Open letter to the millennials who believe Sanders should be the Democratic nominee and not Biden to defeat Trump and transform America
I HEAR YOU. As a mother of four millennials who have campaigned and voted for Senator Bernie Sanders since the 2016 presidential election, I feel your pain and understand your worries for your future. The facts have been so excruciatingly painful in the past decade as you transition to adulthood and have to take care…
Over 500 Filipinos among those aboard cruise ship held off California coast
OVER 500 Filipinos are onboard the MV Grand Princess, a cruise ship being held off the California coast due to possible coronavirus cases, the Philippine Department of Health confirmed on Thursday, March 5. The California Air National Guard dropped off kits by helicopter to test the ship’s passengers and crew for coronavirus, known as COVID-19. …
‘A candidate to unite America’: Why Filipino Americans are coming out in support of Biden’s presidential bid
WHEN 19-year-old Angelo Salva Cruz mailed in his ballot for the California primary this week, his decision to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden was in part because he remembered learning the term ‘political polarization’ in a recent college class. “Instead of there being a spectrum, we’re seeing two extremes. Even though I agree…
California, LA County declare state of emergency over coronavirus
The state of California and Los Angeles County this week declared a public health emergency over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), with over 50 cases statewide and 13 cases confirmed in LA County alone. Officials from the LA County Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Health on Wednesday, March 4 announced a public health emergency…
PH confirms two new coronavirus cases
Two additional incidences of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reported in the Philippines, bringing the total number of cases to five, the Department of Health confirmed on Friday, March 6. The fourth reported case is a 48-year-old male Filipino who previously traveled to Japan. He returned on February 25 and experienced chills and…
Advice from 2 Filipino doctors: What Filipinos need to know about COVID-19
[Editor’s note: This article was first published on March 7, 2020, but has since been updated to reflect new data.] By Antonio Moya, MD, MPH and Nico Cabrera, MD FILIPINOS globally are struggling to make sense of the flood of information coming from social media and news outlets regarding the novel coronavirus disease (named COVID-19)…
Should employees be paid even if not working?
(Yes, if employer has control over employees) OVER a decade ago, four truck drivers sued Wal-Mart claiming Wal-Mart violated California’s meal and rest break laws. As part of their job, truckers would travel a wide range of routes, to different locations, hauling different freight. Wal-Mart paid truckers through an “activity-based pay system,” which included pay…
Provisional unlawful presence waiver
ANG isang dayuhan na ineligible sa pagkuha ng green card sa loob ng U.S. dahil sa unlawful presence ay maaaring mag-apply ng I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. Ang I-601A Waiver ay kailangang i-apply at maaprubahan bago umalis ang dayuhan sa US para sa kanyang consular immigrant visa interview. Upang maging eligible para sa I-601A provisional…
Toshimi Pacumbala: From makeup artist to gown designer
EVER since he was a kid, Toshimi Pacumbala has loved fashion. Though he started as a professional makeup artist and salon owner, he had harbored a deep appreciation and delight in making gowns. Armed with only his basic knowledge about fashion and sketching, he worked hard to make his daydreams more tangible and real, one…
What is the ‘inadmissibility on public charge grounds’ final rule?
IMMIGRANTS who are identified by the USCIS or the US Embassy of becoming a public charge will not be issued a U.S. visa, granted admission to the United States as a legal permanent resident, or allowed to adjust status status to a greencard holder. Under Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an individual…
Couple wonders how to tackle debt relief for wife
LET me give you the background on this case. The husband is 81 but still looks active. He is slim and sprightly. The wife is 79 and looks nervous. Normally, spouses are on the same track and agree with what has to be done. But in this case, I’m not sure what is going on….
How to deal with worries
WORRIES are part of human life. They bring fear in us and rob us of sleep. They prevent us from being fully present to others and mindful of the work at hand. But worries and anxieties can also be productive. They allow us to plan and to take necessary actions. If we don’t worry about…
IRS simplifies form 1040 for individuals
1. One big change this year is a reduction of Form1040 schedules from six in 2018 down to three in 2019. Some schedules will be merged while some will revert to the base 1040 form. 2. Decimal places for cents are deleted from each line. Cents are useless and create clutter. Most people round dollar…
Can I get a green card if I had a previous marriage petition denied based on fraud?
DEAR Attorney Tan, I recently married a U.S. citizen, who is my second husband. He has filed an immigrant visa petition and a green card application for me. My husband recently received from USCIS a Notice of Intent to Deny the petition that he filed on my behalf. The Notice indicated that the immigrant visa…
My years with President FVR
I COVERED the presidential term sailing through its choppy waters chronicling Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos’ (FVR) wavy patterns of success and glory, laughter and grief, loss and devastation, troubles and genuine delights. Through the oppressive summers, we fluttered around him, hot and heaving, sticky and dusty marinated in different astringents, alcohol and talcum. The…
More coronavirus alerts: Symptoms, treatments and warnings from the World Health Organization
CORONAVIRUS, specifically COVID-19, is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Here are the symptoms, treatment options and warning from the World Health Organization (WHO): What are the symptoms of COVID-19? The most common symptoms…
Cory Aquino, Maria Ressa among Time’s 100 influential women
TWO Filipinas are among those featured in Time Magazine’s “100 Women of the Year” project in celebration of March as Women’s History Month and to highlight a century of influential women often overlooked by history. Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, both of whom were previously named Woman of the Year…
Rice Tariffication Law led to record-low rice prices in seven years — DTI Chief
RCEF to provide more funds to support farmers’ productivity and income Manila – During the press conference updating the public on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez lauded the “game-changing” measure for bringing down retail prices of regular milled rice and well-milled rice to a seven-year low since the start of its…
PH Consul General signs MOU establishing Philippine Studies program at NYU
New York — Consul General Claro S. Cristobal signed on Monday, March 2 the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New York University represented by Carolyn Dinshaw, Dean for the Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Science, for the establishment of a Philippine Studies program at the prestigious university. Following the signing of the MOU, Consul General…
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…