WHEN a petition is filed for a family member, the beneficiary (the person being petitioned) is assigned a “priority date,” which is their “place in line” for a visa. They can apply for their immigrant visa or green card only when their priority date is current (or visa is available), which can take many, many…
WITH the new year, the Asian Journal editorial team looks back at the Something Filipino (SF) Magazine stories from 2019. Each week, the SF Magazine features long-form stories of Filipino Americans who continue to break barriers in their respective career fields, as well as highlighting the Fil-Am experience living in America and the social issues…
THE Philippine government is ordering thousands of Filipino workers to evacuate Iraq, Iran and Lebanon as the situation between the United States and Iran continues to escalate. The alert level in Iraq has been raised to the highest level, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which directs Filipino overseas workers to leave the…
FORMER Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to re-examine the initial vote recount results in the electoral protest he filed against Vice President Leni Robredo. In a 809-page memorandum filed before the tribunal on December 19, 2019 and released to reporters on Tuesday, January…
The City will fund new housing at The Abigail and The Post Hotels, including permanent supportive housing SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Mayor London N. Breed on Tuesday, January 7 announced the City will open 151 units of housing for homeless and formerly homeless adults at The Abigail Hotel and The Post Hotel. Following the announcement,…
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…
Las Vegas campus graduate shares experience Aside from working hard and perseverance, one of the most important factors in kicking off your career is education — and the institution you get it at. A school with a reputable background can build a stable foundation and give its students a solid head start, a higher chance…
Massachusetts Mutual Life insurance Company (MassMutual) announced last November 4 that its Board of directors has approved a $1.7 billion estimated dividend payout in 2020 to eligible participating policynowners and members. While dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid policy owner dividends every year since 1869. With the 2020 estimated payout, the company will have…
CREDIT card/identity fraud Did your credit card data just got stolen, while your card was in your purse or wallet? Yes, today’s technology in the hands of thieves makes it very easy for them to steal your personal data, even your identity, without opening your purse or wallet, all by simply coming close to you,…
WITH the new year upon us, a top resolution that individuals continue to promise is: read more books. Luckily, like 2019 — which was a stellar year to accomplish the goal as there were over a dozen new releases by Filipino and Filipino American authors across genres — 2020 is shaping up to be…
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through its foreign service posts, is beginning to remind all Filipino citizens overseas to register now as overseas voters for the 2022 Philippine National Elections. What you need to register: • An accomplished and signed application form (check the website of your local Philippine Embassy or Consulate General); •…
Registered nurses at Methodist Hospital ratify historic first contract that sets nurses workplace protections in stone LAST month, registered nurses at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California ratified their first-ever contract with the state’s largest nurses union to ensure fair and safe working conditions and transparency between nurses and administrative staff. Methodist Hospital’s historic contract comes…
OPPOSITION Senator Leila De Lima should be included in the list of individuals to be banned from the United States, Malacañang argued. “She (De Lima) should put herself on the top list plus (former senator and administration critic Antonio) Trillanes (IV) and others who have been peddling lies to the outside world,” said presidential spokesman…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, January 7 dismissed Vice President Leni Robredo’s published report that called the administration’s three-year war against illegal drugs a “massive failure.” This comes after the vice president on Monday released her long-awaited report on the situation of the anti-drug campaign based on her 18-day stint as the Inter-Agency Committee…
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are just starting the new year 2020 and the new decade, and yet we already feel the heavyweight of what is going on in our life, in our country, in our world. Maybe you are battling sickness, or are mourning the death of someone dear to you. Perhaps you have a…
By Anna Almendrala President Donald Trump, a self-described germophobe, has made no secret of his disgust with California’s growing homeless problem, which he has called a “disgrace” and “inappropriate” and equated to “living in hell.” “We should all work together to clean up these hazardous waste and homeless sites before the whole city rots away,”…
FILIPINOS in the United States would not be covered by the Duterte administration’s proposed plan requiring American citizens to obtain visas before entering the Philippines, Malacañang clarified this week. This comes after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo previously said that President Rodrigo Duterte would order American citizens, “including Filipino Americans,” to get a visa before traveling…
A third American senator has been subjected to a travel ban to the Philippines for his reported support of denying Philippine government officials entry into the U.S. if they were involved in Senator Leila De Lima’s arrest and detention. Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey on Thursday said that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration had confirmed he…
President Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere with the franchise renewal of major television network ABS-CBN, Malacañang said on Friday, January 3. This is because Congress has the prerogative to grant the network’s franchise, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. “The president will not interfere with that prerogative unless there is an evident and brazen grave…
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI), the largest organization of foreign and Filipino electronics companies in the Philippines, will present the Philippine electronic capabilities during the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES). CES 2020 will run from January 7-10 in…
The new High Limit Gaming and Asian-Inspired Eatery offer opulent entertainment experiences; plus, the launch of a $10,000 cocktail SAN Manuel Casino recently announced the opening of its newest high limit gaming space – High Limit Tables and High Limit Slots – plus its newest culinary experience – Hong Bao Kitchen, an Asian-inspired eatery with…
INDIVIDUAL Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) are used by people who should file income tax returns but are not eligible for Social Security numbers. A vast number of ITINs expired at the end of 2019. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig distributed information materials in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean and Haitian on…
AS we celebrate the New Year, let’s remember the famous words of Dag Hammarskjold, the Swedish diplomat and second Secretary-General of the United Nations: “For all that has been, thank you. For all that is to come, yes!” These words imply two great attitudes: gratitude and openness to God’s will. We’re thankful to God for…
THE special week celebrating APA fashion designers is currently recruiting models to participate Contrary to popular belief, it’s not easy being a model. Also contrary to popular belief, the beauty of a model is beyond skin-deep. Tina Shih knows this. The former model, educator and pageant coach understands the importance of personal presentation; it’s more…
THE California Family Rights Act (CFRA) entitles employees who work in businesses of 50 or more employees, 12 weeks of leave from work. This benefit is provided when they have to care for their seriously ill child, parent or spouse, for birth of and bonding with a newborn, or for the adoption or foster care…
ON Wednesday, January 1 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law hundreds of bills that address a bevy of progressive policies that range from renter protection laws to an individual mandate law that requires all Californians to have health insurance. In total, 1,200 laws were signed on the first day of 2020, but some will…
THE ballroom will be decked in shining, shimmering splendor as guests are invited to come in their dazzling best to the annual fundraiser of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA (FACCGLA) on Sunday, January 12. The “Shining Shimmering Splendid Gala” will be held at the Hilton Woodland Hills, beginning at 6 p.m….
