A MAGNITUDE 6.6 earthquake rocked the Masbate province on Tuesday, August 18, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. Phivolcs initially reported a magnitude 6.5 earthquake but later upgraded it to magnitude 6.6. The tectonic quake was located five kilometers south, 17 degrees west of Cataingan town at 8:03 a.m. Intensity VII (Destructive)…
The Need for Family Governance Then The Philippine business landscape is unquestionably dominated by family-owned businesses. Despite the humble connotation that average men try to pin on it, the truth is that family enterprises are a major force that largely contributes to the economic success of the country. However, family-owned businesses are not without their…
A MUTATED strain of the novel coronavirus has been found in the Philippines, which could be more infectious than the original variant, Filipino genomic researchers reported. The G614 strain was detected along with the original D614 genotype in the positive samples collected from Quezon City, home to approximately 2.9 million residents, according to the Philippine…
THOUSANDS of Filipino seafarers are bound for European and Mediterranean itineraries as foreign cruise operators begin to rehire them. As reported by the Philippine Star, migration and recruitment consultant Manny Geslani noted that several cruise companies such as TUI Cruises, a German company in which Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) holds a stake; Hurtigruten, a private…
SUFFRAGE is defined as “the right to vote in electing public officials and adopting or rejecting proposed legislation,” according to Britannica. The exercise of the right to vote by every citizen is the very foundation of a democracy — the government of the people, by the people, for the people. But what would and should…
Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government’s response to the crisis (or, in some cases, lack thereof) has punctuated cultural, social and political inequities across all communities. Public education, income disparity and employment, housing retention and immigration are chief among the ongoing public entities that have been rocked by governmental unpreparedness throughout the…
A COUPLE of weeks ago, the word “barkada” triggered a social media debate within the Filipino American community, later expanding to the Filipino diaspora. It stemmed from the news that four white men opened a wine bar in Washington, D.C. and used the name “Barkada.” No Filipino dishes or Filipino wines and spirits were on…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will address the nation on August 17 to announce the new community quarantine classifications in the country, Malacañang said on Thursday, August 13. “Inaasahan po natin na magme-mensahe sa taumbayan muli ang ating Presidente sa August 17 kung saan ia-anunsiyo rin niya kung ano ‘yung mga bagong classification (We expect the…
FIFTEEN more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,893, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Saturday, August 15. The agency also logged 19 new recoveries, raising the number of recovered Filipinos abroad to 5,842. With three new deaths in the Americas, the…
THE Philippines will continue to be the world’s largest rice importer until 2021 with the expected decline in local production, the United States Department of Agriculture projected this week. In its latest report entitled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said that this year’s imports will decline by 10%, reaching 2.6…
$100 million to go towards rent assistance as pandemic continues THE latest Los Angeles County Rent Relief program created to help county renters who have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis will launch Monday, August 17, and will remain open for a two-week period, closing on August 31. The rent relief program will provide…
Prop 16 would repeal ban on using race and ethnicity in college admissions Even amidst a global pandemic, racial justice has remained a key issue for voters. As California gears up for the upcoming November elections, one proposition on the state’s ballot looks at whether race and ethnicity should play a factor in public employment,…
California judge denies motions to delay injunction A California judge on Thursday, August 13 denied motions by Uber and Lyft to extend a deadline to appeal a preliminary injunction that ordered the companies to classify their drivers in the state as employees. At a hearing at the San Francisco Superior Court, Judge Ethan Schulman denied…
Your right to expression in the workplace Q: I SAW your article about employee protections for political activities like attending rallies. What about posting political messages on Facebook or other social media sites? Can my employer legally fire me for postings like these? Do they have the right to ask me to take my posts…
THE COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s life in only a matter of months. As the virus continues to batter the economy, a lot of people are finding bankruptcy as their only way out. This is a sad reality but if you look on the bright side under the grim circumstances in which you find yourself…
IS there a constitutional right to file for bankruptcy? Yes, there is. The United States Constitution adopted 250 years ago provides for the creation of bankruptcy courts and the power to administer them. Our founding fathers believed that people should be given a chance to have a fresh start in life to become productive again…
NOONG Hulyo 31, 2020, inihayag ng Department of Homeland Security na mayroong final rule na magbabago ng filing fees para sa ilang mga immigration at naturalization benefit requests para paniguraduhin na ang USCIS ay makabawi ng kanilang costs of services. Ang final rule ay magiging epektibo sa Oktubre 2, 2020. Para sa N-400 Naturalization Application,…
YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue…
IT’S bad enough to receive a tax bill from the IRS. It gets worse when penalties and interest are added. Malo. 1. If the penalty is minimal, do it yourself. You may want to ask a tax accountant to review your letter. 2 .If the amount is substantial, ask a tax professional to represent you….
A PRIEST flew thousands of miles to spend a month with the community of Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India. He was in a stage of discernment for God’s further purpose in his priestly life. On the first morning that he met Mother Teresa, the pious nun asked him, “What do you want me to pray…
DESPITE delivering a stellar performance during the semifinal round, Filipino hip-hop dance crew UPeepz failed to reach the final stage of this year’s “World of Dance.” Oxygen, MDC3, Jefferson y Adrianita and Géométrie advanced to the final round of the American dance competition. Contemporary group MDC3 eventually took home the crown and the $1 million…
THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, August 13, logged 57 new cases of the novel coronavirus among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of infections to 9,873. It also recorded one new fatality, raising the death toll to 722. Meanwhile, the number of recovered overseas Filipinos has reached 5,821 as the DFA…
Malacañang said competing for tourists was what drove a newspaper from Thailand to brand the Philippines as the “Land of COVID-19.” According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the Philippines and Thailand are “fierce” competitors in the tourism sector, with the latter struggling to attract tourists due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “There’s also no way…
FILIPINO hip-hop dance crew UPeepz on Wednesday, August 12 wowed “World of Dance” judges as they competed in the semi-final round of the American dance competition. UPeepz’s 11 members showcased Filipino culture on the international stage by incorporating several local influences in their performance. They wore costumes that featured local weaves that remind of royalty from…
THE Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles this week released an advisory detailing which foreign nationals can travel to the Philippines as the pandemic continues. “The entry to the Philippines of a foreign national is still dependent on the specific circumstances of each foreign national as determined by the Bureau of Immigration,” it noted. Below is the…
By: Martin Santiago THE resilience of the housing market continues as mortgage rates hit another all-time low, giving potential buyers more purchasing power and strengthening demand. We expect rates to stay low and continue to propel the purchase market forward. However, the main barrier to rising demand remains the lack of inventory, especially for entry-level…
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, August 12, reiterated his confidence over the National Capital Region (NCR) returning to general community quarantine (GCQ) once the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) enforced on the area and nearby provinces ends on August 18. “My statement has a caveat. If trends continue that the new cases decrease, because…
AWARD-WINNING actress Maricel Soriano revealed in a recent interview with The Philippine Star that she is happy to help her younger co-stars and fellow actors who seek her opinion. “It’s a good feeling when they ask for (my opinion about or seek my) help in approaching (let’s say) this (scene),” she was quoted as saying…
