Warning: US Embassy charging crewmen with fraud, despite approved provisional waivers
IN a shocking and disturbing change in policy, the U.S. Embassy in Manila has begun charging crewmen with fraud when those crewmen return to Manila for immigrant visa processing after obtaining an approved provisional waiver. Until this policy is reconsidered, I would caution crewmen against leaving the U.S. for Embassy processing of their immigration visa…
16th Annual San Francisco Parol Lantern Festival and Parade: A celebration of lights, hope and peace
ONE of the symbols of a Filipino Christmas is the parol lantern, which also stands for hope, blessings, luck and peace during the holiday season. Traditionally made out of bamboo and paper, patterns of the parol evolved from the five-pointed paper star lantern originally crafted in 1908 by an artisan named Francísco Estanislao. The parol,…
Seniors consider Chapter 13 relief for $80K credit cards
“Once the trustee and his lawyers start to administer the bankruptcy estate assets, they will make a lot of money.” THE clients are married to each other and they are both seniors. He is 68 and she is 66. He is a member of the professions and still works in that professional capacity. She is retired. Their…
Two magical words (Conclusion of 2 parts)
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” –Jean Baptiste Massieu (Continued from last week’s issue…) So okay, your partner is the consummate slob and you have to pick up after him. He thinks he has a maid living with him for free. He has this maddening habit of not putting the toothpaste cap back on. That’s…
What’s new: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Part 5)
HOW you will benefit from standard deduction versus itemized deduction. To maximize your deduction, you take the larger of standard deduction or total amount of itemized deductions by bunching itemized deductions in 2018 and taking standard deduction in 2019, and so on. • Standard deduction: $12,000 for single or married filing separate; $24,000 for married…
Nonprofit bets Asian-American students can learn to avoid unhealthy gambling
by Katherine Kam The students listened attentively as Ryan Wong explained how casinos keep customers chasing that elusive jackpot. Labyrinthine layouts force guests to walk past card tables and slot machines in search of well-concealed restrooms and exits, said Wong, an intern at the nonprofit NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, a San Francisco partnership of health…
For the sake of your children and grandchildren, who would you believe on climate change: Scientists or Donald Trump?
LAST Friday, November 23, hundreds of government and external scientists involved in the U.S. Global Change Research Program, released a report that concluded that climate change could cost the United States billions of dollars annually within decades if greenhouse gases aren’t dramatically reduced, and could worsen environmental disasters like wildfires and flooding. Its findings aligned…
DOT Accredits Deaf Tour Guides
Manila, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has accredited at least 13 tour guides whose first assignment was to shepherd 30 students from the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) to Manila’s historical spots, including Rizal Park, National Museum, and Fort Santiago. Such specialized tour, which is the first of its kind, was curated…
Sheldon Reynolds frontlines The Spirit of Earth, Wind and Fire on Dec. 2
“Kalimba” headlines The Love of Country International Music Festival HAVING played across the country at some of the nations most prestigious and historic theaters, music festivals, state fairs, corporate events and functions, casino’s, and larger clubs as well as upscale private events, Kalimba, The Spirit of Earth Wind and Fire is one of the busiest bands…
Fil-Am Democrat TJ Cox declares victory in CA House race
Filipino-American Democrat TJ Cox has defeated three-term Republican incumbent David Valadao to represent California’s 21st Congressional District, giving Democrats its 40th House seat gain this election cycle. Three weeks following the November 6 midterm elections, the 21st district remained one of the last undecided races in the country, with votes coming in favor for Cox…
Dr. Fe Del Mundo, first woman accepted into Harvard Medical School, honored with Google Doodle
The pioneer in pediatrics honored on what would’ve been her 107th birthday It may not be the Nobel Peace Prize, but a Google Doodle made in your likeness is quite possibly one of the highest honors bestowed in the digital age. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, Google dedicated its Doodle — a temporary alteration of the…
DOT’s Kaon ‘Ta Mindanao edition banners culinary tourism
Cagayan de Oro City, CDO—Mindananoans were treated to a gastronomic extravaganza as Kaon ‘Ta!, the Northern Mindanao leg of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) food and travel festival was launched recently at the Seda Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Foodies and travelers delighted themselves with a wide array of local cuisine, including exotic authentic Cagayan de…
Business Innovation Congress Manila 2018 calls to take advantage of technology to meet evolving consumer needs
Pasay City, November 25, 2018—Following its success in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Thailand, the Business Innovation Congress opened its first congress in the Philippines at Conrad Manila with the theme: “Business Transformation in a Digital Ecosystem.” “Business Innovation Congress aims to support local businesses in exploring future industrial trends as well as promote Philippines as…
Zion’s gleaming yellow cottonwoods on Veterans Day: Light of unspeakable richness
“Never shall I forget my baptism in the font. It happened in January, a resurrection day for many a plant and for me I suddenly…. overflowed with light…Light of unspeakable richness was brooding the flowers. Truly, said I, is California the Golden State—in metallic gold, in sun gold, and in plant gold. The sunshine for…
The spirit of boxing has no one definition
BOXING is real life, but perhaps a little bigger and a little gaudier than the movies or strict fact. All the literary themes of money, power and sex get played out in the careers of these marquee fighters, usually brimming with possibilities as they live accelerated lives, and in a very rare instance, when…
Establishing legal parentage for unmarried parents
“The document is full recognition that the individuals signing the document are the legal parents of the child.” IN the last column, we provided an overview of child custody and support in the context of divorce cases wherein parentage of the children born during the marriage is typically assumed. For unmarried parents, the procedures for…
The precious gifts of time and presence
FR. Patrick Mbazuigwe shared the following ancient legend in a sermon about the beauty of gratitude. It’s from Kiran Kumar Roy’s blog. A young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet that he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to…
What factors will the court look at in awarding spousal support?
“For example, the court may order support for that period of time required for the supported spouse to obtain or complete an education, to allow the supported spouse to take care of the children until they reach an age where a return to employment would be more feasible, or to become self-supporting within a reasonable time.” THE purpose…
Our favorite gadget at the 2018 CES – My special Aflac Duck
NEW technology gadgets were on display at the latest CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas – wall TVs, Virtual Reality and smart phones, but the most fun to watch were robots – robots that walk, talk, pour coffee, play Ping-Pong, and even follow you as a suitcase. Our personal favorite robot was a therapy…
Thanksgiving: What a bankruptcy attorney has to be thankful for
IT’S the day before Thanksgiving and I’m here in my office still working on cases. The freeways are crazy today and everyone’s trying to get somewhere to be home with loved ones. Most days, I feel like there is not enough time to do everything I want to do. At the end of a busy…
Seniors consider Chapter 13 relief for $80K credit cards
“Once the trustee and his lawyers start to administer the bankruptcy estate assets, they will make a lot of money. I understand that the moneymaking bankruptcies are offset by the money-losing bankruptcies; so in the end, of course, the trustee has to stay ahead of his expenses.” THE clients are married to each other and they are…
Preventing abandonment of your green card due to travel abroad
DEAR Attorney, I am a permanent resident, and am planning to visit my loved ones in the Philippines during the holidays. I am planning to leave this week and stay in the Philippines until after the New Years. Will I face any problems coming back to the US after being outside the country for 60…
Should employers provide seats for their employees?
“California law generally requires employers to provide suitable seats to employees when the nature of the work reasonably permits the use of seats. Calfornia courts have clarified that the phrase ‘nature of the work’ refers to the employee’s actual or expected tasks at a given location, and not to the entire range of an employee’s…
Some great news we can be thankful for after the 2018 midterm elections: More women in public service!
THANKSGIVING Day is a time to look at the glass half-full instead of half empty, especially as our nation and our people have been going through so much in terms of the toxicity of the political climate in the United States in the past two years. This year, we see silver linings ahead that gives…
Giving up on the impossible dream?
“IN union there is strength,” has become such a cliche that even otherwise sensible people tend to forget its inherent wisdom. In the wake of the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos, assorted government entities, from the Office of Civil Relations of the Philippine Constabulary to the Department of Public Information to various…
Fil-Am Melissa Ramoso becomes only woman to serve on Artesia City Council
Filipina-American Melissa Ramoso on Wednesday, November 21, declared victory on winning a seat as the only woman on the Artesia City Council. Since election day, Ramoso has held onto her position as one of the top three vote-getters in the Artesia City Council elections where she was the only woman on the November 6th ballot….
Attention, marketplace shoppers: Don’t delay on 2019 enrollment
by Michelle Andrews Don’t procrastinate. Most consumers who buy their own insurance on the federal health insurance marketplace face a Dec. 15 deadline. Advocates are reminding these customers that if they miss the deadline, they may not have a plan that starts in January 2019. Despite repeated efforts by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care…