Dela Rosa to inquire about reported US visa cancellation
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Monday, December 16, said he has not received a confirmation from the U.S. Embassy about his visa being cancelled due to his key role in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs. “I have heard rumors about it, but I have not received any official confirmation [from the U.S….
Now at the Pantages, the ‘Frozen’ musical doesn’t fail to warm hearts
EVER since the Disney movie “Frozen” came out in 2013, everyone has sung along and learned the words to songs like “Let it Go” or “Do You Want To Build a Snowman?” Six years later, one may assume that we’d collectively be tired of these tunes. The Broadway production of “Frozen” has made its way…
Palace urges Congress to pass FOI bill
Malacañang on Friday, December 13, renewed its call for the passage of a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, saying it is needed for transparency in the government. “Freedom of Information… must be implemented across the bureaucracy: the executive, legislature, judiciary, including the local government units. I still remain hopeful that our lawmakers will finally heed…
‘Duterte has all legal options’ on water firms’ rate hike bid
WATER rates may increase by over 100% after the cancellation of Maynilad and Manila Water’s concession agreement extensions since President Rodrigo Duterte has all the legal options at his disposal, Malacañang reminded on Friday, December 13. The water firms’ agreements with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) was supposed to end in 2037, but…
Maria Ressa among Time’s 100 ‘most influential people’ of 2019
Rappler founder and CEO Maria Ressa was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2019. Ressa joins notable international personalities like U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and musicians Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. According to Time magazine Editor-in-Chief and…
US Senate committee backs resolution in support of De Lima, Ressa
Palace claims senators were ‘misled’ THE United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week passed a resolution calling on the Philippine government to release Sen. Leila de Lima from prison and drop the charges against Rappler founder Maria Ressa. Senate Resolution 142 declared De Lima a “prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of her…
Replacement of naturalization certificate
KAPAG ang Naturalization Certificate o Certificate of Citizenship ay nawala, ninakaw, nasira o nawasak, ang aplikante ay maaaring mag-apply ng replacement o kapalit ng Naturalization Certificate sa USCIS sa pamamagitan ng Form N-565 Application for Replacement Naturalization/Certificate Document. Ang filing fee sa Form N-565 ay $555. Ang aplikante ay maaari ring humingi ng…
Year-end tax plan for 2019
THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to income tax rates and traditional deductions. Let’s look at 10 tips on how those changes affect tax plans for this year ending December 31, 2019. This is the third of a three-part series. 7. Cover health care costs efficiently Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible…
Acclaimed film ‘Quezon’s Game’ to be screened in LA Dec. 16-22
Critically acclaimed during its multi-award-winning festival run and successful May 2019 theatrical release in the Philippines, “Quezon’s Game” will have sneak peek screenings Dec. 16-22 in Los Angeles. There will be three screenings every day from Monday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Downtown Independent, which can be found at https://quezonsgame.bpt.me/. “Quezon’s Game” will begin…
How can INA section 245(i) benefit you?
CERTAIN aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1 visa/ jumpship) Accepting unauthorized employment Entering the US without inspection (No I-94 or crossing the border without a visa) Remaining in the US past the…
Big ways for small businesses to save energy during the holidays
THE holiday season is often an active time that can become even busier for small business owners who keep the rush humming. From serving their neighborhoods to wrapping up end-of-year projects and preparing for the new year, small business owners have plenty to think about. However, remembering to check in on your energy use during…
Remembering a community historian
LOS Angeles Philippine Women’s Club board of directors member and historian Lorna Dumapias passed away on November 30, 2019. Lorna was one of the longtime members of the 58-year-old organization that brings together Filipina woman throughout Los Angeles to promote education, cultural and philanthropic activities. Photos show Lorna attending the Philippine Women’s Club meeting last…
Simbang Gabi 2019: ‘Come and celebrate as we encounter Christ; For we are one body’
LOS ANGELES: The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is now preparing for its annual Simbang Gabi celebration, which will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 6:30 PM. The liturgy will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, located at 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA…
Deadline for Covered California enrollment approaching
Consumers who want their coverage to start on Jan. 1 must sign up by Dec. 15. A life-altering letter in the mail from Covered California has changed John and Shannon’s outlook for 2020. The retirees are about “95 percent” done with building their dream home in Red Bluff, but monthly health care insurance bills were…
Red Cross: 10 ways to safely decorate your home
Christmas and New Year’s are the top days for home candle fires in the U.S. THE 2019 holiday season is here, and the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region wants everyone to stay safe as they decorate their homes. Decorations like trees, lights and candles increase the risk of home fires during the holidays —…
Dec. 16 is deadline to apply for $1.2 million in scholarships from Edison Scholars Program
ROSEMEAD, Calif. — There’s still time for high school seniors whose dreams are to power the future and make a difference through the study of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) to apply for Edison International’s $1.2 million 2020 Edison Scholars Program. The scholarship application deadline is Dec. 16. To apply and obtain additional eligibility information,…
What’s next for DACA recipients and their families?
After the Supreme Court oral arguments, immigration experts shed light on facts regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate DACA WHEN the Trump administration announced on Sept. 5, 2017 that it would phase out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the world turned upside down for hundreds of thousands of program recipients and their families….
Greetings on this third Sunday of Advent!
“We want to see Christians manifest joy in their faith.” AS many of you know, I spent five years working in seminary to train future priests. A big part of my job, which I enjoyed most, was visiting and evaluating seminarians on their year of supervised parish internship. In my visits to our seminarian-interns, I…
Debt problems: Can filing bankruptcy change your life for the better?
ARE you overwhelmed with debt problems that seem insurmountable? Are you starting to feel hopeless about your financial future and thinking you’ll never get ahead? You may be at a critical point in your life where the decisions you make at this very moment will determine the kind of life you will have in the…
My Christmas box
IN both fiction and reportage, I’ve always made known that the winding down of autumn and ushering of winter puts me in a heavy and philosophical mood. I’m thinking about the deep and very private personal needs of people. A need that when met, gives us a sense of well being, one of them the…
One year of California for All
By: Governor Gavin Newsom There’s no state in America quite like California. In troubled times for the Nation, California is where the American Dream is alive and well. The most diverse state in the world’s most diverse democracy, California is big-hearted, thriving, inclusive and bold. This year, we’ve been working to build a California for…
Pat pat, slap slap
THE 30th Southeast Games hosted by the Philippines will end December 11 with a spectacular show, if we are to base our expectations on the opening ceremony. But more than that, as the host country we will have set a new record in terms of the medal harvest — well ahead of runner-up Indonesia, and…
Chapter 7, 13 or debt settlement? Client with $40K in credit card debt examines the differences
THE client is 42 and is going through a divorce after a short two-year marriage. He has moved out of the marital home and now lives by himself. He has a toddler who is with his wife, so he expects to pay child support. There is not alimony because the marriage has not lasted 10…
Instructing employees to record meal breaks not taken is illegal
ALIVIA Stricklin worked as a security officer for First Alarm Security, a company in San Jose, CA that provides security and patrol services to businesses and homeowners. Stricklin’s duties included patrolling the premises, typically working from eight to fourteen hours a day, six days a week. Stricklin and her fellow employees claimed that they were…
Hello Panda Festival Lights Up the NYC Holiday Season with Radiant Displays of Color, Culture and Craftsmanship
Featuring over 120 Instagrammable displays utilizing more than ten million individual lights, the first-time event now open at Citi Field through January 26, 2020 FROM New York to Los Angeles, lantern festivals – outdoor exhibits featuring giant illuminated displays — have become enormously popular in the US in recent years, thanks to their jaw-dropping spectacle. Last week, New…
‘You are all winners’ – Palace on SEA Games competitors
Malacañang lauded all the athletes who participated in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games hosted by the Philippines for bringing pride and honor to their countries. “The Palace congratulates all the athletes and their support staff. All of you did a wonderful job giving pride and honor to your respective countries. Your very presence here…
PDEA chief finds it hard to deal with Robredo as ICAD co-chair
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director-General Aaron Aquino on Thursday, December 12, said he felt uncomfortable with Vice President Leni Robredo when she was his Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) co-chair. According to him, since Robredo is the vice president of the country, he found it hard to “dictate” her on what to do….
Caldwell celebrates with Philippine Rondalla Holiday Concert
ON December 14 at 2pm, the Alay Philippine Performing Arts Rondalla and special guests will present an afternoon of Philippine music, as well as well-known favorites and holiday melodies, at the Caldwell Public Library located at 268 Bloomfield Avenue. The event is free, but reservations are required. Founded in 1999 by Mirinisa Myers and Ameurfina Nazario, the Alay…