MOST people don’t talk about their debts because they find that conversation embarrassing. They can talk to their friends and family about everything else but when it comes to the subject of how much debt they are carrying, most people would not divulge any information. It makes them very uncomfortable. So what happens is that…
IN a moment of pique, I recently posted on social media that I always thought Harry Roque, spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, was “marunong” (intelligent). And I added: “Bobo pala.” (It turns out, he’s dumb.) I’m taking that back. I don’t think Roque is dumb. His academic credentials are impressive and so is his track…
IN the wake of one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States — committed by a white 19-year-old with an AR-15 assault rifle, killing 14 students and three school staff members in Parkland, Florida — survivors, their families, students from other schools around the country, and stricter gun laws and regulations advocates protested…
Trust in God is what we need to face the hardships and incomprehensibility of life. It’s what Abraham in this Sunday’s First Reading manifested to us. He trusted in God’s inscrutable command. “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up…
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I was petitioned in November 2006 as a single adult child of my immigrant (green card) parent, in the F-2B category. I waited many years, and in November 2017, the embassy scheduled my interview for January 2018. I went ahead and had my medicals, paid all the fees, and submitted all the…
“ Moreover, USCIS will not accept or approve applications for Advance Parole request from DACA recipients” DEFERRED Action (DACA) renewals. Due to a Federal Court order, the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Until further…
In the book on disease prevention at the cellular (DNA) level, entitled, Let’s Stop “Killing” our Children, I have highlighted tobacco and alcohol as the two major causes of most maladies known to man, including cancer. Besides those two risk factors, I pointed out that other unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and habits immensely contribute to the…
ONCE again, Las Vegas has become the place to ring in the Lunar New Year. On Friday, February 16, guests were treated for dinner, a show and a one-of-a-kind shopping experience at Fashion Show Mall. The event featured a variety show performed by artists from tianjin, China, and a fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue….
(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,…
