New limits to casualty and theft losses
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…
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Too much debt, not enough income?
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…
Permanent residence based on same-sex marriage
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…
Will a domestic violence finding affect my claim for sole or joint custody of our children?
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…
Kate Hancock and her window to paradise
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…
Changing status from B2 visitor to F1 student
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…
Voices of spring as heard by artists
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…
St. Catherine’s in Reseda celebrates an illustrious 70th anniversary with truck raffle
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…
Philippines to become upper middle income country this 2019
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…
May 2019 priority dates
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…
The bucket list: Travel light
“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…
After Luzon and Visayas, magnitude 4.7 earthquake hits Mindanao region
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…
Humanitarian Parole for urgent medical and family cases
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. …
Duterte’s China trip to yield $10 billion in business deals
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…
Measles can kill
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…
After Luzon, 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Visayas
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…
The psychology of the Filipino: navigating the difficult conversation of mental health
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…
Duterte: War with China ‘not worth it’ for the US
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…
Teaching kids a deeper appreciation of their heritage
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…
‘False, wrong’: Ressa, Tordesillas, PCIJ on plot to oust Duterte
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…
The homeless are dying in record numbers on the streets of LA
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…
Plastic straws on request ordinance takes effect in LA
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…
LA Philippine Women’s Club welcomes Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza
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…
Mueller report reveals Trump’s corrupt intent and abuse of power: Shouldn’t Congress start impeachment now?
SPECIAL COUNSEL Robert Mueller’s redacted 448-page report has been made public. In excruciating details, it paints how the 45th president abused his power with corrupt intent through his campaign’s unethical…