[COLUMN] Death by COVID-19
As much as one might be prepared for the death of a dear friend or a close relative, we are never ready to receive such news. Over the weekend, I…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Read More
[COLUMN] IRS warning: Fraudsters exploit COVID to steal your identity
Opportunistic scammers are exploiting COVID to steal from you. IRS warns that dark web thieves are targeting tax preparers and taxpayers. These dirty criminals constantly mutate like the virus. These…
[COLUMN] Should I tell my boss about my medical condition?
Q: I WAS diagnosed with a spine compression fracture and severe depression. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell…
[COLUMN] Is filing bankruptcy your best option?
THIS is one thing I hear from people all the time: “If you ask me, I really hate doing this, but I feel I have no choice.” Of course, no…
[COLUMN] Are income taxes owed to IRS dischargeable in bankruptcy?
ARE income taxes owed to the IRS dischargeable in bankruptcy? What do you think? Of course, they are dischargeable. There are certain conditions that have to be met but they…
Fil-Am startup Plentina raises $2.2M to accelerate credit access in Southeast Asia
MANY startups have attempted to unlock financial services in Southeast Asian emerging markets, where credit card penetration is under 10%. Consumers in the Philippines have lost trust in a system…
[COLUMN] Tough financial times never last, but tough people do
You’re doing fine. You’re paying your bills on time and you have your debts under control. You’ve even managed to set aside a bit of savings in your bank account….
[COLUMN] IRS: Here are 12 ways to protect yourself from scammers
IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig described the combination of tax filing season, COVID, and work-from-home as hunting season for online thieves. Dark web scammers are the hunters and you are the…
[COLUMN] Employees’ right to sit down at work
EVA Sharp worked as a cashier for Safeway, a large American grocery chain with headquarters in California. She initially filed a class action case on behalf of cashiers and other…
[COLUMN] Life after bankruptcy: Get out of debt now
Sleepless nights… Stressed out… Worried about the future… Always broke no matter how hard they work…Feeling hopeless about their situation. This is what most people are going through when they…
[COLUMN] What is intent to repay in BK debt?
IN one case, the debtor borrowed $100,000 in credit cards, which he used to gamble. He then filed for Chapter 7 to wipe out the $100,000 of credit cards. The…
[COLMUN] IRS offers identity protection PIN to defend you from scammers
THE IRS expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to cover all taxpayers to include you. This Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit code known only to you…
[COLUMN] Reporting time may entitle employees to additional pay
“It is the employer who directs the manner in which the employee is to present himself or herself for work – whether at the worksite or by phone. Either way,…
17 PH tycoons on Forbes 2021 World’s Billionaires List
SEVENTEEN Filipino tycoons have secured their spots on Forbes’ annual list of the wealthiest people in the world. Forbes on Tuesday, April 6, released its 2021 list of global billionaires,…
City of LA launches emergency rental assistance program
RENTERS in the City of Los Angeles have until the end of April to apply for the second round of rental assistance. LA, in partnership with the federal government and…
[COLUMN] Should you be paid if the boss requires COVID testing and vaccination?
AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues, government agencies have issued guidance on how to reduce transmission of the illness. On March 4, 2021, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)…
[COLUMN] Stop foreclosure, reduce your debt by filing Chapter 13
HAS your income been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? If you are currently unemployed and have no resources to pay creditors, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to wipe out your…
[COLUMN] IRS, FBI, FTC warn of new mobile phone scams
Thieves’ new target: Mobile phones. People are vigilant in protecting their computers but not their cell phones; accordingly, scammers are feasting on mobile phones. The IRS FBI FTC have issued…
[COLUMN] Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13
IS Chapter 7 better than Chapter 13? I would say generally speaking if you have accumulated debt that is too burdensome for you, Chapter 7 is better for you than…
East West Bank Foundation stands with the AAPI community in time of need
THE East West Bank Foundation is committed to supporting diversity and anti-discrimination efforts. To help stem the rash of violence against AAPIs, the East West Bank Foundation is contributing to…
[COLUMN] How to get out of debt: Know your options
ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do about your situation? Are you afraid that unless you do something about it, thing will just continue to get…
Strict new guidelines set for hotels under ECQ; Lenten ‘staycations’ within NCR Plus suspended
The Department of Tourism has issued strict new guidelines for the operation of DOT-accredited hotels and other accommodation establishments during the Holy Week in the light of a new surge…
[COLUMN] 2021 IRS tax filing deadlines
Feb. 1, 2021: Employers to mail out W-2 Forms to their employees; businesses to furnish 1099 Forms reporting non-employee compensation, bank interest, dividends, and distributions from a retirement plan. Feb. 1, 2021: Financial institutions to mail…
[COLUMN] New paid sick leave law re: COVID-19
Last year, private employers with 500 or more employees were required to provide California employees with paid sick time for COVID-19-related absences. That law, AB 1867, aimed to close the…
[COLUMN] Classic Chapter 7 cases
FIRST of all, let’s have a moment of silence for the 10 innocent victims of the shooting massacre in Boulder, Colorado earlier this week. This was another senseless killing of…
CITEM, FAME+ brands to showcase nature-inspired pieces at Philconstruct VX
The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) brings in 10 of the country’s leading manufacturers of world-class décor, furniture, homeware, and lighting in the first-ever digital edition of…
Pure Air Everywhere with LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier and new line of Air Conditioners
LG Brings UVnano Technology to the Philippines LG Philippines has finally launched one of their most eagerly awaited Air Solutions products in the country. In a recent installment of the…
[COLUMN] Filing bankruptcy: Lose your debt, not your assets
Filing bankruptcy can be a big decision that most people put off until they realize that they have no other way out of debt. Unfortunately, however, sometimes people wait too…
[COLUMN] The ‘Hero Pay’: LA enacts $5 hourly hazard pay for grocery & pharmacy employees
IT has been over year since California declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, many employees have stopped coming to their workplaces and have worked…
[COLUMN] Q&A for third round of stimulus payments
HERE are simplified Questions & Answers about the freshly minted third round of stimulus payments under the new American Rescue Plan Act of March 2021. 1. How much is the…