THESE are trying times indeed. We have been advised to self-isolate in the meantime that we are waging a war against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Sure, social distancing makes a whole lot of sense. But what happens to all those new bankruptcy cases I just filed on behalf of my clients with 341A hearings coming…
The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles has temporarily suspended its consular services indefinitely in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread. The suspension, which took place on Thursday, March 19, is in place until further notice. The services include passport renewal, notarization, dual citizenship, civil registry, visas, overseas voter registration and outreach. The consulate…
By: Seema Nanda, Rep. Grace Meng, and Bel Leong-Hong ACROSS the country, COVID-19 is taking its toll. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that despite the continued lack of widespread testing, they have identified more than 10,000 infections across all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin…
FILIPINO restaurants in New York are feeling the pinch as the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic forced them to drastically cut their operations, doing away with dine-in and focusing only on pick up, to go or delivery. Restaurants in the city are among the particularly hard-hit and the restrictions made by the governors of…
The Philippine Consulate General is set to reopen on March 27, Friday after the mandatory 14-day isolation period for close exposure incidents. Upon its reopening, the consulate will be implementing some limitations in order to conform to current COVID19 mitigation measures. Among these measures are the immediate suspension of dual citizenship applications and processing, personal…
Watch Atty. Gurfinkel’s latest immigration update on COVID 19, where USCIS is cancelling all in-person services until at least April 1, 2020, and Immigration Courts (EOIR) have cancelled all non-detained hearings (Master and merits).
Actress Vanessa Hudgens, who is part Filipina, came under fire after making dismissive remarks about the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a live video on Instagram. “I’m sorry, but like, it’s a virus, I get it, like, I respect it, but at the same time I’m like, even if everybody gets it, like yeah, people…
AS attorneys, we get frantic or panicked phone calls from our clients worried about their cases. It’s a natural response – nobody wants to be in a place of unknowing – and we try our best to walk people through the process. For the most part, the panic comes from information gathered from the wonderful…
EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
SAN FRANCISCO Mayor London N. Breed on Tuesday, March 17 announced a moratorium on commercial evictions for small and medium-sized businesses related to financial impacts caused by COVID-19. The moratorium will prevent any small- to medium-sized business from being evicted due to a loss of income related to lost revenue or other economic impacts caused…
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo in a video released on Tuesday evening, March 17 called for more social safety nets for the poorest Filipinos affected by a month of quarantine. The vice president appealed to the private sector to provide meals and financial aid to affected barangays and communities. Robredo backed the strategy of social distancing to…
COUNTY and city officials from seven Bay Area counties issued a “shelter-in-place” order this week for its residents in a bid to stop the spread of the newly-discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), which has been designated as COVID-19, in areas where cases are increasing. The order, announced on Monday, March 16, affects about 7 million people in…
HERE are some medical facts and practical Do-It-Yourself (DIY) measures to ward off the COVID-19 infection that is now a serious pandemic. CAVEAT: A clean well-ventilated home is our safest sanctuary. Self-quarantine by everyone around the world will help end this pandemic much sooner. Wisdom and a healthy dose of rational fear and paranoia (medical…
“… As within, so without…” — Hermes Trismegistus WHILE appearances may deceive, more often than not, what you are is reflected on the outside. Becoming your own style icon does not mean maxing out your credit cards just to follow the latest fashion trends. Don’t do it. It’s a fool’s errand. You can never get…
The Philippine Department of Health said novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country could rise to 75,000 in two to three months if the spread of the contagion is not contained. “Within two to three months, it can reach that peak in which 75,000 may possibly get infected,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on…
NEW YORK-based Filipino American lawyer and legal recruiter David Lat announced on social media this week that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “Hello everyone. You are looking at New York State’s 951st and New York City’s 464th confirmed case of Covid-19 aka coronavirus,” he posted on Monday, March 16. Lat called…
NEVADA Governor Steve Sisolak has announced the closure of ‘nonessential’ businesses, including casinos, throughout the state for at least 30 days to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), beginning on Wednesday, March 18. Businesses ordered for closure include all casinos and gaming machines, clubs and bars, hair and nail salons, gyms and shopping…
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday, March 18 announced an $11 million economic relief package for small businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we’ll do everything possible to help them survive this crisis,” said Garcetti. “This program will offer the support they urgently need…
Forty-six new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, the county Department of Public Health said on Wednesday, March 18. There are now 190 identified cases across the county. “We will see an increase in positive cases today, tomorrow and for the coming weeks, but that doesn’t mean our…
With the coronavirus pandemic now declared a national emergency in the United States, uncertainty and fear are breeding acts of discrimination and violence against individuals of Asian descent. To help combat the rising tide of hatred, Asian American artists, leaders and influencers have launched #WashTheHate, a social media campaign designed to raise awareness about anti-Asian…
The 72-hour deadline for international travelers to leave the Philippines has been lifted, the government announced on Wednesday, March 18. The updated announcement from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), balikbayans, and foreigners to leave the country through any of the ports in Luzon…
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the Philippines under a state of calamity in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He signed Proclamation 929 on Tuesday, March 17, which declares a state of calamity for a period of six months unless lifted earlier extended “as circumstances may warrant.” The declaration…
Increased virus risk prompts LAUSD to close, open up food banks for students As it continues to spread, the novel coronavirus has prompted large-scale shutdowns of school districts, workplaces, and social gatherings, disrupting daily life for families across the world. The United States’ response came later than that of other countries (President Donald Trump announced…
THE U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced on Tuesday, March 17 that the U.S. government has committed more than P139 million ($2.7 million) to support the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) in its response to COVID-19 in the country. The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will collaborate with Philippine government…
CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Monday night, March 16 halting evictions and foreclosures as the coronavirus pandemic threatens the livelihoods of the state’s renters and homeowners. The executive order comes as Californians are experiencing substantial loss of hours or wages, or layoffs related to COVID-19, affecting their ability to keep up with…
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced on Monday, March 16 a regional approach to combatting the novel coronavirus – or COVID-19 – throughout the tri-state area. Among the uniform standards include limiting crowd capacity for social and recreational gatherings to 50 people; restaurants and bars…
International airports in Luzon have a 72-hour window to accommodate foreigners seeking to leave the Philippines, the country’s Department of Transportation said on Tuesday, March 17. After that, all gateways from the mainland will be closed in compliance with the “enhanced community quarantine” enforced on the island. “Outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from…
