Duterte certifies bill to restore mandatory ROTC as urgent
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, June 3, certified as urgent the bill seeking the restoration of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program for Grade 11 and 12 students. In a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Duterte said that a law is required to restore basic military and leadership training for…
Congress should grow a spine and impeach Trump after revelations in the Russia probe
ROBERT Mueller finally broke his silence on Wednesday, May 29 to announce that he was ending his tenure as special counsel and that he was resigning from the Department of Justice. He clarified the truth behind the investigation that probed any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign….
26 deals signed during Duterte’s 2019 Japan trip
President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Japan is proving to be productive as 26 agreements that could bring in P289-billion worth of investments were signed this week. The deals were read out by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during a business forum on Wednesday, May 29, at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo where Duterte was the event’s…
Filipina seeks asylum for sheltering Snowden
Two months after being granted asylum in Canada, Filipina Vanessa Rodel and her 7-year-old daughter Keana, who helped shelter whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, are settling into life in Montreal. “For the first time I got a credit card and permanent residence, so I’m so happy,” 42-year-old Rodel said Wednesday, May 29, at a…
Fil-Am screenwriter Michael Golamco on new Netflix film ‘Always Be My Maybe,’ and on seeing ourselves on screen
THERE’s no denying that Asian Americans are having a moment in mainstream entertainment after years of being marginalized or stereotyped into narrow roles. Last year, Asian Americans rejoiced at the August release of the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians,” which was the first major Hollywood studio release since “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993. Featuring…
Five changes affecting partnerships, S corporations and pass-through income
(Part 1 of 2) THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) makes major changes to the taxation of partnerships, S corporations, and pass-through income. Most of these changes are effective starting in 2018 (for this 2019 tax filing season). 1. Partnership loss limitation rule: Old law mandated that a partner can only deduct his…
Sale of P700-million Marcos jewelry approved
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approved the sale of P700-million worth of jewelry from the alleged ill-gotten wealth of late President Ferdinand Marcos, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Thursday, May 30. “He wants the people to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of the jewelry. So I asked him, ‘Are you going to…
Travel, Trade and Consumer Roadshow Expo in Carson on August 3 and 4 features Fil-Am business and talent
THE City of Carson will be a bustling hub of activity when the Travel, Trade and Consumer (TTC) show comes to town on August 3 and 4. This exciting weekend brings a variety of attractions of Filipino interest, from products and services to talents and fashion. The Southbay Pavilion will once again be the center…
Gov. Newsom discusses healthcare, homelessness with API media
Among the state’s many concerns, California Governor Gavin Newsom this week detailed the state’s plans for two of the most pressing issues plaguing the state: the cost of health care and the growing homeless community. In a teleconference with Asian American media, Newsom doubled down on his plan to move the state towards a universal…
To graduate in the Philippines, students have to plant 10 trees
A bill requiring students to plant trees as a prerequisite for graduation has been approved by the Philippine House of Representatives on its third and final reading. “Graduation Legacy for the Environment Act” (House Bill 8728) would require all elementary, high school, and college students to plant 10 trees each before they can graduate. “To…
The depth of Mon David’s love of family as reflected in his superior jazz musicality
“I’ve been working in this field (communities in schools) for 50 years and I’ve never seen a program turn around a life. Only relationships turn around lives. We adults in the group provide them an audience in front of which they can realize their talents. Their gift to us is a complete intolerance of social…
4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case
COUPLES get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families. However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena. …
Duterte to US: No word of honor
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, May 30, once again slammed the United States for its “lack of word of honor” when it recalled its rifle sales due to the alleged human rights violations in the country. The strong-mouthed leader slammed the U.S. government during his speech among the Filipino community in Tokyo, Japan. Duterte…
Jimmy Bondoc: How not to be you
A WISE man once said, “Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual.” But it does come with some pretty basic rules on how NOT to be viral and hated in a span of 24 hours. This involves not wishing unemployment to anyone—or everyone, so to speak (direct or implied); not publicly accusing a major company…
Are you in debt but too embarrassed to ask for help?
ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do? Individuals who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether bankruptcy is their only realistic way to get out of debt. However, they hesitate to do so because of all the negative things they’ve heard about bankruptcy. Sometimes, these people feel that…
An evening at the opera
I CAN never quell a stir of fascination, dread and longing when the house lights dim and the curtain parts. But the enjoyment of an opera can begin, not with the rise of the curtains, but with the first bars of the overture. To understand and enjoy the opera is the recognition of certain irreconcilable…
99 Ranch holds annual Children’s Mother’s Day drawing
99 RANCH Market held its annual awards ceremony in celebration of children and their mothers at the San Gabriel location (140 W. Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776) on Sunday, May 19. The event kicked off with an awards ceremony for children who participated in the annual drawing contest with the theme to design a…
Just one proof of reform, please
Now that the Philippine midterm elections are over and new senators and local government officials are going to assume office, can we, the citizenry, expect the “promising” men and women who courted us for our votes and promised a Utopian government to please make good on some of those promises? No, we don’t expect you…
In the gig economy, being classified an employee is still more advantageous
THE creation of technology-driven industries has given rise to new business models that may not follow the traditional employer-employee relationship. Companies, for example, may practice “outsourcing” or “crowdsourcing” where they obtain the services from the general public, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. This has led to the rise of the “on-demand economy” or…
Reflecting on my journey as a news anchor as ABS-CBN celebrates its 65th year “in the service of the Filipino”
THE Filipino Channel (TFC)’s mother company ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation was founded on October 23, 1953, and is now celebrating 65 years “in the service of the Filipino.” I first set foot in ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City in the early 70s, when I was just in grade school, tagging along with neighbors who wanted to…
California lawmakers push to stop surprise ER billing
by Ana B. Ibarra CALIFORNIA has some of the nation’s strongest protections against surprise medical bills. But many Californians still get slammed with huge out-of-network charges. State lawmakers are now trying to close gaps in the law with a bill that would limit how much hospitals outside of a patient’s insurance network can charge for…
Clients with failed businesses need relief from credit card debt and loans
THE first client is 34. She is recently married and now has a one-year-old son. She used to be employed making a gross of $50,000 yearly. At the same time, she was doing a home-based business using credit cards to finance the purchase of goods for people who had no credit. She would use her…
VAWA and good moral character
NOONG isang linggo ay aking tinalakay ang pagkuha ng green card sa pamamagitan ng VAWA self-petition. Kahit ang batas ay tinatawag na Violence Against Women Act, ang VAWA ay naaangkop din sa lalaking asawa na biktima ng domestikong karahasan sa kamay ng kanyang asawang US citizen (USC) o lawful permanent resident (LPR). Ang dayuhan ay…
Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a 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…
Entering priesthood
FOURTEEN new priests graduated from St. John’s Seminary this past school year: six for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; three for the Diocese of Monterey; three for the Diocese of Orange; and two for the Diocese of San Bernardino. They are ready and excited to serve the People of God after at least seven years…
Miss Universe Catriona Gray named as “madrina” by the Latino Commission on AIDS
“It’s such a pleasure to find myself in this kind of work that is so fulfilling to me. In the Philippines, this has been the work I’ve been doing for several years now, on the front of HIV and AIDS, spreading the message of inclusivity, acceptance and trying to breaking down stigma,” Miss Universe 2018…
Getting to know Anne del Castillo, Commissioner of NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
“DON’T go in with a pre-conceived idea of what you think you are going to do.” That was Anne del Castillo’s quick response when I asked about her advice for young people of color who want to be in her shoes someday. Del Castillo is the new Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office…