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…
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…
Soccer fans rejoice — Banc of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles opens this weekend with the LA Football Club (LAFC)’s match against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, April 29. The sport itself isn’t the only reason to flock to the stadium, as the food vendors are something to savor in. You’ll want to head…
GOOD NEWS for qualified young undocumented immigrants: On Tuesday, April 24, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates called the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program “virtually unexplained” and therefore “unlawful.” This will effectively resume the DACA program after President Donald Trump tried to shut down the Obama-era initiative…
SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 27, met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit here. The President together with some of his Cabinet officials first met with Prime Minister Phuc at Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel….
by Anna Gorman and Harriet Rowan Millions of low-income Californians eligible for food stamps are not receiving the benefit, earning the state one of the lowest rankings in the nation for its participation in the program. Just three states — all much more conservative than the Golden State — have lower rates of participation, according to the latest…
Malacañang has defended the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) order on Australian Catholic nun Patricia Fox to leave the Philippines after it canceled her missionary visa. “We stand by the Bureau of Immigration’s order to forfeit Sister Patricia Fox‘s privilege of holding a missionary visa and to leave the Philippines,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said…
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)…
‘Call Her Ganda’ makes its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival Fil-Am director PJ Raval was invited to the Philippines in December 2014 to screen the two documentaries he has done – Trinidad and Before You Know It – for the QC Pink LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Little did he know, he’d find there – his…
There are already more than a dozen reasons people can use to avoid paying the penalty for not having health insurance. Now the federal government has added four more “hardship exemptions” that let people off the hook if they can’t find a marketplace plan that meets not only their coverage needs but also reflects their…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Boracay under state of calamity on Thursday, April 26, the same day when the island’s six-month closure begun. Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 475, declaring barangays Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak in Malay town under a state of calamity “until lifted by the president, notwithstanding the lapse of the six-month…
Following the release of the 2017 Bar Examinations, Malacañang on Thursday, April 26, congratulated law graduates who passed one of the country’s hardest licensure exams. Malacañang also encouraged new lawyers to pursue a career in the government, as their “idealism, integrity and competence are most welcome” under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. “We’d like…
GARNERING four medals in a highly contested international talent competition such as the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) was one feat hard to duplicate but for a determined risk-taker and an indomitable dreamer like Renz Mareon Florendo Amirul, simply identified as Renz Fernando in the entertainment arena, it was the outcome of long-range preparation,…
THE recently released 2018 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontiéres, RSF) has ranked the Philippines 133 out of 180 countries on the list, citing a “growing animosity” towards journalists in the country. But Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. downplayed the report, saying that the media watchdog also expressed alarm over…
Dear Attorney Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. many years ago, and am out of status. I have now been away from my spouse and children for many years, and have been desperately looking for ways I can bring them to the U.S. because we miss each other so much. I have an employer willing…
SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Singapore Thursday, April 26, for the biannual summit of the 10 Southeast Asian leaders. Upon arrival at the Changi International Airport, President Duterte, accompanied by a lean delegation, was welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap and Sam Tan Chin Siong, Minister of State in…
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, April 26, pledged to advance the plight of migrant workers during the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore. In his departure statement at the Davao International Airport, President Duterte said he and his fellow leaders will continue to work towards the realization of ASEAN Vision…
Malacañang on Thursday, April 26, said while the Palace respects the rights of individuals to sue and the independence of the judiciary, it is confident that the petitions filed in the Supreme Court to stop the closure of Boracay will not be given merit. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. in a Palace press briefing said…
Local and foreign tourists enjoyed their vacations in Boracay a day before the world-famous island’s closure started on Thursday, April 26. The island is set to be closed to tourists for six months upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to rehabilitate the island. However, tourists who have bookings beyond April 26 will still be…
Judge John D. Bates joins other federal judges in support of the Obama-era program that provides benefits to undocumented youth The Trump administration has been dealt with yet another blow in its mission to terminate a program which grants work authorization and protection from deportation to undocumented youth. Judge John D. Bates of the Federal…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, April 25, has reiterated his promise to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) this year. During a speech in Buluan, Maguindanao, Duterte assured the Moro people anew of his commitment to pass the BBL, hopefully by the end of May. “So let us fast-track the BBL. I promised that…
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered Australian Catholic missionary Patricia Fox to leave the country after it forfeited her missionary visa for engaging in “partisan political activities.” The BI issued its one-page order on Fox on Monday, April 23. Fox was directed to leave the Philippines within 30 days from receipt of the…
“Applicants for diplomatic or official visas will be exempt from the proposed revised questions.” ON March 30, 2018, the Department of State published in the Federal Register its proposed new requirements which will affect immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants alike. There is a 60-day comment period for public comment on the proposed new…
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. many years ago, and am out of status. I have now been away from my spouse and children for many years, and have been desperately looking for ways I can bring them to the U.S. because we miss each other so much. I have an employer willing…
