California broadens investigation of doctors for issuing questionable vaccination exemptions
by Barbara Feder Ostrov THE California agency that regulates doctors is investigating at least four physicians for issuing questionable medical exemptions to children whose parents did not want them immunized….
The camera never blinks (Part I of II)
IT is hard to find words to describe photographers. They work long and hard on their photos that tell a story and accompany their dreams of becoming good press photographers….
66 years in media…and counting
MY very first newspaper column came out in Business World, the leading business daily in the Philippines, on September 21, 1988, almost 31 years ago. Headlined, “Ah, those good old…
USCIS policy allows waiting beneficiaries of approved I-130 filed by Filipino World War II veteran father or surviving spouse to come to US ahead of their priority date
UNDER the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) policy, USCIS allows certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions to request a grant of parole so that they may…
False claim to US citizenship
ANG isang dayuhan na may false claim ng US citizenship ay maaaring maging inadmissible sa US. Ang mga sumusunod ang mga elemento ng false claim ng US citizenship: (1) ang…
The call to ministry
“We can see and feel the urgency of this call in this present time when many people have left the Church and do not feel the need to be affiliated…
Paid per piece? Make sure you’re paid for all hours worked!
YADIR Ontiveros worked as a technician for Safelite, a company which repairs and replaces vehicle glass for automobiles at various locations in California. Safelight’s technicians are classified as non-exempt employees….
Permanent residency through marriage to US citizen spouse
“The alien spouse will have to file a petition to remove the condition 3 months prior to the expiration of the conditional greencard which is good for 2 years.” ONE…
3 Filipino filmmakers invited to be members of the Academy
THREE Filipino filmmakers were invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the governing body behind the Oscars wherein members vote for the winners…
Summer Fancy Food Show shines light on specialty food from the Philippines
FOOD companies from the Philippines began joining the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco in 2014 under the branding initiative Food Philippines. That year, Filipino favorites including bananas, mangoes,…
Back from the Brink: NDE: Near Death Experience
“ Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon the ground and die, It remains but a single grain with no life.” — From a hymn composed by Bernadette Farrell…
Palace: Duterte critics will not be arrested
President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics will not be arrested for filing an impeachment complaint against the Chief Executive, Malacañang assured on Tuesday, July 2, after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar…
Immigration updates: F2A category current for July, DACA, USCIS Manila Field Office
F2A CATEGORY (FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES) CURRENT FOR JULY 2019. The Department of State posted the Visa Bulletin for July 2019, showing the Final Action Date chart for family-sponsored preference cases…
How come the consul said my child ‘aged out?’
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: My sister petitioned me back in 1997, when my child was still a baby. Recently, the priority date became current. We paid all the fees and submitted…
Malaka Gharib’s graphic novel “I Was Their American Dream” explores identity as a Filipina-Egyptian
“WHEN I was growing up, my mom would always say: ‘You have to be better than us.’ She never explained what she meant by that. But I understood. I had…
Duterte wants China to guarantee Filipinos’ rights and safety in West PH Sea
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is seeking assurance from China that it will guarantee the rights and safety of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea following the June 9 Recto Bank…
Sheriff Lombardo meets with Las Vegas Asian American community leaders
IN an effort to strengthen the relationship between Las Vegas’ Asian American community and law enforcement, Sheriff Joe Lombardo and his Area Command Captains met on Wednesday, June 26 at…
In the land of Jesus
Jerusalem Syndrome As a student of history, I found Jerusalem a most fascinating city the first time I was in Israel in 1960 as a grantee of the Asia Foundation…
Once upon a time series: Charisse’s Confection
A story in two Scoops (Part 1 of 2) “I’ve had it!” Charisse said to herself as she put down her phone. This one broke up with her via text…
We are winning the war against illegal drugs – PNP
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said the Philippines is winning the war against illegal drugs as President Rodrigo Duterte marked his third year in office. According to…
After decades of improvement, SoCal smog reduction slows down
Smog regulators say that the state needs $14 billion to address the problem THE are fewer things more constant in Los Angeles than the ongoing smog problem. Although the national…
First round of Senate bills filed for 18th Congress
THE first round of filing Senate bills in the 18th Philippine Congress commenced on Monday, July 1, and among the first ones to be filed were those seeking to lower…
Palace: China rejects third party in Recto Bank joint probe
Malacañang on Monday, July 1 said China disagreed with President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion of involving an independent body in the Philippines-China joint investigation into the Recto Bank collision. Presidential Spokesperson…
Mayor Garcetti leads coalition of mayors calling for federal action to confront homelessness crisis
MAYOR Eric Garcetti announced Monday, July 1, that he would lead a coalition of mayors calling on Congress to pass the Ending Homelessness Act. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Maxine…
First Democratic debate: Harris, Warren clear winners of two-night affair
Trump undeterred from Dems’ first showing After months of campaign rollout announcements and initial touring around the country, the top Democratic nominees got together in Florida for the first Democratic…
Think tank: Philippines to lose the most in possible US outsourcing ban
The Philippines would be the ‘biggest loser’ in Asia if United States President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to punish American firms that outsource jobs, an independent economic…
Supreme Court rejects citizenship question on 2020 Census
The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 27 rejected the Trump administration’s citizenship question from being included in the 2020 Census questionnaire. In his majority opinion released after the 5-4 ruling,…
Archbishop Socrates Villegas shares his mission for monasteries
DURING Archbishop Socrates Villegas’ short visit to Southern California where he stayed with Brad and Teena Boeckman — the latter whom he knew since she was 15 years old and…
Duterte: Seeking US help in sea dispute will bring Philippines closer to war
Involving the United States in the Philippines’ maritime row with China will only bring the country closer to war, President Rodrigo Duterte said in response to officials pushing to seek…