Serenata Filipina Ver. 2 unites iconic singers and songwriters IT was a cool evening on Sunday, October 7, juxtaposed by the electric and fiery performances of the Filipino-American community’s top artists, backed by a live eight-man band. The program was proudly all Original Pilipino Music (OPM), from rock, jazz to pop, including instrumentals by young…
[Writer’s note: This was published in May 2018 in the Asian Journal’s Los Angeles weekend edition, but the recently concluded, controversial associate justice confirmation hearings on Brett Kavanaugh makes this essay reprint appropriate.] Dear Mama, I remembered that Saturday morning in late August in 2015 when I first told you that I was sexually assaulted….
“It is important to note that the above requirements are preliminary requirements for eligibility under FWVP.” UNDER the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) policy, USCIS allows certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions to request a grant of parole so that they may come to the U.S. as they wait…
A YOUNG man ran up to Jesus and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not…
ONE of the most emotional aspect of a marital dissolution case is dealing with Child custody issues. Sadly enough, this is an area where most parents play games with each other trying their best to deprive the other parents of their right to maintain relationship with their child. Child custody comes in two parts, 1)…
WHEN debts spiral out of control, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery tool in getting you back on the right track. While it’s not for everyone, close to a million people every year find it to be their only hope of getting a fresh financial start. Debt problems can be the result of unemployment,…
IT is almost cliché whenever we hear about “real men” doing unusual things. Some say “they (can) wear pink,” or that they cry (when necessary and are not ashamed of it) or that they “stay faithful to their woman.” In retrospect, these are things that are being done not only by real men, but also…
(Holding others liable for payment of wages) CALIFORNIA’S Labor Commissioner’s Office has awarded over $45 million in unlawful deductions from wages and out-of-pocket expenses to more than 400 misclassified port drivers. However, most of the drivers have not been able to collect their money because the companies that committed the wage violations have filed bankruptcy…
THEY are daughters of dramatic journeys and fantastic tales, carrying their stories like treasures, proud of their heritage they came to America amid colonial romance, hope, despair, misfortune but are led by hopes. As they lay down a shadow of stunning proportions shaped both by the drama of the past and sparkle of the future,…
1. DEALING in Cryptocurrencies People are not reporting transactions with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin. The general public may not be aware that they are reportable. They may also not know how to report the purchase, sales, or exchange of digital currencies. This is something new. Reporting gets technical, even for tax pros. 2. Claiming Stock…
“It looks to me that there’s more stuff going on here, although it’s my policy not to get involved in matters that are between husband and wife.” LET me give you the background on this case. The husband is 81 but still looks active. He is slim and sprightly. The wife is 79…
Views split for the House THE November 6 midterm elections are just three weeks away but many Americans have already cast their votes through early voting and mail-in ballots. Asian Americans, including Filipinos, show high enthusiasm to make their voices heard and cast their vote that may change the political landscape of America. The Filipino…
More candidates for the senatorial, mayoral and congressional posts submitted their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila during the second day of filing on Friday, October 12. During the filing of COCs, which will run from October 11 to 17, not including weekends, the public will be…
FIVE Filpino fishermen who have been stranded in the West Philippine sea for five days were rescued by a United States Navy vessel on Monday, October 8. According to a report from the U.S. 7th Fleet, cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra was conducting a routine mission when the distressed Filipinos were spotted adrift in the…
Local officials predict “El Nino” season, seek to expand county efforts for storm season and water management projects through Measure W The temperatures are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, and that can only mean one thing: winter is coming. With winter comes higher chances of precipitation, and even Los Angeles County, a…
Patrick J. Bumatay to be first Fil-Am judge to serve on federal appeals court Filipino-American attorney Patrick J. Bumatay was nominated by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday, October 10. If confirmed, Bumatay would become the first Fil-Am judge to serve on a federal appeals…
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday, October 11 announced that he will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s next spokesman after Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque Jr. took an indefinite leave of absence. The chief legal counsel answered affirmatively when asked if he would replace Roque, who is reportedly vying for a Senate post in the midterm…
A Philippine lawmaker on Thursday, October 11, revealed that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has “readily agreed” to bring back the vice president as the first successor to the presidency in the draft federal constitution. Cebu City First District Representative Raul del Mar said that he urged the House speaker to put back the vice president…
Three Philippine islands nabbed the top spots as Asia’s Best Islands voted by readers of international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler for its 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards. Ranking first is the teardrop-shaped island of Siargao, “home to more than 15 separate surf breaks, including the legendary Cloud 9, which counts Kelly Slater and Anthony Kiedis…
SAN FRANCISCO — President Trump announced his intent Wednesday, October 10 to nominate Patrick J. Bumatay to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. If confirmed, Patrick will be the first Filipino-American judge to ever serve on a federal appeals court, the second openly LGBT federal circuit court judge, and the second Filipino-American…
A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Wednesday, October 10, revealed that almost six in every 10 Filipinos or are in favor of the revival of capital punishment for heinous crimes. The SWS survey conducted among 2,000 Filipino adults nationwide from March 22 to 27 showed that 59 percent of respondents agreed that the…
A new World Bank research released today provides policymakers a compelling evidence that delivering better outcomes in children’s health and learning can significantly boost the incomes of people — and of countries — with returns far into the future. Launched today at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings is the Human Capital Index. It measures the…
A survey from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) concluded that there is an increase in the number of Filipino families claiming that they are poor from the 48 percent in June to 52 percent at the most recent. More than a million Filipino families joined the ranks of the poor in the self-rated nationwide poll….
Several people have consulted with me, asking whether the approval letter they received was genuine. While the notice has the opening sentence, “welcome to the United States of America,” which is how an adjustment of status approval notice typically starts, these approval notices are fake and people should be careful that they are also not…
In June 28, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Policy Memorandum (PM). Beginning October 1, 2018, USCIS will take an incremental approach to implement this memo. In simple terms: USCIS will…
