(Part 2 of 3) *Remarks of Hon. Jose de Venecia – Former Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman and Chairman of Standing Committee, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Founder, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA); Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)…
AMERICA celebrated Presidents’ Day last Monday, February 19, but there was something, someone missing — a real president with moral leadership in the White House. The events leading up to Presidents’ Day just exposed more of the character, or the lack thereof, of the 45th president of the United States. Fourteen young high school students…
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
Q: I have just entered the work force and I work in the service industry on 12-hour shifts. My supervisor says I am entitled to one 30-minute lunch break and two rest breaks of 10 minutes each. A co-worker said it should actually be two lunch breaks and three rest breaks because we work 12…
IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which…
THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act saves the student loan interest deduction and keeps tuition waivers for graduate students tax-free. It also expands 529 savings accounts to include private K-12 education. Let’s discuss further. 1. American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits remain the same: Both American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit remain the same….
A LOT of people who don’t have a clue about how bankruptcy works are sometimes too quick to judge others who find bankruptcy as their only option to get out of debt. These people think that filing bankruptcy is something they will never do because it is ‘wrong to run away from your responsibilities’. This…
On April 7, at the historic Presidio in San Francisco, surviving Filipino World War II veterans or their next of kin living in Northern California, will receive bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award conferred by the United States. The original gold medal (not to be confused with the Congressional Medal…
Work on gun control laws, Pres. Trump and Republican lawmakers PICTURE your self even just for a while, and imagine how you would feel if you are among the grieving family members of a football coach, an athletic director and 14 young students who were killed by a lone deranged young gunman at a high…
“This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set a bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-13) MANY of us are familiar with the sign…
Love is still thick in after Valentine’s Day, and as powerful and triumphant as ever, inspiring people around the globe, as different societies celebrated it according to their own tradition during that special day. Indeed, there is no greater force on earth than love, one making death sweeter than life without it, giving up a…
For most couples, it’s easier to think about Valentine’s Day when you and your significant other are at close proximity compared to those who are far apart. While couples who get to celebrate this special day with their loved ones are luckier, the distance could be just a test to see how far your love…
THE only means an employer can offer employees between taxable and nontaxable benefits is through section 125 plan. What are a section 125 plan, a cafeteria plan, and the IRS requirements for this plan? 1. Cafeteria Plan: Cafeteria plan is a written plan maintained by employer for employees that meets the requirements and regulations of…
(Part 1 of 3) *Remarks of Hon. Jose de Venecia – Former Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman and Chairman of Standing Committee, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Founder, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA); Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump faced the press people and even tweeted about his praises for his former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who resigned last week when allegations against him were made public by his former wives, Colbie Holderness and Jennie Willoughby, after they reportedly contributed to a delay in granting him a permanent security…
MALACAÑANG on Monday, February 5, downplayed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s latest request for a Senate investigation into the alleged unexplained wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson harry Roque dismissed Trillanes’ accusations as old news. “Lumang tugtugin, lumang balita para ng sirang plaka (It’s old news that sounds like a…
WHY does some love between two people endure a lifetime, while others are destined only for a while? Then, the two lovers are separated, either by choice or by faith? Love — the blossom and fragrance of all human feelings, thoughts, passion and longing — inspires patience of the heart, strength of mind and never…
THE first client is 75 years old. Her husband passed four years ago and left her with $30,000 of credit card debt. She has been making minimum payments on their credit cards for the last 15 years as far as she can recall at the rate of $800 a month. So in one year, she…
Q: I work as a travelling technician or ompany. Recently, my employer asked me to sign an “independent contractor” agreement and told me that I will now be receiving a 1099 instead of a W-2. Being on 1099 allows me to take home all my pay with no withholdings. But is there anything else I should know…
Part 6: Homeowners 1. THE Tax Cut and Jobs Act reduces the maximum amount of mortgage debt to acquire a first or second residence for which you can claim itemized interest expense deductions from loans of $1 million ($500,000 for married filing separately) to $750,000 ($375,000 for married filing separately). 2. Current homeowners will not…
MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case. However once the divoqqqqqqrce case is opened, many…
EVERY day, I meet with couples who are deeply in debt. In a lot of cases, I can feel the stress level that they are experiencing while the couple is in my office. Emotions often run high and you can feel the tension in the air. There can be a lot of finger-pointing, resentment, anger,…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump yet again exonerates a supporter accused of abuse against women. This time it’s White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter. Porter resigned this week after allegations against him were made public by his former wives, Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby, after they reportedly contributed to a delay in granting him a permanent security…
An unfazed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, February 9 welcomed an international court’s move to conduct a preliminary examination into crimes against humanity allegedly committed under his drug war. Speaking at a conference in Davao City, Duterte said he is ready to face trial, further daring the International Criminal Court (ICC) to sentence him…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 7 said that the country will never reach any progress if he refrains from using a “dictatorial style” of leadership. Speaking before former communist rebels in Malacañang, Duterte said he needed to act like a dictator for the sake of the country’s development. “Sabi mo diktador, diktador talaga…
Two congressmen from the United States expressed their objections to the possible return of the historic Balangiga bells to the Philippines, citing the alleged massive human rights violations of the latter country’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. In a letter, Reps. Randy Hultgren (R-Illinois) and James McGovern (D-Massachusetts) had asked U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to “not…
“Dear Rosalynn” narrates life of Mrs. Carter, special relationship with St. Genevieve Parish Schools Since leaving the White House, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter moved back to and continue to live in Plains, Georgia, a quaint town nearly three hours from Atlanta with less than 1,000 residents. While their contributions to…
By Grace O. Rosalynn Carter is a truly unforgettable American hero who inspires everyone she meets. Recently, she arrived in Los Angeles to be honored as one of the most accomplished and important First Ladies in United States history. She is a woman I greatly admire, and whom I met for the first time last…
“If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touch him, and said,‘I do will it. Be made clean.’— Mark 1:40-42 WHEN we think of leprosy in this Sunday’s Gospel, we imagine it as the Hansen’s Disease that people of the island of Molokai suffered from in the late 19th century. It’s…
A trip to the grocery store can be a day filled with life-changing discoveries and hard-hitting realities. And if you are like me, who trails down the grocery aisles pre-occupied with budgeting woes, you would then come face-to-face with the stark reality that “everything is expensive.” In that regard, this piece aims to effortlessly empathize…
