LA’s first Filipino American police commander has a big task: Help solve the homeless crisis
There’s a new police commander in Los Angeles, and for the first time in the department’s 150-year history, it’s a Filipino American. Donald Graham, a 24-year veteran of the LA Police Department, was recently appointed to commander rank and to be the department’s coordinator in tackling the city’s homeless problem. Timed with Fil-Am History Month,…
Highlights of the 75th Anniversary of the Leyte Landings
Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte – The ground zero of the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Leyte Landings last October 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2019 were naturally at Palo and Tacloban City, Leyte. Except for the usual separate hosting of programs, breakfasts, lunches and dinners by the municipalities of Tolosa, Dulag, Tacloban City…
Consulate Organizes Trade Mission To The Philippines
(22 October 2019, Honolulu, Hawaii) – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu assisted in organizing the Manila and Clark-leg of the 29th Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) Joint Trade Mission to the Philippines from 14-22 October 2019. This year’s Trade Mission is jointly led by Consul General Joselito Jimeno, Hawaii State Representative John…
7 PBA players who should have made it to the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) are both well-known basketball leagues, but they are worlds apart. One is the best in the world, a lucrative enterprise with 30 teams each worth at least a billions dollars, with the New York Knicks the NBA’s most valuable franchise at $4 billion. The lowest…
New committee seeks to ensure all Filipinos are counted in 2020 census
Fil-Am leaders in Los Angeles launch Filipino Complete Count Committee of LA County In an effort to combat an undercount of the Filipino community, Filipino American leaders in the Los Angeles area have established a new outreach endeavor to ensure a full count of Filipino residents in the United States in the 2020 census. On…
Asian American group disappointed in Newsom’s veto of bill protecting imprisoned immigrants from deportation
With California being a “sanctuary state” where law enforcement officers are prohibited from assisting in federal immigration enforcement, it came as a surprise when a bill prohibiting state prisons from allowing federal immigration arrests was vetoed. California Governor Gavin Newsom returned the bill without his signature on Saturday, October 12 — a day after he…
Tasting the flavors of Taiwan at 99 Ranch Market
Organized by 99 Ranch Market, sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Bureau of Foreign Trade, “Fantastic Flavors of Taiwan-2019 99 Ranch Market Taiwan Food Festival” officially kicked off on October 12. This special promotion runs until October 27 for three consecutive weekends in Southern California, Nevada, Texas, New Jersey, and Maryland stores….
First Filipino Heritage Tour of Carson to be held on October 25
SAN PEDRO, CA – In conjunction with “Recuerdos-Souvenirs,” New Works by Eliseo “EL1SY” Art Silva which opened at Pinta*Dos Philippine Art Gallery on October 3 and will be up until November 23, 2019, the artist will conduct a guided tour of his Carson-based “recuerdos” on Friday, October 25 from 1:30pm -4:00 pm. Dubbed as the…
California to provide financial boost to help buy health coverage
by Bernard Wolfson IF you are among the Californians who buy your own health insurance, a surprise may await you as the enrollment period for 2020 coverage opens this week. Starting Jan. 1, California will become the first state to offer subsidies to middle-income people who make too much money to qualify for the federal…
De Lima identifies ‘persecutors’ who should be denied US visas
SENATOR Leila De Lima on Thursday, October 17, listed the names of the people behind her detention in 2017 at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center after two American senators proposed to deny U.S. visas to those supposedly responsible for her imprisonment. De Lima, who is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war…
Lawmaker: ‘Abominable’ should be banned
A MINORITY lawmaker in the Philippines on Thursday, October 17, said the animated film “Abominable” should be banned from the country’s movie houses, stressing that it will have a “negative bearing on our integrity as a country and a nation.” “The movie ‘Abominable’ should be banned, or if it’s already showing in our movie houses,…
Recognizing individuals
THEY met in Las Vegas. From all over the world, they came and gave three days of their lives to be with each other. It was in the Philippines Normal University Global Alumni Association (PNUGAA) gala where former classmates, mostly seniors now; gathered, danced, broke bread, wined and caught up with their lives. Their stories…
Should you consider filing for bankruptcy?
“The law says that bankruptcy is nothing more than a fresh financial start when you are no longer in a position to help yourself.” A LOT of people who are contemplating bankruptcy as a solution to their debt problems often wonder if it can be avoided at all. They fear that they might be making…
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Exchange-Traded Funds versus Mutual Funds Part 1 of 2 YOU have two options to diversify your stock portfolio: exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. Both involve pooling money that becomes part of a big fund invested in a mix of different assets. Depending upon the mutual fund or ETF you buy, you can gain exposure…
Putative spouse status as a defense to a petition for nullity of marriage
ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void. These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud…
Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by deceased relative
DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed the I-130 petition after I came to the US in 1999 as a tourist from the Philippines. Since my arrival, I have lived in the…
Chapter 13 client with house default dies. What happens next?
THERE’S a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest. There’s a time for everything. So states Ecclesiastes 3: “For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven… A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear…
Vice President Leni Robredo maintains victory over Bongbong Marcos after electoral protest recount
LENI ROBREDO was sworn in as vice president of the Philippines after winning in the 2016 elections, defeating her political rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. by just 263,473 votes. This prompted the son of the deposed dictator to allege that he was “cheated” and therefore filed an electoral protest against her, the widow of the popular…
Thinking of filing a discrimination or retaliation claim? Here are the new deadlines
Q: AFTER I came back from a two-month medical leave, my employer told me that my position was eliminated. However, I heard from a former coworker that the employer hired a person to replace me. Was I wrongfully fired? Can I still file a claim, considering that the firing occurred 11 months ago? A: The…
France, Qatar to Pangasinan and engagements in Asia and the U.S.
We had a hectic month-long journey to France including Lourdes where we visited once more the shrine of our Blessed Virgin Mary, then to Qatar in the Middle East, and in the last few days back to our home province of Pangasinan. With wife Gina, we spent five days until yesterday with our former constituents,…
Preparing for the ‘What ifs’
Part 1 of 2 WITHOUT any doubt, crafting a Family Constitution or a Charter is one major step to every founder’s dream and aspiration of ensuring that his blood, sweat and tears (legacy) is cemented for generations to come. The objective therefore in any governance undertaking is to anticipate the “what ifs,” create harmony, and…
Persistence wins!
ASK God with a sincere heart for his absolute forgiveness for all your failures and sinfulness, and he will grant it to you. Plea to him for a place in heaven along with your loved ones, and he will listen to you. For God sees your repentant and believing heart, and is moved by your…
New public charge rules effective October 15, 2019
ANG mga panuntunan na nagbago ng mga regulasyon tungkol sa public charge ground ng inadmissibility ay magiging epektibo sa Oktubre 15, 2019. Ipapatupad ng Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at USCIS ang mga bagong panuntunan sa mga petisyon at aplikasyon na nakapost-mark mula Oktubre 15, 2019. Noong Oktubre 9, 2019, ang USCIS ay nag-publish…
Preparing for the what ifs
(Part 1 of 2) WITHOUT any doubt, crafting a Family Constitution or a Charter is one major step to every founder’s dream and aspiration of ensuring that his blood, sweat and tears (legacy) is cemented for generations to come. The objective therefore in any governance undertaking is to anticipate the “what ifs,” create harmony, and…
