IF you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, including a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly to the Internal Revenue Service by filing FinCEN Form 114, Report of…
IN the four years that I’ve worked in the seminary, I would always tell people of my gratitude to God for granting me the privilege and the blessing of preparing men to become priests. And even though I miss being a pastor, I find my work at the seminary profoundly fulfilling because of my indirect…
WE recently discussed the problems surrounding employees who are paid only by commission. One of the problems we pointed out was that commissioned employees are often shortchanged when it comes to their rights to rest breaks. Under California law, an employer shall not require an employee to work during a rest period. If an employer…
“In your case, it appears that you are eligible to obtain a green card. You are a principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition filed by your US Citizen mother.” DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has…
THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s…
THE client is 42 and is going through a divorce. It was a short two-year marriage. He has moved out of the marital home and now lives by himself. He has a toddler who is with his wife, so he expects to pay child support. There is not alimony because the marriage has not lasted…
REMINISCE the “Bagets” days and catch multi-talented crooner Raymond Lauchengco at the Walking on Sunshine tour on June 2, 7 p.m. at the Levocafe Entertainment Center in Burbank, California. Lauchengco will render his famous original Pilipino music hits “Farewell,” “So It’s You,” and “I Need You Back,” as well as songs from his album showcasing…
The Philippines’ “It’s Showtime” family will hit the stage of Pechanga Summit in California’s world-renowned Pechanga Resort Casino, when a famous group, led by multi-talented comedian/actor Vice Ganda, will showcase their unique talents in singing, comedy stints and wholesome entertainment on July 27 at 9pm. Pechanga Resort Casino, located off I-15 in Temecula California, is well-known…
THE Philippine Supreme Court on Friday, May 11 voted to oust its first female chief justice who has been critical of the country’s President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial war on drugs. Resulting from an 8-6 vote, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed from the country’s highest court on the grounds that she allegedly…
The first batch of Congressional Gold Medals awarded to Filipino WWII veterans and next of kin in a ceremony in Historic Filipinotown Filipino World War II veterans in LA on Wednesday, May 9 began receiving their Congressional Gold Medals, a long-awaited formal recognition for the more than 260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters who fought…
Newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat revealed President Rodrigo Duterte’s first instruction for her was to maintain a “no corruption” policy as she takes over the department that was recently involved in a P60-million advertising deal controversy. “My only instruction from the President when he offered it and then I accepted – he said, ‘Congratulations! All…
Culver City, which celebrated its centennial last year, is undergoing a phenomenal renaissance fueled in part by the many tech and entertainment companies choosing to call the city home. At the frontline of its booming changes is Filipino-American Thomas Aujero Small who on Monday, April 30, became Mayor of Culver City. “We have a lot…
A new mandate set by California regulators requires almost all newly built single-family homes to have solar panels, further establishing the Golden State as the nation’s leader in environmental regulatory efforts. The California Energy Commission on Wednesday, May 9, unanimously voted 5-0 to approve the new measure which is slated to take effect in less…
Republican Congress members attempt to expedite vote on several bills designed to protect DACA recipients On Thursday, May 9, House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected an attempted bypass of his leadership by his party to force a vote on legislation that would protect young undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S. as children. On Wednesday, Republican…
U.S. NEWS organizations have carried the news about the ouster of Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The NEW YORK TIMES reported to its global readers: “The Philippines’ highest court on Friday forced out its chief justice, removing a fierce critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his brutal war against drugs, which…
“Exercise the power of God as a Christ-certified believer, the power of the Holy Spirit in you.” – Anonymous, 2018 On the eve of Mother’s Day, May 9 (celebrated in Latin America), I took my newly married niece and nephew-in-law to the Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. This…
No, this is not a new movie version of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic, All Quiet on the Western Front. It is an unsolicited suggestion for a movie on the dramatic rescue of abused overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait, in case the Department of Foreign Affairs wants to produce it and make a touchy diplomatic situation worse. Of course, I’m…
May 9, 2017 – Globe myBusiness, the micro, small and medium enterprise arm of Globe Telecom launches today its online learning site designed to provide entrepreneurs with easy access to lessons and insights from industry experts anytime and anywhere they may be. Called Globe myBusiness Academy Online, the website was created to reach more entrepreneurs…
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – ‘Anak’, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) answer to the question why ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines?’ bagged three awards at the inaugural YouTube Ads Awards Philippines. The minute-long ad featuring the ‘fun’ in Filipino family and hospitality was adjudged Best in Overall Performance, Creative, and Media by a six-man panel of…
There is something strange about the endearment and the magnetic force that attracts a child towards his mother compared to his father. The reason could be due to the biological relationship, literally from the umbilical tie that serves as a direct “line of connection” between them, having had sanguineous and mammiferous-based foundations. Mothers, generally, are…
Tourists Asked to Discover, Experience and Explore The world-famous and iconic Grand Central Terminal in New York City is the home of the 7,641 islands of the Philippines – at least for four days this week as Explore Islands Philippines, a major project to promote Philippine tourism is now ongoing at the Vanderbilt Hall after a…
Malacañang will tap a three-man panel of foreign health experts to conduct independent scientific research about Dengvaxia, the world’s first dengue vaccine, and its impact on the immunized children in the country. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said President Rodrigo Duterte seeks a more comprehensive and independent report after the conflicting reports on the matter…
AFTER two months of being on leave, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno returned to work on Wednesday, May 9, after preparations for her impeachment trial at the Senate have finally been completed. Wearing a pink belted dress, Sereno was defiant and unfazed as she went to her office amid the rumor that the majority of…
Newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat revealed President Rodrigo Duterte’s first instruction for her was to maintain a “no corruption” policy as she takes over the department that was recently involved in a P60-million advertising deal controversy. “My only instruction from the President when he offered it and then I accepted – he said, ‘Congratulations! All…
