Several Fil-Ams advance to general election for Congress, state, local seats
Several Filipino Americans vying for seats on the federal, state and local levels will advance to the general election in November following the March 3rd primary. For Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, Filipina American Gina Ortiz Jones secured the Democratic nomination with 66% of the votes on Tuesday night, March 3. In November, she will face…
US wants newer, stronger defense ties with PH — Duterte
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said the United States has been reaching out to the Philippine government for newer and stronger defense ties since the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries. “It came to the fore na yung alitan ko sa kanila, tinanggal ko ‘yung VFA, sila naman ngayon ang lapit ng…
Kabilang ang mga Batang Wala Pang 5 Taong Gulang sa Pinakahindi Nabilang nang Tumpak sa Nakalipas na Senso
Tauhan ng America Counts – Nobyembre 13, 2019 Isang pagsubok ang pagbilang sa bawat taong nasa Estados Unidos sa isang senso na ginagawa bawat 10 taon. Ngunit ang pagbilang sa bawat sanggol at batang nagsisimulang maglakad sa bansa ay maaaring isa sa pinakamahirap na bahagi ng trabaho. Madalas na hindi napapagtanto ng mga magulang at adult na…
Robredo satisfaction ratings remains ‘good’ — SWS
PHILIPPINE Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo maintained her “good” satisfaction rating in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. According to the survey released Tuesday, March 3, 59% of respondents were satisfied with Robredo’s performance while 23% were dissatisfied, translating to a net satisfaction rating of +36,…
Maynard Institute, Northwestern University partner for Maynard 200 Journalism Fellowship in SF
EMERYVILLE, CA – The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications announce their partnership for this year’s Maynard 200 journalism fellowship program, aligned in their mission to galvanize diversity in media and to bolster careers of more journalists of color nationwide. Northwestern Medill will host the…
Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage
A STEPPARENT may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent–stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old. This means that the stepparent and…
Naturalization denied because didn’t work for employer
IF A person did not work for their sponsoring employer after they obtained a green card (through PERM/labor certification), it could create risks and problems for them when they file for naturalization. It could result in the revocation of their green card and deportation/removal. Every year, thousands of people obtain green cards for themselves and…
Coronavirus facts and information
ACCURATE and timely information is vital to any preventive, pre-emptive, proactive strategy when it comes to almost any potentially harmful or catastrophic situation or diseases, like the COVID-19 pandemic that is spreading around the world today. To educate the public on this 2019 nCorona virus, I am presenting this FAQ from the World Health organization…
Sustainable, ethical wear: How Pinay designer Claire Powers built her KINdom
The words “fashion” and “sustainability” were rarely ever used in the same sentence before. However, things began to change when people began talking about climate change and its chilling effects on the planet, and policies were made in order to make sure that the next generations to come would have a future. This was the…
ABS-CBN actress Kim Chiu safe after van shooting
Filipina actress Kim Chiu confirmed she is safe after her van was shot at by two unidentified gunmen aboard a motorcycle in Quezon City on Wednesday morning, March 4. “Yes I am safe po. I’m ok and my P.A. And my driver as well. Papa Jesus protected us,” Chiu posted on her Instagram page. According…
Warren’s East LA rally honors Latina-led labor movements, ignores Fil-Am labor milestones
Massachusetts senator puts in a last-ditch effort to appeal to California voters by acknowledging the history of labor movements in the Southland WHEN Elizabeth Warren first announced her presidential campaign in early 2019, the steadfast Democratic senior senator from Massachusetts was a quick favorite among Democratic voters. Since the late aughts, Warren established herself as…
As PH gov’t seeks independent foreign policy, Senate questions Duterte’s power to end treaties
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States may face some legal challenges as several senators this week voted on a resolution asking the Supreme Court to determine the Senate’s role in treaty abrogations. In a 12-0-8 vote, the Senate on Monday, March 2 adopted a resolution that…
Nine senators move to extend ABS-CBN franchise
SEVERAL Philippine senators filed a concurrent resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to allow network giant ABS-CBN to operate while its renewal bid remains pending in the 18th Congress. The Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7 stated that NTC should issue a provisional authority for ABS-CBN Corp. “to operate under the terms of its existing…
Bucket list No. 8: The art of ‘Staycation’
“When you clear your mechanism and tune out the noise that invades your being, you may come to a rare state of grace — that state when you are thoroughly convinced that God is in His heaven and all is right with the world.” THE default setting for modern life is to plan a vacation…
Panorama Tower reopens 26 years after Northridge earthquake
AFTER nearly three decades vacant, Panorama Tower reopened on Thursday, February 24 in Panorama City, California at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Titus Street. Originally designed by Welton Becket as a 13-story office building in 1962, the tower was damaged during the 1994 Northridge earthquake and had been unoccupied since. After being purchased by the Shomof Group…
Don’t fear and panic: Coronavirus Q&A and the facts according to the World Health Organization
KABABAYANS all over the world are among so many people now in a state of fear over the threats of coronavirus. We’ve seen madness over face masks, panic buying of canned goods, bottled water and other food supplies, scare over traveling either domestically or internationally, and paranoia over being with a person sneezing or coughing,…
Greenhills mall reopens with security adjustments after hostage incident
A POPULAR mall in Greenhills, San Juan City reopened and resumed regular operations on Tuesday, March 3, a day after a 10-hour hostage incident involving a disgruntled security guard. On Monday morning, March 2, 31-year-old Alchie Paray — a security guard, who was recently dismissed from work after being absent without leave for weeks —…
Tips to Stay Protected From the Manila Heat
Summer is finally upon us once again, and the typically hot Manila weather feels a lot hotter than usual. In many ways, the hot weather is but another way of life in this tropical country, which means you can’t stay cooped up inside forever. From wearing light layers to (properly) lathering up on your sunscreen,…
Why filing bankruptcy is not as bad as most people think
FILING Bankruptcy is a serious decision for most people. Although almost a million people file Bankruptcy in every year, most don’t have a clue about how the process works until they actually consult with an attorney. Confusion often results from hearing conflicting personal opinions from people they know. Sad to say, well-meaning friends and family…
As a second coronavirus case is confirmed in California, WHO upgrades risk to ‘very high’
While the rest of the world is exploring ways to combat the viral spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) within their respective countries, there has been a second confirmed case of the severe infection in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday, February 26 that an individual in California has…
Coronavirus: Learn the facts
THE Los Angeles Department of Public Health encourages residents to understand the facts about the novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV), now named COVID-19, and take the necessary steps to reduce their risk. As of press time, there is currently one case of novel coronavirus in L.A. County in a non-resident traveler from Wuhan City, and there…
Duterte: PH must be ready to defend itself post-VFA
The Philippines has “no business being a republic” if it cannot stand on its own feet, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday, February 27 in another defense of his decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States. “If we can’t do it, we have no business being a republic. You might…
Trump to nominate retired Fil-Am Navy Rear Admiral for assistant defense secretary
PRESIDENT Donald Trump plans to nominate a retired Filipino American Navy veteran to be the assistant secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the White House announced on Wednesday, February 26. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Victorino G. Mercado — who was born in the U.S. and whose family…
ABS-CBN ‘humbled’ by Duterte’s acceptance of apology
PHILIPPINE network giant ABS-CBN said it was ‘grateful and humbled’ by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of its apology over an ad campaign during the 2016 election campaign. “We are grateful and humbled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of our apology,” the network said in a statement on Thursday, February 27. “ABS-CBN remains committed to becoming…
Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce case
YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve…
Retiring senior needs bankruptcy relief for $45K credit cards
A 65-year-old husband has just handed in his application for retirement from his job. He makes a gross of $5,000 a month with overtime. Upon retirement, he will net about $3,700 as pension. That’s not bad at all. In fact, that’s a lot better than social security benefits. If it were social security, he would…
Top tax audit triggers (Part 4 of 4)
You fail to report investment income from interest and dividends: You must report interest and dividends from banks and brokers. If you fail to disclose such accounts to your spouse… err, the IRS, you could be courting an audit if the amounts are material. Remember that banks and brokers submit 1099-INT and 1099-DIV to the…
Fasting and feasting
ON this beginning of Lent, let me share with you a Lenten prayer by William Arthur Ward: Lent can be more than a time of fasting. It can also be a joyous season of feasting. Lent is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others. It is a season to: Fast…