ON January 31, 2018, USCIS announced a change in policy for scheduling affirmative asylum interviews. They will follow a “last in, first out” interview schedule, meaning the newest asylum applications will be pushed up to the front of the line and interviewed first. The reason for this policy is to “identify frivolous, fraudulent or otherwise…
The recent findings of an international organization stating that the rule of law in the Philippines has “deteriorated significantly” were “not based on reality,” Malacañang argued on Thursday, February 1. In the newly released World Justice Project (WJP)’s 2017–2018 Rule of Law Index, the Philippines saw its biggest decline in the rankings after plummeting 18…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte wants Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) ahead of the possible Charter change, Malacañang clarified on Tuesday, January 30. Over the weekend, reports saying that Duterte wanted the revision of the 1987 Constitution first before the BBL passage have surfaced. Malacañang, however, said that the president’s statements last…
The tourism industry in the Philippines has achieved another “milestone” after reaching an “all-time high” record of more than 6.6 million tourist arrivals in 2017. A recent data released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country increased from the previous 5,967,005 in 2016 to 6,620,908…
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales may face administrative and criminal sanctions for refusing to enforce Malacañang’s suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang. President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief legal counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo made the warning on Wednesday, January 31. In a statement, Panelo noted that Duterte’s order of preventive suspension against Carandang is “presumed to…
One of the biggest milestones in a woman’s life is her wedding day. Even at a young age, many girls dream of their “perfect wedding.” They dream of that pivotal moment of seeing themselves walking down the aisle and seeing their groom at the end. They can only imagine the joy and excitement that they…
LAST week, in this column, we dissected the anatomy, physiology, and psychological and social impact of electronic addiction, a relatively new condition on its way to officially being a medical disease entity. The e-addicts we described ranged from the first year of life to teenage years to adulthood. Yes, I have seen few babies with…
The Fil-Am superstar wins six Grammy Awards, including ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Song of the Year’ The 60th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 28 proved to be a big night for the multi-talented Bruno Mars, who went home with a whopping six awards, including three wins in the award show’s…
AS the Philippine National Police (PNP) resumed its controversial “Oplan Tokhang” on Monday, January 29, the country’s top cop admitted that it is “impossible” to conduct a completely bloodless anti-illegal drugs campaign. But while saying that he cannot guarantee zero casualties, PNP Chief Director Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vowed that the police will do…
“GOOD luck to them.” This was Malacañang’s short message to online news site Rappler on its efforts to invalidate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s revocation of its license. Rappler on Monday, January 29, filed a petition before the Court of Appeals (CA) seeking to reverse an earlier SEC ruling that voided the news organization’s…
The United States is “cautiously optimistic” that the human rights situation in the Philippines is steadily improving amid the ongoing implementation of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, an official said Tuesday, January 30. According to James Walsh, a senior official from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the number of…
A FILIPINO doctor accused of financing a thwarted jihadist plot in New York in 2016 has been indicted by the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) over a separate Islamic State (IS)-inspired kidnapping and murder case. Maranao doctor Russell Salic has been charged for his alleged involvement in the abduction of six and the murder of…
A FILIPINO lawmaker has been charged for supposedly organizing a violent rally against United States President Donald Trump during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Manila last year. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate was accused of inciting “attack” against police officers during an anti-Trump rally held on November 13, 2017 along…
FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, January 29 presented what he claimed as “evidence” to support his electoral protest against Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo. In a press conference, Marcos showed “highly questionable” copies of several ballot images from 12 towns in Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, which supposedly indicate fraud…
In nearly three years, Garrett Gee and his wife Jessica have traveled to 45 countries and have been on over 150 flights with their two toddlers in tow, digitally documenting the adventures along the way as the “Bucket List Family.” Their travels have been widely followed on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, as they’ve spent…
A CLIENT has had an ongoing “battle” with Wells Fargo for justice on her mortgage since 2007. It’s been nine years since she made the mistake of refinancing her fully paid house with World Savings Bank. Yes, the client was already a senior nine years ago when she decided to borrow $250,000 against her house,…
M.F. worked for Pacific Pearl Hotel Management, LLC as a housekeeper at its five-building hotel property. One morning, the hotel’s engineering manager saw a drunk trespasser with a beer in his hand walking inside the hotel and using the elevator. The manager did not tell the trespasser to leave, and did not report him to…
THE business tax provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act include: • The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cuts corporate taxes from eight graduated rates of 15 percent to 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent. • Introduces a 20 percent deduction for pass-through entities. • Uses a new territorial system of…
YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve…
IF you are delinquent on your debts, you may be able to avoid dealing with the bill collectors for a few months but sooner or later, you will still need to face the reality of your debt problems and do something to protect yourself. For example, creditors will probably wait until you are 60 days…
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez has defended the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke the license of online news site Rappler. In a letter to the New York Times dated Wednesday, January 24, Romualdez dismissed the alleged “political motivation” behind the SEC order against Rappler. The ambassador also…
The calendar has turned to 2018, and Covered California is in the homestretch of its drive to sign people up for health insurance by Jan. 31, the final day to enroll. As an incentive, the agency, which administers the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the state, is touting lower prices and financial assistance…
ASIAN Americans were more likely than whites to experience a severe ischemic stroke, according to preliminary research presented on Thursday, January 25 at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA)’s International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2018. The study was the largest analysis of functional and clinical outcomes for Asian American acute ischemic stroke patients — an…
The camp of Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, January 26 dismissed the latest criminal complaint filed against her as a “desperate stunt” by lawyer Atty. Lorenzo Gadon. Sereno’s camp expressed confidence that Gadon “will fall flat doing this latest stunt.” “Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures. Gadon knows that he still…
Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Philippines’ Islamist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), strongly hopes that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed to avoid the rise of extremism in the southern region. In a press conference on Thursday, January 25, Ebrahim recalled that the cancellation of the 1996 peace agreement…
WH to announce pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth as DACA negotiations underway At a time where major policy developments seem to occur daily in Washington, this week brought about particularly significant moves in the ongoing immigration battle. On Wednesday, January 24, President Donald Trump unexpectedly voiced his support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented…
Atty. General Sessions warns sanctuary cities repercussions for noncompliance with the federal immigration agencies As the immigration saga mounts in Washington, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing its fight against the 23 sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with the federal government’s efforts to deport undocumented immigrants whom they deem pose a threat. United…
The camp of Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, January 26 dismissed the latest criminal complaint filed against her as a “desperate stunt” by lawyer Atty. Lorenzo Gadon. Sereno’s camp expressed confidence that Gadon “will fall flat doing this latest stunt.” “Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures. Gadon knows that he still…
Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Philippines’ Islamist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), strongly hopes that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed to avoid the rise of extremism in the southern region. In a press conference on Thursday, January 25, Ebrahim recalled that the cancellation of the 1996 peace agreement…
GOD wants our total well-being. He desires that we lead healthy, fulfilled, and peaceful lives. He does not want us to distress about anything. He wants us to remain calm. I know that it’s easy to claim these truths about God, but it’s hard to live them out each day when even little things like…
