Filipina senior attacked in NY says she forgives attacker
THE elderly Filipina immigrant who was assaulted in New York earlier this year has revealed that she forgives her attacker and “prays” for him. In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ “Nightline” on Thursday, May 20, Vilma Kari said: “My attacker, I prayed for him because I felt he needed prayers.” “That’s part of our…
COVID-19 vaccine availability gives hope for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
CDC continues to provide guidelines on safely gathering, traveling for fully vaccinated people MAY is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a celebration of AAPI achievements and a time for the country to recognize our community’s contributions throughout U.S. history. This year, in the face of anti-Asian hate incidents and our community’s continued…
[COLUMN] Education is critical against anti-Asian hate
Education is critical in the campaign against anti-Asian hate especially today as Asians have become the face of the coronavirus. All Asian Americans have a stake in this education project. Since the beginning of the year, as awareness about the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes has grown, so have public displays of condemnation and protests….
[COLUMN] Activists call on Biden for a wartime global strategy vs COVID-19: Force pharmaceutical companies to transfer their intellectual property to vaccine makers overseas
YES, we are getting there as one country, closer than ever to defeating COVID-19, and the path toward a better, healthier and stronger America is becoming wider and brighter. The New York Times reported that based on all data and indicators, columnist David Leonhardt optimistically stated on May 21, Friday, that “The pandemic may now…
4 Pinoy cadets graduate from US Coast Guard with Biden as keynote speaker
FOUR Filipino cadets have graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), bringing them closer to becoming commissioned officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). First-class Filipino cadets Genison Basilio, Eric Joseph Noble, Daisy Anne Atayan, and Dianne Shaira Basuel were among the 240 cadets to graduate from the USCGA Class of 2021 on…
[COLUMN] Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation
A PERSON who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than two years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for two years. In order to continue to have permanent resident status after two years, the…
[COLUMN] Happy Pentecost!
WE can’t put the Holy Spirit in a box. Like the wind, he blows wherever he wishes. He uses people he wants to use, even those that we would never imagine. The conversion and the missionary life of St Paul are some of the amazing stories of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, as…
[COLUMN] How widows of US citizens can still get their green card
WIDOWS of U.S. citizens have many options of obtaining their greencard should their U.S. citizen spouse die. Under INA Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i), Widows are allowed to remain classified as immediate relatives and to continue to be eligible to immigrate if they file an I-360 selfpetition within two years of the death of the U.S. citizen or…
[COLUMN] 6 reasons the IRS could audit you
1. Failing to report some income Failing to report subcontract, interest, or dividend income are easy ways to attract an audit. I know that it’s tempting not to report income without W2s or 1099s but it’s not worth it. Many audits that I’ve handles even have 1099s but are lost or misfiled. IRS received copies…
GEICO opens local office in Burbank
GEICO has opened a new local office at 3522 W Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, California. Melody Avecilla will lead a team of licensed agents at the new location. Avecilla has significant experience in the insurance industry. Before opening this GEICO local office, Avecilla gained years of extensive insurance experience while working in auto claims and…
[COLUMN] ‘Unapproved’ overtime must still be paid
Q: I WORK as a nurse at a facility that has a strict policy of no unapproved overtime. We don’t often ask for approval since we risk being written up for “too much overtime.” We just clock out and go back to work to finish our charts. Do we have remedies? A: Yes. You should…
[COLUMN] What is the purpose of bankruptcy law?
THE highest-profile cases of bankruptcy filings are Walt Disney, Milton Hershey, Orange County, a certain Catholic diocese in the USA that was hit by the child molestation cases, the Trump companies during the 90s wiping out billions of debt, Toys “R” Us, and Hertz car rentals, among many others. A distinction can be made between…
AG Bonta announces charges against several individuals accused of defrauding Filipino elders of $5-M through int’l ponzi scheme
CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday, May 21 announced charges against 15 individuals for allegedly conspiring to defraud at least 30 known victims out of their retirement savings through an international Ponzi scheme. Targeting elderly Filipino victims, who primarily lived in Sacramento and Stockton, California, the fraudulent scheme aimed to solicit millions in investments…
Olivia Rodrigo tells it like it is on debut album ‘SOUR’
The Filipina American singer-songwriter releases her highly anticipated debut to rave reviews and an army of new fans IT’S the year of Olivia Rodrigo, and it’s best we all accept it. On Friday, May 21, the 18-year-old singer-songwriter released her highly anticipated debut album “SOUR,” an 11-track journey that expertly explains the unexplainable, uncomfortable matter…
PAL ‘forced’ to move to new LAX gate on June 1 amid concerns for elderly passengers
LA airport responds that transfer is part of modernization plan PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) announced that it will be “forced” to move to a newly built facility at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on June 1, despite raising concerns for its passengers, who are predominantly elderly or those with disabilities. Following the recent mandate of…
Kollaboration hosts EMPOWERD 2021: A virtual conference to inspire Asian American creatives
Kollaboration will once again hold its conference, where aspiring Asian Americans in arts, entertainment and new media can learn from the community’s inspiring professionals. Taking place on May 22, “EMPOWERD 2021” will be a free virtual event consisting of notable artists, actors, writers, directors, community leaders and more gathering virtually to educate Asian American creative…
Biden signs anti-Asian hate crimes bill into law
President Joe Biden signed legislation on Thursday, May 20 seeking to address anti-Asian hate crimes that have risen since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The signing came two days after the House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), in…
Kamala Harris: Asian Americans ‘have the right to be recognized as American’
UNITED States Vice President Kamala Harris proclaimed that Asian Americans “have the right to be recognized as Americans, not as the other” and can turn the pain of the past year of racially motivated violence into action. Speaking at the virtual AAPI Unity Summit hosted by AAPI Victory Alliance on Wednesday, May 19, Harris condemned…
Clark County to lift COVID-19 restrictions on June 1
CLARK County is poised to return to pre-pandemic life on June 1 after the county commission voted to lift the local COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings and capacity limits. The move comes after the relaxation of federal and state guidelines on account of the nationwide distribution of the vaccines. “Clark County will delete in its…
[COLUMN] Is unmasking safe?
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky’s announcement last week: “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing. The only exception to the rule is in certain crowded indoor spaces, such as buses, and planes, and in congregate settings, such as hospitals, homeless shelters…
19-year-old Fil-Am killed during carjacking in San Mateo, California
A FILIPINO American teenager was shot and killed while reportedly protecting his girlfriend from a group of carjackers in San Mateo, California last week. Officers were dispatched to the San Mateo Adult School at 789 E Poplar Avenue at about 8:58 p.m. on Friday, May 14, according to the city’s police department. The victim was…
New York lifts mask mandate for the vaccinated, nurses’ union condemns CDC’s new guidance
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday, May 17 the lifting of mask requirements in most public spaces for people vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state. The decision was reached after New York health officials reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new and updated guidance. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy said he would…
Anti-Asian hate crimes bill passes House, heads to Biden’s desk
The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation to address anti-Asian hate crimes that have risen since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), the bill passed in the lower chamber on Tuesday, May 18 in a 364-62 vote,…
Leading US immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers more immigrations questions from Kapamilya around the US
Jimmy from Fyffe, Alabama is worried for his parents due to COVID, and would like to know if they can come to the U.S. using their multiple-entry tourist visas then adjust status in the U.S. once they arrive. Christian from Antioch, California asks if his friend, who is a green card holder, can still return…
[Column] Biden revokes Trump’s health insurance ban
ON May 14, 2021, President Biden revoked former President Trump’s proclamation of October 4, 2019, which would have barred the entry of immigrants unless they could prove they already had health insurance, could secure health insurance within 30 days of entry or had the financial capacity to cover their healthcare costs. I have already posted…