by Chad Terhune SAN FRANCISCO — Stepping into the land of the Trump resistance, Seema Verma flatly rejected California’s pursuit of single-payer health care as unworkable and dismissed the Affordable Care Act as too flawed to ever succeed. Speaking Wednesday at the Commonwealth Club here, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services…
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Philippines ranks third in mortality rate caused by air pollution. In an article from Rappler, a WHO study revealed that the Philippines had 45.3 deaths per 100,000 individuals due to outdoor air pollution. China ranked first at 81.5 deaths recorded while Mongolia was second at 48.8 deaths. …
More than a hundred participants in wheelchairs, crutches and accompanied by caregivers, attended the first Emergency Preparedness Forum at the SMX Convention Center. Hosted by SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, the forum enlightened the audience on the possibility of a potential earthquake in Metro Manila, as well as other…
Being a martial artist recognized as one of the best in the world brings with it a lot of influence, perhaps even more so than athletes sometimes realize. The willingness to use that influence for the good of others, it’s a special trait. For ONE Championship bantamweight contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, his position as…
Sen. Nancy Binay today said the recommendation of the Task Force Boracay to revoke and suspend all Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) and business permits of establishments operating in Boracay may be necessary but government must make sure that re-applications will have guidelines that are clear, simple, practical and the procedures are efficient, transparent and corruption-free….
26 JULY 2018 – SINGAPORE: Ringstar Boxing, Asia’s fastest growing sports media property, headed by its Founder & CEO Scott Farrell, has just announced his intention to co-produce Manny Pacquiao’s next bout in Manila, Philippines, early next year. If it happens, this can be an event which can see the boxing champ defend his recently…
Exhibit runs until September 14 A PICTURE or a painting may be inanimate, but it can always tell a whole story. Even the most abstract painting can be interpreted in so many ways — either by the artist, or by the people who see it. With its objective to show the audience the use of…
AL-HAJ Murad Ebrahim, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman, celebrated the impending signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), after it was ratified by the Philippine House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 24. “We really thank the new leadership of the House. We want to extend our appreciation. We are hoping that this is key…
International non-government organization The Global Witness said 48 environmental campaigners were murdered in the Philippines last year — making the country the most dangerous for environmental defenders in Asia. It’s a 71 percent increase from the 28 killings in the country in 2016. Based on Global Witness’ 2017 report, 207 land and environmental activists were…
FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election as Speaker of the House of representatives was slammed by her critics on Tuesday, July 24, as they claimed it might be part of a plan to put her back at the top as prime minister. The coup that Arroyo and her allies pulled on Monday, July 23, to topple…
SHORTLY after issuing a policy memorandum that significantly expands its authority to issue Notices to Appear (NTAs) referring individuals to immigration court for deportation proceedings, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a new policy memorandum giving USCIS adjudicators greater discretion to deny applications for immigration benefits. The policy memorandum issued on July 13,…
In a previous article, I wrote about USCIS issuing a Policy Memorandum (PM) about the various categories of cases where a person could face deportation/removal if USCIS denied their petition, application, or other immigration benefit. Here are some possible real-life situations where people could face deportation/removal: 1. A person enters the U.S. as a visitor…
LAST year, my wife, Farida, and I were out to lunch with some friends, the youngest ones in their early 70s. During our conversation, a surgical colleague, UP Class ’57, who was in his mid-80s — sharp, brilliant, and witty as ever — said in a serious tone of total surrender as he clasped his…
Newly-appointed Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) head Arnold Gonzales has reached out to young Filipinos urging them to travel around the Philippines. He also added that the country still has a lot of attractions for them to discover. “Discovering the Philippines is a rewarding experience as it allow us to deeply understand our culture and reconnect…
AHEAD of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s yearly State of the Nation (SONA), Filipino-American activist groups in Los Angeles, on Sunday, July 22, held their yearly People’s State of the Nation Address (PSONA) denouncing Duterte’s policies and voicing the concerns of working-class Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). More than 80 people gathered in front of…
US government has until July 26 to meet reunification deadline U.S. Justice Department attorneys said in a court filing Monday, July 23, that over 460 migrant parents separated from their children under the government’s “zero-tolerance” policy may have already been deported without their kids. The report comes just days ahead of a deadline to reunite over…
No other issue has embattled voters more than immigration. In California, which is home to the largest undocumented immigrant population in the country, that issue has divided the state’s leaders along party lines, especially with the battle of SB 54, also known as the California Values Act which serves as the state’s “sanctuary” law. Generally,…
(Ninth of a series) ”Sister, do you speak Italian? Can I talk to you? I am angry with God.” I turned my head and it was a beautiful lady, elegantly dressed. I thought, “She has tortured eyes.” I AM suspending my idea series for a Bucket To-Do List for the time being to share a story told to…
(Part 2) IN part 1: We defined 1) who are resident aliens, nonresident aliens or both, 2) who are exempt individuals, and 3) closer connection exception. In part 2: We defined 1) how resident alien and nonresident alien are taxed, 2) when is income considered U.S. sourced, 3) withholding requirement and employee issues. Taxation and…
THE client is 55 and single. He appears to have no problems to worry about. He is self-employed and makes about $5,000 monthly teaching people a special skill. He has no dependents. He owns a house that has no equity. The house is worth $400,000 but he owes $420,000 for it. He has not paid the…
IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a misconception that the only assets or properties that have to disclose assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even think that since an asset or property is situated in a different country or state, that property is not community property and not subject to…
YEARS before Lea Salonga portrayed Kim in the West End and Broadway productions of “Miss Saigon,” she started as a child stage actor with Repertory Philippines. The theater company’s 1980 production of “Annie,” wherein she played the spunky, optimistic orphan, is a part she’ll never forget to this day as it was a jumping board…
Filipina-Polish magician stars on CW hit show, ‘Masters of Illusion’ FILIPINA-Polish magician Billy Kidd once again starred in the CW hit television show “Masters of Illusion” on Friday, July 13 — joining the lineup for the second year in a row. Since starting her career in magic, Kidd has performed at numerous events and venues…
