THE Internal Revenue Service currently audits less than 1% of tax returns annually, so your probability of attracting IRS audit is incredibly low. Taking deductions that are higher than average deductions nationwide increases your probability of getting audited. • Taking unrealistic itemized deductions raises red flags. • The IRS has a sense of what’s a fair…
Do you have old debts in the past that you haven’t paid and are wondering if the creditors can still come back now and collect from you after so many years? This is a common question that I am often asked. I actually see a lot of people in this situation. At some time in…
FILIPINO artists came together on Friday, August 3 at the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, California to present some of their early and recent works, relating them to their experiences of immigrating to the U.S. from the Philippines. The presentations came ahead of an upcoming exhibit called “Philippines with Strands: Filipino and Filipino-American Contemporary Artists…
Part II of III Series “I recalled the Columbine shooting only four months earlier [1999] and challenged the students [Class 2000] to live the lessons learned from that horrific event. No one should feel like a stranger in his own school. We all have a place at the table of St. Genevieve. And by making…
Presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte have both been accused of criminal behavior, the former for allegedly obstructing justice and colluding with a foreign arch enemy, and the latter for allegedly enriching himself in office. But how each one has handled the accusations provides insights into the way justice is dispensed in the United States…
THE FOUNDING FATHERS of the United States of America truly had foresight when they structured the democratic government of the United States and wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1787 to protect the country’s people and the forming of a “more perfect union” against entities from within and without who may try to undermine the nation’s…
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano denied on Tuesday, August 7, any oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea. Cayetano said that the joint venture between the two countries will be “commercial” in nature. “It will be a commercial venture. I think that’s a smarter thing to do…
President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, August 8, that he would no longer allow the establishment of casinos “outside of what are existing” in the Philippines. Duterte amplified his disapproval of gambling activities during his speech at the 117th Police Service Anniversary Celebration in Camp. Crame, Quezon City. “I will not allow it. I hate…
Debbie Dobrosky noticed a peculiar hue in the sky on Monday — “a very ugly yellow casting” — as she peeked outside. A large cloud of smoke had begun to cover the sun. By Tuesday, the smoke was so heavy that “even inside my apartment I’ve had to use my inhaler twice this morning, which is…
Ethnic minorities draw in lower incomes on average compared to white families, national paid family leave would alleviate financial difficulties for families of color, report says The United States of America is one of four countries in the world, and the only developed nation, that don’t have a federally mandated paid family leave (PFL) program. Some states…
About 3.8 million Asians and Pacific Islanders rely on forms of public benefit The White House may go forth with a rule change that would give legal immigrants looking to gain permanent residency a much harder time if they have ever used certain popular welfare programs. The Trump administration has been reviewing the proposal that…
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Friday, August 10 said that the different perspectives concerning the shift to a federal government were part of the “continuing discourse” on the issue. “We view the differences of opinion on federalism as part of the continuing discourse, even among members of the president’s official family, which the chief…
WHILE it recognizes that some of the national government’s environment policies, such as stricter mining regulations and the six-month closure of top tourist destination Boracay island, likely played a role in the recent slow Philippine economic growth, Malacañang maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decisions are for a more sustainable future for Filipinos. In a report…
A NUMBER of Filipino and Filipino American films made it to the 41st Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF41), presented by Asian CineVision. As the first and longest running Asian interest film festival in the country, AAIFF41 screened13 narrative features, 10 documentary features, and 57 short films, representing over 14 countries. “Bitter Melon” and “ULAM: Main…
Mary Rose Ballocanag, the only surviving member of the Trinidad family in the fatal car crash in Delaware last July 6, buried her husband Audie and their four daughters Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17; and 13-year-old twins Allison and Melissa this weekend. The public visitation was held on Friday, August 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00…
“CRAZY Rich Asians,” a movie based on the first in a trilogy of books written by best-selling author Kevin Kwan, is opening on August 15 in US movie theaters. Lead stars Constance Wu (of “Fresh Off The Boat” fame) and Henry Golding and director Jon Chu, who have been busy promoting the movie on a…
USCIS recently announced a change in policy in how the agency calculates unlawful presence for F-1, J-1, and M-1 nonimmigrants and their dependents (F-2, J-2, and M-2 nonimmigrants). According to USCIS, these changes are “designed to reduce the number of nonimmigrants who overstay their periods of admission and clarify how USCIS implements the unlawful presence…
I HAVE previously written about provisional waivers, where certain people are not eligible to adjust status (be interviewed for a green card in the U.S.) and must depart the U.S. to be processed for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy. These people could include: • K-1 fiancées who did not marry the petitioner, but…
WHAT is genital herpes? Genital Herpes is an infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Type 1 HSV causes oral herpes, involving the lips and mouth. Oral herpes could manifest as cold sores or fever blisters. Type 1 HSV can also cause genital herpes but most cases of genital herpes are caused by type 2…
FOLLOWING the viral federalism video of Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO)’s Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson with Drew Olivar, officials were quick to comment on the said video. In a report from The Manila Times, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that President Rodrigo Duterte was ‘cool’ with the said video. Roque noted that the…
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday, August 7, sought the urgent amendment of the 1987 Constitution as she called for the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene into a Constitutional Assembly (ConAss). In a report from The Manila Times, Arroyo filed House Resolution No. 2056 that pushes for the two chambers to…
The national ID system garnered mixed reactions from the general public after President Rodrigo Duterte signed its implementation into law on Monday, August 6, at Malacanang. The law, otherwise known as the Republic Act of 11055 includes the establishment of the Philippine ID system (PhilSys), a centralized database that contains all the necessary and vital…
When Manuel Mogato won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting earlier this year, he became the first Philippine-based journalist to do so after 75 years when Carlos P. Romulo won it way back in 1942. Mogato worked with his colleagues Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall and won the Pulitzer Prize (International Reporting) for their…
