Having four seasons in a year is an idea that is quite foreign to Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines. Back there, we only have dry (summer) and wet (rainy) seasons. Then there are those, like me, who migrated outside the Philippines to a place that has more than two seasons. This change also…
“In Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim Progress’ you may recall the description of the Man with the Muck-rake, the man who could look no way but downward, with the muck-rake in his hand; who was offered a celestial crown for his muck-rake, but who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to…
DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Roa Durerte on Saturday, April 14, assured that the government is taking steps to end the abuse on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East countries. President Duterte met with an OFW who was abused by her employer in Saudi Arabia. Pahima Alagasi, who was scaled by the mother…
ON April 3, 2018, the USCIS announced that it will start destroying green cards and work authorizations that are returned to it as “undeliverable.” If the document is returned, the person has only 60 days to contact USCIS and update their address. Many times, people file for immigration benefits, such as green cards, work authorizations,…
TWO clients with issues relating to known and unknown persons who used their names and social security information to borrow credit card in their names. The first client is 51 years old and married. She met this person who became her “friend.” Let’s just call the “friend” Ms. Crook. The client is a relatively new…
Q: I work at a hospital and we heard rumors that our computer servers were hacked. As a result, both patient and employee information were stolen. I am very worried about identity theft and damage to my credit. What are my rights? A: Anyone who conducts business in California and owns or licenses computerized data…
”Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” –John 24:38-39 IT’S truly perplexing that God would make his presence known…
YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue…
IF you are delinquent in your debt obligations and are being pursued by bill collectors, you may be wondering what these bill collectors can do to force you to pay. Maybe you’re afraid to even answer your phone or open your mailbox, fearing what you may find. Perhaps you’re sick and tired of bill collectors…
In this week’s issue, we shall devote our column to exalting “medicinal values or therapeutic effects” of regular, ordinary, food that people all over the world eat as part of their diet. The reported health benefits of some of the foods we have listed are anecdotal — passed down from generations — and many have…
After most of our God-centered thoughts during the last Holy Week, we felt there is need today for new initiatives for peace, renewal, and development in our country, and what immediately comes to mind is to revive our old proposal for a “Government of National Unity.” The other choice of other more extreme advisers is…
CALIFORNIA is home to the most number of Filipinos in America, thanks to its relatively mild weather and its west end location in the continental United States, being just the Pacific Ocean away from the Philippines. The Golden State is also the most populous state in the nation, with almost 40 million Californians calling it…
Former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his Cabinet officials should be held criminally liable for the Dengvaxia mess, according to a draft report by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. The committee is recommending the prosecution of Aquino and his officials “for all the tragedy, damage and possible deaths” resulting from his administration’s scrapped…
The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has ordered Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for disclosing information on the vote recount. The PET, in a resolution made public on Thursday, April 12, issued a…
Amid escalating tensions, a United States aircraft carrier en route to Manila sailed through the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday, April 10. The USS Theodore Roosevelt was reportedly carrying 65 supersonic F18 jets, spy planes and helicopters, the nuclear-powered carrier. Also aboard the nuclear-powered vessel were a small group of Philippine generals, officials and…
More than 50 activist organizations call upon Angelenos to rally for workers and immigrants Last year, the May Day march in downtown Los Angeles made a vociferous impact in its demonstration against the election of President Donald Trump and his policy proposals. Joining other May Day marches across the country, the May Day Coalition of LA…
Mayors from California’s 11 largest cities lobbied at the state Capitol in Sacramento this week for AB 3171, which would allocate $1.5 billion from the state budget to cities addressing the growing homelessness crisis in the state. “Cities are on the front lines in the fight against homelessness, and Los Angeles is already investing billions…
Deputy Mayor Nina Hachigian, consulate reps volunteer at community-based food prep organization LA Kitchen On the morning of Wednesday, March 5, the meeting room of the Lincoln Heights-based LA Kitchen was abuzz with excitement. Feeling like a miniature version of the United Nations, the meeting room was filled with representatives from the Los Angeles Consular…
A Filipino-American group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file a motion seeking the revocation of the approval of former senator Jinggoy Estrada’s trip to United States. In a letter dated April 9, the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) clarified that they did not invite Estrada to speak before its members in…
Assemblymember Phil Ting announces expanding changes including higher income eligibility limit, and self-employed worker qualification With the tax filing deadline a few days away, qualifying Californians are being urged to claim money through the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) program, which puts money back into the pockets of low-income California families and individuals. At…
PH and China ink six bilateral agreements Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 13 said he wants the P4 billion in assistance from China to be used for repairing and equipping hospitals in Mindanao, particularly in Jolo and Basilan. Earlier this week, Duterte left for back-to-back trips to China and Hong Kong, taking home…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, April 12, maintained that the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign is “constitutional, legal, and is implemented in the interest of public safety.” In a statement, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao dismissed anew the allegations that the deaths related to the drug war are state-sanctioned. “We maintain that the…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 13, lashed out anew against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, calling her “ignorant” and “dumb.” As he continued his series of word attacks against the top magistrate, Duterte said Sereno — who is currently facing a possible impeachment trial — should have quit her position a long time…
Despite a “provisional license” granted to a Chinese gaming firm, there will be no construction of any casino in Boracay, Malacañang said on Thursday, April 12. Last month, Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its Filipino partner, Leisure and Resorts World Corp., announced their plan to construct a casino-resort in Boracay after securing a provisional…
Hong Kong — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, April 12, apologized to the Chinese for the hostage-taking incident in Manila in 2010 that left eight tourists dead. “May I address myself to the Chinese people who are here, who are with us, who joined us. From the bottom of my heart, as the…
DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on early Friday morning, April 13, arrived from his visit to China and Hong Kong, underscoring that his visit would yield 10,000 jobs for Filipinos. President Duterte was in Hainan, China earlier this week for his attendance to the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference as well as his…
Hong Kong — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his family on Thursday, April 12, visited a branch of Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee at Whampoa, Hung Hom. On the last day of his working visit here, the President dropped by Jollibee along with his partner Honeylet Avanceña, daughters Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Kitty, and…
Stress is a feeling we’re all familiar with. It’s how we feel while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic to and from work, why we often dread Mondays, our responses when people ask how we’re doing, and what may keep many of us void of a good night’s sleep. Sometimes, we even use it as…
As the Philippines commemorate the Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) on Monday, April 9, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana asked Filipinos to always remember the World War II veterans, who fought for the country’s freedom. “Let us continue to celebrate and commemorate the valor and gallantry of our WW2 Veterans. Let us perpetuate the memory of their…
The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to be to be transferred from Camp Bagong Diwa to the custody of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP). In a resolution dated April 5, the anti-graft court’s First Division denied Napoles’ motion due to lack of merit,…
