SANTA CLARITA, CA – It was a unique dance party that intermingled all the facility residents and their caregivers together into one big family…and dancing gaiety. The center’s low building and windy street looked like a college campus. It was vast and sheltering, and increasingly heartwarming. One did not expect a special party, even for…
A FILIPINO-AMERICAN family of four and their friend were killed on Saturday night, February 16, in a deadly vehicle crash in Delano, California. The victims were 7-month-old infant Jarl Joseph Laguta; 5-year-old Jalson Laguta; Arlene Osarin Laguta, 30; Jalson Rubang Laguta, 46; and their family friend Danilo Aquino Sanidad, 60. All were residents of Delano…
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…
THE client is 65 and a widow. Wanting some male attention, I guess, she posted her picture on the Internet. She looks much younger in the posted picture, which she showed me. She looked like she was 48. But she said that the picture was taken only last year. If her purpose was to get…
DEAR Attorney Tan, I recently married a US Citizen, who is my second husband. He has filed an immigrant visa petition and green card application for me. My husband recently received from USCIS a Notice of Intent to Deny the petition that he filed on my behalf. The Notice indicated that the immigrant visa petition…
The lack of diversity has always been a focal point of the Oscars discussion. This year, however, several highly-talented minority artists have received well-deserved nominations for their work — and among them, a few individuals of Filipino heritage. Filipino-American Matthew Libatique, who worked as the director of photography in “A Star is Born” is nominated…
Malacañang on Thursday, February 21 said Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray should be educated on what the bill seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility entails. This response comes after Gray, who is in the Philippines for her official homecoming, spoke up about her concerns over the bill that seeks to change the age…
“THEY have landed!” was the excited announcement of producers Myshelle and PJ from LAX. on Wednesday, February 20. Arriving a few days early to start promotions for “Heart and Soul 3.0” were the formidable iconic singers: Jay R, the Philippines’ King of R&B; Nina, Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren; and King of Hearts David Pomeranz. With…
As teachers across the country walk out of their classrooms, hit the picket lines and demand higher pay, they’re keeping school nurses in mind — asking for more of them or, at the very least, better pay for them. Oakland, Calif., teachers plan to strike Thursday if they can’t hammer out a deal with the…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, signed into law the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill, which seeks to give all Filipinos health care coverage and benefits. In his speech during a special ceremony in Malacañang, Duterte acknowledged the importance of the Universal Health Care Law, a measure that intends to provide free and affordable…
FILIPINO-American designer Zaldy Goco received the reality-competition award on Tuesday, February 19 at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards for his work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” “I won…It was so incredible to be in a room filled with people I love and respect! Thank you @costumeawards for a wonderful evening,” the fashion designer shared…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, vowed that he will not allow anyone to destroy the Philippines with illegal drugs. “I will not allow my country to be destroyed by drugs. I will not allow my country to end up a failed state because of drugs,” he said in a speech in Malacañang. Duterte…
The United States-Philippine Society (USPS) has urged American business ventures to invest in the infrastructure sector of the Philippines because of the “strong human infrastructure” that the country can offer. USPS President John Maisto said that despite the Philippines being an economically developing nation, it boasts of having a firm human infrastructure that constitutes sectors…
HAVING been raised, oriented, and constantly exposed to numbers, financial records, auditing, taxation matters, assets, liabilities, and other related accounting terms easily made Eric Bustamante embrace his father’s profession that provided him and his family with the comfortable amenities of life and good education. Christened Eric B. Bustamante, the fourth among the six of an…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, once again lashed out on the Catholic clergy amid the Vatican sex abuse summit which started last Thursday, February 21, to Sunday, February 24. “Was I wrong all along? I told you so,” Duterte gloated as he proved that he was right when he criticized the clergy…
Malacañang on Friday, February 22, stood firm on its “no ransom policy” despite the hostage-taking of three foreign nationals by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Mindanao. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that issuing ransom to the terrorist group would do more harm than good as it would finance their acquisition of guns, bombs…
Social news network Rappler and its management on Wednesday, February 20, wrote to both Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar asking them to lift the cover ban imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte the year before. “We ask you to lift [the ban] and allow Rappler full access to the media coverage…
Young Filipino trio TNT Boys received a surprise visit from international pop star Ariana Grande on Tuesday, February 19 during their appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” The young performers Keifer Sanchez, Mackie Empuerto and Francis Concepcion were shocked when the chart-topping artist suddenly appeared onstage while they sang “And I’m Telling…
Many Filipino immigrants have fallen victim to immigration scams, a new digital campaign from AARP has revealed. Seven percent of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders have been exposed to immigration scams, according to AARP’s “Facing Fraud: A Survey of AAPIs Age 50-plus on Fraud and Scams.” Navigating the immigration process in the United States may…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday, February 19, that he has signed a total of 20 laws including the Mobile Number Portability Act that would permit “qualified subscribers” to keep their mobile number should they decide to change their network provider. The newly signed law, otherwise known as the Republic Act 11202 or the…
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday, February 18, said key officials from the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) are in Europe for the Press Freedom Caravan. He said those officials will use their time there to clarify issues confronting the government such as involuntary disappearances and anti-communist terrorist groups, as well as tell the…
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…
Whenever I take a cab in Manila, I find it most interesting to talk to the driver. Some of them are so eloquent, with a remarkable grasp of our national issues and smart solutions to some of our political dilemma as a nation, they could be great radio talk show hosts and positive consensus builders….
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, February 19, junked four petitions challenging the constitutionality of the martial law extension in Mindanao. The legality of the extension was upheld by the justices in session with a voting of 9-4. The petitions against the third extension were from opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the…
THE Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, February 19, said that the measles outbreak in the country could negatively affect the tourism and overseas labor sectors if not contained as soon as possible. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo revealed that foreign countries may be forced to issue travel advisories against traveling to the Philippines if…
AS the presidential daughter and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) chairwoman Sara Duterte-Carpio increased her public presence for her political party, the public buzzed anew with talks of her possibly succeeding her father President Rodrigo Duterte. Four senators already expressed their support for the first daughter despite Duterte-Carpio’s statement that she will announce her decision to…
