California divorce, domestic violence, and US immigration laws
CALIFORNIA Divorce – “No Fault.” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition…
USCIS could waive marital interviews on petitions to remove conditions (Form I-751)
STARTING on December 10, 2018, the USCIS could waive (or not require) an interview for a married couple seeking to remove conditions on a conditional green card. Generally, when a…
Aging: An equalizer
Last February 28, 2018, my wife, Farida, and I arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport from Manila, following our two medical missions in the Philippines. While waiting at the…
Dengvaxia ban likely to stay — DOH
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, December 11, said that the agency does not see Dengvaxia being used anytime soon despite its one-year ban coming to an end. DOH…
Former PNP chief promotes anti-illegal drug drive and senatorial bid in Las Vegas
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Monday, December 10, visited Filipino-Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada to promote his personal advocacy to campaign…
SWS: 3 in 5 Filipinos believe US will defend PH
According to a Social Weather Stations survey released Wednesday, three in five Filipinos believe that the United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines is strong. The survey showed 61 percent…
AD-10’s History Making Moment: Rochelle Nguyen and Nadia Hojjat
Las Vegas, NV – The following is a joint statement from One APIA Nevada Vice Chair Sanje Sedera and South Asia Young Professionals Alliance Founder Reuben D’Silva regarding the vacancies…
Filipina reporter Maria Ressa lands TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’ cover
ON Tuesday, Dec. 11, TIME Magazine has released its yearly “Person of the Year” issue, and the magazine has chosen “The Guardians” — journalists who have been persecuted for their…
Filipina-American newcomer H.E.R. nabs 5 Grammy noms, including Album of the Year
THE Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 61st Grammy Awards and 21-year-old R&B singer Gabi Wilson — known by her stage name H.E.R. — received five nominations, including Album…
Feed2Succeed: How three high school students found a way to feed young students in the Philippines
“I think that LA can kind of be like a bubble sometimes. We don’t really realize how the world is,” said Caroline Raquel, a Filipina-American junior at the University of…
An overview of the T Visa for trafficking victims
IN this week’s column, we will address T nonimmigrant status, commonly known as the “T Visa.” This temporary immigration status may be available to human trafficking victims who are willing…
Taking the time to just be this Christmas
“…Lose the remote control. Break free of your electronic leashes for a little while. Take the time to just be yourself…” IT’S that time of year again. And every year, whether we like…
Comelec sets longer voting hours for 2019 elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the period of casting votes for the May 13, 2019 elections by an hour, making it end at 6 p.m. instead of the…
Sorry President Trump: Journalists you call “Enemy of the People” and Special Counsel Robert Mueller beat you in TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s response to reporters last November when asked about who should be Person of the Year: “Trump…I can’t imagine anybody else other than Trump, can you imagine anybody…
Palace to continue anti-crime drive amid flak from critics
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to…
House OKs expanded VAWC bill
The House of Representatives on Monday, December 10, approved on third and final reading the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (E-VAWC), a measure that criminalizes electronic violence and…
Need health insurance? The deadline is Dec. 15
The woman arrived at the University of South Florida’s navigator office in Tampa a few weeks ago with a 40-page document describing a short-term health insurance plan she was considering….
Sandiganbayan sets 2019 trial for Enrile plunder case
THE plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly receiving P172.8 million in kickbacks from projects funded by his office’s pork barrel will finally start in 2019 by…
Duterte warns 2019 poll bets: ‘Do not intimidate, let them choose who they want’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 10, warned all candidates for the 2019 midterm elections not to intimidate Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies regardless of…
Duterte urges martial law extension until end of 2019
PHIlIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte urged the two legislative chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives — to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019. In…
Fil-Am restaurants Ma’am Sir, LASA make LA Times’ ‘101 Restaurants We Love’ list
AS the end of 2018 approaches, expect to see a lot of ‘best of’ lists. One such roundup that Angelenos, in particular, look forward to is the Los Angeles Times’…
FilVetREP’s Jon Melegrito wins AARP Asian American & Pacific Islander Hero Award
AARP celebrated its 2018 Asian American & Pacific Islander Hero Award winner Jon Melegrito of Kensington, Maryland for his volunteer work with the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP)…
Mueller filings reveal Trump associates lied and conspired to mislead and obstruct Russian investigation
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s train has been getting all the more derailed by the events of the recent week, and based on what has been happening under his leadership in the…
Fostering Filipino children & the ‘bayanihan’ spirit
“When I think of 600 to 800 abused and neglected foster kids of Asian descent who need a home that meets their culture, that’s a lot of kids that need…
Rescinding removal/ deportation order to allow for adjustment of status
“A motion to reopen the removal/deportation proceedings and rescind the removal/deportation order can be filed in Immigration Court.If the motion to reopen the proceedings and rescind the removal/deportation order is successful,…
How will filing bankruptcy change your life?
“While bankruptcy is not for everyone, millions upon millions of people who have no way of getting out of debt have found it to be the BEST thing that they ever…