have changed quite a lot!  Our eldest, she used to be so little, so frail and so dependent.  Nowadays I sometimes feel like she doesn’t need me for anything much anymore!  She has her own life, has her own friends, and can already decide certain things for herself.  She even has her own moods you’ve got to live with!  Our son, on the other hand, he is a reliable one.  He’s taken upon himself quite a number of responsibilities that I never knew he’d be capable of handling.  He used to be careless and carefree… but he has changed a lot, he has become a responsible big brother to his little sister!  And our little girl… well, she’s definitely growing up!  This one I notice only too well simply because it wasn’t so long ago when I could just carry her in my arms!  She used to be that little toddler running around the house, chanting and singing songs and rhymes she learned from the Disney channel she watches everyday.  Now, she’s a little school girl.  She, like all her elder siblings, now wakes up early in the morning, gets ready and leaves for school everyday of the week.   

                     BEFORE                 NOW                                 BEFORE                NOW

                                                 BEFORE                     NOW

Soon, one by one, these kids will be going their own ways.  Here I am preparing for this moment, that I know will not be too long from today.  The eldest will be turning sixteen this year, and in a couple of years, she’ll be a certified adult.  Meantime, hubby and I are continually trying to adjust to her changing moods that …*sigh*… are all part of this stage of her life .  I have to say we’re both growing up too!  It may be difficult sometimes, but we just love these kids…. and I guess, it’s all worth it!

One thing I know for sure… kids can’t be kids forever… they will all grow up, and we, the parents…. well, we’re growing up with them too!     

 Do you know that you can already request for a copy of your (Philippine) birth certificate online?  That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?  I just filled an application form for a copy of my son’s birth certificate online at the ECensus.com site.  All you have to do is fill the form, print the acknowledgement form, and pay in any branch of Union bank.  The total cost is Php 315.00.  Then the birth certificate will be delivered to your own home.  Well, the actual cost of acquiring a birth certificate, if you were to go directly to the Census office at East Avenue, Quezon City, is Php 140.00 only.  However, you have to go through the process of lining up, and waiting for your turn to pay.  And if you’re late for the cut-off time, you get the birth certificate the following day.  

I went to the Census office early this afternoon to acquire a birth certificate for my eldest daughter, as she needs to submit a copy as a requirement for her college entrance exams.  There were lots of people lined up on about 15 counters, paying for their certificates.  It scared me!  The numbers being served at the time I arrived was from 0-4970, and the number I got was 5070.  Wow, I thought I was going to stay there for the rest of the afternoon! 

I was about to walk out of the office, when the next batch of numbers were about to be served.  The next set was until 5000.  Hmm… that didn’t seem to be so bad at all.  Every 5 minutes (or less), the next 30 were asked to proceed to the lines to pay.  The lines were moving quite quickly.   I have to commend the cashiers on the counters for working really fast.  That was good!  Besides that, the guards on duty were very busy keeping everyone on the right places, so that everybody would have space to move around.  Great improvement from the last time I was there!  Plus, you can just imagine, if they started at customer #1 today, they probably have served over 5 thousand people by around 3pm this afternoon!  Amazing!

Nevertheless, I was late for the cut-off time.  I have to come back tomorrow to claim the Certificate I paid for.  But that was ok with me.  At least, I had enough time to accomplish all my other tasks for the rest of the afternoon.

Anyway, before I end this thread I just want to commend (again) the people at the Census office for their improvement… the online application process, the great service at the Census office… keep up the good work!