IF you are still hoping immigration reform will pass this 2014, you may be in for a big disappointment. In a 180-degree turn from his more optimistic tone in January, House Speaker John Boehner now says that is not likely to happen this year, all because of President Barack Obama. Speaker Boehner said his colleagues…
SEVERAL developments in immigration occurred this week, beginning with the possibility of raising the cost of acquiring US citizenship, if immigration reform pushes through. The current cost of filing for naturalization (or US citizenship) is $680. But according to a report from the Associated Press (AP), immigration reform could push the cost to spike up…
IN one of his most remarkable songs, popular singer/songwriter Elton John said that sorry seems to be the hardest word. This is true for most people. A sincere apology is the most effective solution to defuse personal tensions, even in resolving international problems. Pressure mounts on the Philippine government to issue a formal apology over…
YES, the National Football League championship game last Sunday, February 2, made us all want to snooze as early as the first quarter. The Seattle Seahawks, after all, “butchered” the Denver Broncos, 43-8! But thankfully, some side stories made Superbowl 48 especially memorable for us, Filipinos who watched the game! First and second headliners — …
I saw a movie the other night that reminded me of the Philippines. “Elysium,” starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, is set in the year 2154. It’s about a man-made space station in which the very wealthy live. Gleaming buildings, lush parks, manicured lawns, beautiful homes and even more beautiful people populate the enclave. The…
ACCORDING to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Arsenio Balisacan, despite the slew of disasters that hit the Philippines (Zamboanga siege, Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan), the country’s economy still grew by 6.5 percent in Q4 of 2013 — placing the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP)…
IT CAN be deemed as a love-hate relationship. Despite protests against China’s so-called “bullying” in the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, the Chinese influence is very much alive in Filipino culture — especially during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Local newscasts in the Philippines cover how Pinoys celebrate the lunar new…
THE 2013 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption conducted by Social Weather Station tells us that the Bureau of Customs, the Land Transportation Office, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Public Works & Highways, the Philippine National Police and the House of Representatives had “net sincerity ratings” in fighting corruption, ranging from “very bad”…
FILIPINOS have long desired for a more open and accountable government — a dream that may become reality soon enough. Gone are the days of secrecy and authoritarianism. President Benigno Aquino has successfully made “Tuwid na Daan” the country’s mantra, to help restore people’s faith in politics and politicians. After the revelation brought upon by…
WE have been inundated with letters and emails, inquiring about the status of the Philippines’ call for the United States to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which would give more visa relief to Filipinos in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda. TPS would help about 1 million Filipinos in the United States with expiring or…
SEN. Bong Revilla’s privilege speech on January 20 seems to have generated more hatred for the actor-senator, instead of alleviating the public’s ire over his alleged involvement in the multi-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or better known as the pork barrel) scam. Inquirer.net opinion writers, Conrado De Quiros and Randy David have regarded his…
(Part 2 of 2) LAST week, I shared the first part of the speech by Atty. Arnedo Valera, Legal Counsel of the Philippine Nurses Association in America (PNAA) and Executive Director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), delivered at the FIRST GLOBAL SUMMIT OF FILIPINO NURSES 2014 in Manila on January 16. Part 1 discussed…
THE National Day of Prayer is neither a political rally nor a spiritual event. With the theme “One Nation in Prayer,” last Monday’s gathering went beyond political separation and religious beliefs. It called on Filipinos to pause for a moment of prayer for guidance and protection, regardless of religion. The National Day of Prayer’s intent…
(Part 1 of 2) WE may have heard of some horrific stories of abuse committed by a few Filipino nurses, but I hope we do not lose sight of the big picture. It is important for us to appreciate the very big role our kababayan nurses play in the economic, social and cultural system of …
WHEN Labor Rosalinda Baldoz announced on January 12 that the government is “liberalizing the labor market and allowing entry of foreign workers with the required skills so we can fill up those hard to fill occupations due to shortage,” netizens expressed their anger in social media. The need was based on a study conducted by…
THE nursing profession is a field that Filipinos are known to excel in. Patients credit and are most thankful for Pinoy nurses’ high level of knowledge, strong work ethic and remarkable degree of compassion. However, we also hear stories of abuse being committed by a few, which may taint or affect the image and reputation…
BY definition, a good politician is someone who does a good job at being a leader and representing his people’s best interests. Through polls, not only are leaders’ performance projected through approval ratings. These numbers also represent the dynamics of Philippine politics, a gauge whether it is progressing or regressing. According to Pulse Asia’s latest…
THE recent news about shoppers’ credit, debit and even personal data being stolen by hackers from big retail stores (like Target and Neiman Marcus) have left many of us feeling very vulnerable. We try to be frugal in our spending, especially during these tough economic times, and the thought of having thieves steal our hard-earned…
CONTRARY to the glowing praise that the super rich residents of Dasmariñas Village have showered on their security guards, in the wake of their altercation with Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, a report by GMA Network’s Mike Enriquez and complaints posted on the Internet depict many instances of Gestapo-like arrogance and rudeness on the part of…
AT THE vin d’ honnuer celebration for New Year’s in Malacañang, President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked the international community for inundating the Philippines with support and assistance, while the country was beset with a bevy of recent calamities. He also emphasized that these acts of kindness have strengthened the Philippines’ ties with other countries….
LAST Wednesday, I asked our readers: Will immigration reform pass in 2014? The Democrat-led Senate has already passed the bill last year, but it stalled in the Republican-led House of Representatives. The new year, however, ushered in more optimistic possibilities. The New York Timesreported: “Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio has signaled he may embrace…
A PRAGMATIC approach is always the best solution to resolve any conflict. On January 17 last year, the US Navy minesweeper, USS Guardian ran aground the Tubbattaha Reef while on its way Puerto Princesa. The USS Guardian hit the Philippines’ largest marine protected area and caused damage to an estimated 2,345.67 square meters of coral…
THE passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform was among the campaign promises of then-presidential candidate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential elections. On the second term of the Obama administration, the US immigration system remains broken. Republicans and Democrats continue to differ in solutions to the immigration problem. But even as the president supports…
FOR returning $300,000 to its rightful owner, Las Vegas-based and 55-year-old Filipino cab driver Gerardo Gamboa has made his kababayans in the US proud. Yet, despite being lauded and rewarded, Gamboa downplayed his act of honesty, saying that “he didn’t need a reward money,” and “that kind of feeling, knowing that he did something good…
WITH the US Supreme Court’s decision last June — effectively ruling that marriage in America isn’t just a union between a man and a woman — gays and lesbians are now free to marry the person they choose, and to petition their spouse to migrate to the United States, through the legal process. This principle…
WE still have to hear the last word about the Culture of Impunity that is said to pervade our government and the bureaucracy, and there I was, the other day, being told about our government’s Culture of Incompetence. I don’t usually allow a non-Filipino to say unflattering things about the Philippines or the Philippine government…
President Aquino is correct that Typhoon Haiyan demonstrates that our efforts to prevent future similar damage should focus on fundamental reforms and “build back better.” However, the price President Aquino has put on the damage is approximately 600 billion pesos or $13 billion. The problem confronting the Philippines, however, is that the nations most capable…
As we start a new chapter in our lives, both as individuals and as a community, allow me to share with you these beautiful quotes that I hope will help you start the year right. Cheers to a new beginning! God bless us all. “The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its…
AS 2013 comes to a close, Asian Journal would like to look back into the most significant events that have ensued in this Year of the Snake. 2013 had its share of highs and lows, with immigration reform still on top of mind. The recent request made by the Philippine government for Temporary Protected Status…
NOT even the festive and joyful spirit of the holidays could stop kababayans from sharing their sentiments, in response to the CCTV video that has become viral online. Such video showed how Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay, Jr. and his troop treated the security guards in Dasmariñas Village, who prevented them from exiting through the…
