THE first client is 48 and got married in the last four years. Her husband was a foreigner who professed his love for her in so many ways. Unfortunately, his love for her was actually for her U.S. citizenship. The client, who had never been married before, fell head over heels for her newfound…
GENE3RALLY, you may deduct casualty and theft losses relating to your home, household items, and vehicles on your federal income tax return. What used to be deductible under old law has been suspended (meaning not deductible for the current year) with the exception of federally declared disasters. Old law: Under old rules, you were able…
ARE you debts growing faster than your income every month? Trying to pay what you can but feel like you’re running on a treadmill and not getting anywhere? Do you have that sick feeling in your stomach after realizing that you have gotten yourself in more debt than you can actually pay back? If it’s…
IN United States vs. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013), the Supreme Court held that Federal restrictions of the terms “marriage,” and “spouse” to marriages between a man and a woman were unconstitutional. The Court invalidated Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which did not allow Federal Government recognition of same-sex marriages under…
AN action under the DVPA (Domestic Violence Protection Act) seeking a restraining order often is necessary to protect parties from abuse or domestic violence perpetrated by the other spouse or significant other. At times, it is effective in preventing harm to one of the parties. At the same time, this process is sometimes…
IN my recent trip to the Philippines a couple of weeks ago, I decided to have a much needed R&R at a resort in Camiguin, which fortunately, happened to be owned by a good friend of mine, Kate Hancock. Kate was one of our “Distinguished Entrepreneur Awardees” at the 2018 The Beautiful Life Celebration Awards….
NOONG huli kong artikulo, aking tinalakay ang Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status na ginagamit para palawigin o baguhin ang status ng aplikanteng nandito sa US sa ilalim ng nonimmigrant visa category na B1/B2 (bisita), F1 (estudyante); J1 (exchange visitor) or kaya H4, E2 o L2 (mga dependent ng H1 [temporary worker], E1 [investor]…
ARTISTS are those whose gifts set them apart as their talent, wisdom and integrity are superior. They make beauty, unlock mysteries, serve the truth, create life out of the matter of their visions – between pokes of arrogance and humility, between failure and triumph. They walk alone, listened to voices unheard by others. They have…
Filipino Bishop-elect Alex Aclan to lead service on Sunday, April 28 THE beloved parish of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Reseda is celebrating 70 years of service to the community by doing what it does best: giving back. This weekend, the church is hosting several fun activities for its diverse group of regular…
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Thursday, April 11, said the Philippines is set to become an ‘upper-middle-income’ economy this year with the assistance of the World Bank (WB). According to him, the generous support of the World Bank for the Philippines’ sustainable development programs is a “key factor” in achieving its goal of becoming…
EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
“He who must travel happily must travel light.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Sixteenth of a series) TRAVEL is a pure metaphor for our life’s journey. There are two choices in the way we can travel. We can travel light or we can load up on stuff and literally become a beast of burden. The reality…
NDRRMC warns public of circulating text hoax about ‘the big one’ Another tectonic earthquake with a 4.7 magnitude hit the Philippines at 11:43 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Mindanao region specifically in Banganga, Davao Oriental as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The seismology agency said that the epicenter was…
CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his U.S. citizen father. His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available. Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a…
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday, April 23, said the Philippines is expecting to seal at least $10 billion worth of investment and trade deals when President Rodrigo Duterte concludes his visit to China this week. Duterte arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, April 24, to attend the second Belt and Road Forum…
THE current resurgence of measles in the United States is alarming. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that as of April 11, 2019, there were 555 new cases in 20 states, 359 of which were in New York. This is the second highest (667 cases in 2014) since it was “eradicated” in…
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck parts of the Visayas at 1:37 pm on Tuesday, April 23, following the 6.1 magnitude tectonic earthquake in Luzon at 5:11 pm on Monday, April 22. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) said that the epicenter in the region was located in San Julian, Eastern Samar. Philvocs Director…
Notes from the 2019 Filipino Mental Health and Wellness Summit ON Saturday, April 13, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Special Service for Groups and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. hosted the 2019 Filipino Mental Health and Wellness Summit, an all-day, all-encompassing conference focussed on the past, present and future of mental health…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, April 21, said the United States knows a war against China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is “not worth it,” stressing that the Philippines’ longtime ally was unreliable during the country’s 2012 standoff with China. He recalled how the U.S. brokered a deal between the Philippines and China, asking them…
Author and publisher Christine L. Villa brings ‘Zoobooloo’ with Filipino translation as a tool to teach Fil-Am children the language WHEN author and publisher Christine L. Villa started her small business, Purple Cotton Candy Arts, she was just aiming to explore her love for arts and crafts. Since then, she has done more than selling…
News chiefs Maria Ressa of Rappler and Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files on Monday, April 22, slammed Malacañang after the release of a matrix linking them and other journalists to an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacañang revealed that the“Oust-Duterte” matrix, which contained a web-like matrix implicating journalists and lawyers, was based on…
by Anna Gorman and Harriet Rowan A RECORD number of homeless people — 918 last year alone — are dying across Los Angeles County, on bus benches, hillsides, railroad tracks and sidewalks. Deaths have jumped 76% in the past five years, outpacing the growth of the homeless population, according to a KHN analysis of the…
If you need a straw while dining in Los Angeles, you’ll need to ask for one, thanks to a new ordinance aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste. The ‘Plastic Straws on Request’ ordinance, which requires businesses to withhold plastic beverage straws unless a customer requests them, went into effect on Monday, April 22 for sit-down…
THE Los Angeles Philippine Women’s Club on Friday, April 12 hosted a meet and greet with Jessica Caloza, the new LA Board of Public Works Commissioner, who is the first Pinay to hold this position. Caloza, who was previously the director of scheduling for Mayor Eric Garcetti, is now a part of the five-member, full-time executive…
