DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: My U.S. citizen father petitioned me in 2011 as a single adult child (Category F-1). About 3 years ago, he moved back to the Philippines. I am now receiving notices from the NVC that my visa is available and I need to pay fees and submit various forms. Could I still apply…
THROUGHOUT the pandemic, the Catholic Church has led by example in making sure that our parishioners can safely worship and express their faith. At the height of the pandemic, we closed our churches. Later on, we found creative ways to worship safely — we had outdoor masses and hybrid masses where people could stay in…
THE relationship between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Manny Pacquiao has reportedly become strained following the senator’s supposed corruption remarks against the current administration. Pacquiao on Wednesday, June 30, accepted the chief executive’s challenge to name corrupt government agencies to prove the senator’s claim that corruption is getting worse in the country. “Tinatanggap ko…
Fil-Am Alameda Vice Mayor Malia Vella finishes in third MIA Bonta, president of the Alameda Unified School District’s Board of Education, has taken the lead in the special election to replace her husband Rob’s seat in the California Assembly. The election for Assembly District 18 — which covers Oakland, San Leandro and Alameda — took…
THE family of an elderly Filipina American who went missing after the collapse of a condominium building block in Florida is staying hopeful that their relative will be found alive. Maricoy Obias-Bonnefoy, 70, and her husband, Claudio Bonnefoy, 85, are reportedly among the hundreds of residents still unaccounted for following the collapse of the Champlain…
“THE greatest threat” is how Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top infectious disease doctor, calls the Delta variant of COVID-19 toward the elimination of the virus in the nation. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has relaxed many safety measures in the nation with at least 72% of adults vaccinated with…
Resort boasts 200 premium hotel rooms with top-notch amenities, full-service spa, spacious outdoor pool and a variety of top-flight restaurants ROHNERT PARK, CA – Graton Resort & Casino, a 65-acre resort with 200 upscale hotel rooms and suites, has joined the ranks of elite hotels across the country, earning a Four Diamond rating from AAA…
NEW York City is recognizing the fact that despite a long history of having been in the U.S. and increasing numbers and political influence today, the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community continues to experience a recurring dynamic of “othering,” which underlies the increasing xenophobia and anti-API hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents during the COVID-19…
SUCCESS can easily go into your head in tinseltown, especially when everybody is singing your praises. Despite the success of her first major series, “First Yaya,” Sanya Lopez is keeping intent on remaining true to herself and acknowledging that the teleserye’s success is not hers alone but is the result of the collaboration of many…
Eased restrictions do not apply to individuals arriving from the United States FULLY vaccinated individuals from certain “green” or low-risk countries will only have to spend seven days in quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines starting in July. In a statement released Wednesday, June 30, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque named 57 “green” countries and jurisdictions…
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California will restrict state-funded travel to several states due to their banning of transgender youth from athletic competitions and having access to “life-saving care.” The restriction of travel to Arkansas, Florida, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia aims to avoid supporting or financing discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, in…
Legislature also approves extension of state’s eviction moratorium Three days before the new fiscal year begins, the California State Legislature passed the yearly state budget proposal on Monday, June 28 from Governor Gavin Newsom, who proposed a wide-ranging budget that caps in at a record-breaking $262.6 billion. Lawmakers from both Democratic-controlled chambers of the Legislature…
FILIPINO boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao has brushed off the lawsuit filed by sports agency Paradigm Sports against him which seeks to stop his upcoming bout with American boxer Errol Spence Jr. “Paradigm Sports’ lawsuit against me has no merit. Under the agreement with Paradigm, I have an absolute right to engage in the…
SEVERAL Philippine senators have filed resolutions honoring the life and legacy of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who died of renal disease at the age of 61 last week. Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday, June 28, filed Proposed Senate Resolution 762, which seeks to declare every July 12, the anniversary of Manila’s arbitral…
By Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services AMID the COVID-19 global pandemic, California has led the way in establishing a variety of supports to help people through a time of increased needs and reduced earnings. At a town-hall meeting hosted by the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) and Ethnic Media Services on June 24,…
AN elderly Filipina American is among the hundreds of residents missing from the collapse of a condominium building block near Miami Beach in Florida on Thursday, June 24. Maricoy Obias-Bonnefoy, 70, and her husband, Claudio Bonnefoy, 85, who resided in unit 1001 on the 10th floor of the Champlain Towers South Condominium, are still unaccounted…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte was noticeably absent at the wake and funeral of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The chief executive did not attend his predecessor’s wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig where Aquino’s remains were first brought for cremation on Thursday, June 24 nor at the public viewing at the Church of…
THE Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is strongly recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places to prevent the circulation of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. As of June 12, the Delta variant comprised almost half of all variants sequenced in Los Angeles County, according…
WHILE the current pandemic has put on hold many people’s travel plans, take heart in knowing that Manila has something that is both unique and familiar in store for you when you get back. Through the initiative of the city government led by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and leading insurance company Allianz PNB Life,…
EMMA looked down at the busy huddle in the operating room. She was floating, hovering above the doctors and nurses in their blood spattered scrub suits while working on someone. They were desperately trying to bring a patient back to life. Emma took a closer look. “Why that’s me,” she thought. The doctors were trying…
PECHANGA Resort Casino announced it is aligning with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of California regarding the use of face masks. As of June 15, 2021, fully vaccinated guests will not be required to wear a face mask while at Pechanga Resort Casino. The resort/casino’s leadership asks non-vaccinated guests to continue…
DO COVID-19 vaccines work? More than 47 percent of the U.S. population have been fully vaccinated. More than half of Americans are not vaccinated, with almost 20 percent (60 million) refusing the vaccines, making them potential future carriers and spreaders of current and future (more severe) new strains of the virus. About 3 billion doses…
Kataluna Enriquez, a Filipina American transgender woman who was crowned Miss Nevada USA on Sunday, June 27, will become the first openly transgender woman to vie for the Miss USA title later this year. The 27-year-old took to social media to express her thanks for those who helped her in the journey after winning the…
Questions & Answers with Dr. Marc Concepcion, family physician California has now changed its mask requirements to match CDC’s guidelines, and this is what it means for everyone. •Vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most circumstances. •Unvaccinated people should wear masks in indoor, public settings. •Everyone should wear masks in public transit,…
BEING in debt and doing nothing about it can have more serious consequences than you think. First of all, it can impact your financial future. Uncontrolled debt can deprive you the opportunity to put money aside for emergencies, save money for a home or college for your children, or perhaps for retirement. Every day I…
THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s…
Q: MY job title is “manager.” I work at least 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days per week. While I supervise a few employees, I mostly do the same tasks they do. I cannot hire or fire anyone. My employer insists that since I am salaried and paid double the hourly minimum wage,…
HOW do you pick stocks to buy? Well, it depends on your overall strategy: short or long-term holding, value or growth, your aversion to risk, among other things. For now, let’s talk about the length of time you plan to hang on to your holdings — short or long term. Short-term traders hold stocks for one…
FILIPINO American organizations and officials are celebrating the approval to name a Delano park after Fil-Am labor organizer Larry Itliong, a pivotal, yet often forgotten figure of the American labor movement. The Delano City Council on Monday, June 21 unanimously approved the naming of “The Larry Itliong Unity Park” located next to the Eleventh Avenue…
