Honoring the inspiration of Fil-Am nurses this National Nurses Week
Every year, the United States celebrates National Nurses Week from May 6 to May 12 (the birthday of modern nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale), to honor the over four million nurses providing care across the nation. This year, the American Nurses Association chose the theme of “Inspire, Innovate, and Influence” to recognize the impact and innovation…
UST Hosts Cultural Exchange Program With Samroiyod Wittayakham School, Thailand.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) through the Office of Public Affairs headed by its Director, Assoc. Prof. Giovanna V. Fontanilla, APR, with the UST Junior High School (UST JHS) led by its Regent, Rev. Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, O.P., and Principal, Assoc. Prof. Marishirl P. Tropcales, Ph.D., together with its faculty members and student…
A month before the June primary, CA gubernatorial candidates participate in first ever APA-focused debate
Five of the top six candidates discuss immigration, public education, affordable housing and climate change policy With a little more than a month before California’s June 5 primary for the 2018 midterm elections, the state’s gubernatorial candidates are gearing up for what will likely be a heated race to replace longtime CA Governor Jerry Brown….
Family caregivers finally get a break – and extra coaching
WASHINGTON — For today, there are no doctor’s visits. No long afternoons with nothing to do. No struggles over bathing — or not. At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., a group of older adults — some in wheelchairs, some with Alzheimer’s — and their caregivers sit in a semicircle around a haunting…
Workers’ health, safety, and pay are among the casualties of Trump’s war on regulations — Economic Policy Institute
MAY DAY. May 1 is International Workers’ Day, a day when many countries around the world commemorate the working class of their nation. The “obrero” or workers and their supporters took to the streets to fight for workers’ rights, better working conditions and equitable pay. In the United States, this year’s commemoration is especially significant…
Angels among us
“ I think that someone is watching out for me, God, my guardian angel, I’m not sure who that is but they really work hard.” – Mattie Stepanek Author, “Heartsongs” DO you believe in angels? I do. Most people do. The strong presence of angels in the various books of the Bible, especially during the birth…
Solar energy credit for residential 2
SEC 25C refers to the $500 home or residential energy efficient credit expired after 2016. Sec 25D refers to the solar electric and solar water heating systems residential energy efficient property credit (REEP credit).There is no dollar limit on the credit and credit percentages are: through 2019 the credit amount is equal to 30 %…
Four self-care tips for nurses
Being a nurse can be among the most rewarding career choices. As a nurse, you’re responsible for the day-to-day comfort and well-being of a wide range of ill patients. But being a nurse also means coping with stress, either from caring for patients or managing long shifts; more often you’re dealing with both. All of…
Glendale Community College’s nursing program seeks to fill demand for nurses
Filipina-American nursing student Maria Riel Nullas lives in Cerritos, California, but has commuted to Glendale for the past two years to attend classes. She was accepted to several nursing programs in Southern California, but chose Glendale Community College (GCC) because the initial impression she had with the college struck her. “The reason why I commute…
President Duterte declares deployment ban in Kuwait permanent
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Sunday, April 29, announced that the ban on the deployment of workers in Kuwait will stay permanently. “There will be no more recruitment for — especially domestic helpers,” he said in his statement at the Davao International Airport in Buhangin, Davao City. The President arrived early Sunday morning from Singapore…
President Duterte thanks Singapore gov’t for moral authority in hosting OFWs
SINGAPORE—President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, April 28, thanked the Singaporean government for its moral authority in hosting the 180,000 Filipinos living and working here as he wrapped up his Singapore visit for the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. “Mabuti kayo dito because Singapore is a highly-civilized country. Importante kasi ‘yang moral authority…
President Duterte extends help to single mother OFW in Singapore
SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, April 28, has granted the wishes of a household service worker here who wanted to return home and start a small business. President Duterte met with 39-year-old Maria Rosalee Josue following his meeting with the Filipino community at Zepp@Bigbox here on Saturday night. Josue, who hails from Tampus,…
President Duterte secures $185M in investment pledges from Singapore
Singapore — President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the signing of US$185.7 million worth of investment agreements with Singaporean companies on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here on Saturday, April 28. The investment commitments are expected to generate some 1,920 job opportunities for Filipinos. In his speech, the President assured the…
Third version of Trump’s travel ban reaches Supreme Court with intense arguments
After months of lower court battles, the third and current version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 25 where heated arguments revolved around the president’s power to issue the ban, and whether or not the ban was to be seen as motivated by animus. Much like in the…
PH gov’t releases P448-M for displaced Boracay workers
Six-month closure of world-famous island begins The Philippine government has allotted P448 million in assistance for workers affected by the temporary closure of Boracay island. In a statement on Friday, April 27, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the funds will be used for “emergency employment, livelihood, and training programs for the 6-month…
Frequently asked questions on FBAR bank accounts
Q. AM I required to report bank accounts in a foreign country? A. Yes, if you have more than $10,000 at any time outside the U.S. Q. Am I exempted if my accounts are in Euros, Chinese Yuan, Philippines pesos, or Mexican pesos? A. No, you are not exempt from reporting foreign accounts just because…
DOT leads #SaveBoracay clean-up drive
BORACAY, AKLAN – On the first day of the Boracay rehabilitation, the Department of Tourism (DOT) led the first wave of clean-up drive along the stretch of Bulabog Beach as part of #SaveBoracay rehabilitation efforts. More than 200 volunteers arrive from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s Environmental Management Bureau, the Department…
Complexities of criminal issues in immigration
THE Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that one of their greatest priorities is to arrest and deport individuals with criminal convictions. Since the start of the Trump administration, the rate of arrests to seek the removal of individuals with criminal violations has risen significantly. With this heightened possibility of deportation, it is important for…
Have you found your voice? Unshackling hostile work environments
Disclosure: In my prior work life, I had the unfortunate experience of working for a decade+ in a hostile environment in Sacramento, and where I pervasively felt all the disparagement and negativity all the way to Los Angeles, where I was based, via emails, phone calls and surreptitious visits after working hours by my immediate…
Will a business bankruptcy affect its owners?
THE client and her husband are the only stockholders of an S corporation that has been doing well for the last 15 years. In fact, it’s still doing well and had a great year last year. What is the difference between an S corporation and a C corporation? In an S corporation, the business…
Preventing abondonment of your green card due to travel abroad
A GREEN card holder can travel outside the U.S. and return with some limitations. If a green card holder is outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, he may be considered to have abandoned his permanent resident status. Brief travel (such as for a vacation) normally will not affect permanent resident status. However,…
Problems surrounding employees paid by commission
MICHELLE McGrath and Veronica O’Boy worked for Wyndham Resort Development Corporation and its affiliates as Salespersons in California. Wyndham employed them to sell its goods and services such as interests in timeshare properties. After a two-month training period, Salespersons are compensated only by commission and advances on commissions based on sales of Wyndham’s products and…
To be intimately connected to God
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-8 JESUS’ image on the intimate connection between the vine and the branches speaks of his earnest desire to be in union with us. It’s the same…
To people who are considering bankruptcy to get out of debt
ARE you seriously in debt and thinking of filing bankruptcy as a last resort? Individuals who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether they should file bankruptcy in order to get out of debt. Sometimes, these people feel that somehow, they’ve lost, failed, or that they will never have a chance to…
Malacañang ‘grateful’ for continued trust in Duterte despite a drop in ratings
Malacañang on Friday, April 27, thanked Filipinos for their confidence in President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership. This comes after the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing a majority of Filipinos continue to trust the president despite the “unending criticisms and attacks” against him. Based on the poll, three in every four — or 76 percent…
The City of Cerritos’ first Fil-Am mayor to serve position once again
The City of Cerritos, California swore in Mark E. Pulido as its mayor on Wednesday, April 25 — four years after he became the city’s first-ever Filipino American to serve the position. “What I love most about serving Cerritos is the opportunity presented each and every day to give back to my hometown for the…
California’s Paid Family Leave program provides millions of families with financial security at the most crucial of times
Two Filipino-American families share their experiences with PFL and how the program has benefitted them There are four countries that don’t mandate federal paid family leave: Swaziland, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and the United States of America. U.S. lawmakers in Washington have received backlash for their inability to have established a federal paid family leave…
PH gov’t to use ‘every opportunity to uphold, protect’ OFWs’ rights
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte assured the public that the government will seize all opportunities to uphold and protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Rest assured that your government will take every opportunity [and] use every available venue to uphold and protect the rights of our countrymen working abroad,” Duterte said on Thursday, April…