“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” – Mark 1:3 MANY residents of Southern California may not feel like celebrating Christmas this year. It’s because of the series of wildfires that destroyed numerous homes and devastated the lives of thousands of people, interrupting their plans for this most celebrated holiday. This enormous disaster…
TODAY I woke up with a smile on my face. Christmas is 18 days away, as of this writing! The sound of Christmas music and the cold winter breeze brushing against my face made sure I remember that. But aside from the stark reminder that I only have a few days to “wrap-up’ my Christmas…
“Inspiration feeds the human soul…and Icons of Impact hopes to serve as a motivation for the young to challenge personal results and expectations…” – SVD The fourth among 6 siblings, it wasn’t difficult for his parents, Engineer Pancho V. Derodar and Romarica Cendrillon Derodar to rear young Stevenson Van C. Derodar for he was industrious,…
FOR almost all immigration benefits, you should save and preserve documents to establish eligibility for that particular benefit. Many people state that, for one reason or another, they no longer have documents relating to their immigration history. They moved several times and lost track of the documents; they got angry because their case was denied…
THE holidays are upon us, and soon, we’ll all be thinking about “New Year’s resolutions.” Amid the festivities, many people take this time to look at their lives and decide once and for all if their lives will change in the new year, or if things will remain the same. Love and marriage in the…
Twelve years ago, we wrote that drinking coffee reduced the risk for type II diabetes, based on a new study then (involving 42,000 healthy men and 84,000 health women from 1980 through 1998) by the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on January 6,…
Everyone seems hyped up for the holidays, hurrying to wrap up their shopping and head on to parties and get-togethers. This holiday season, chances are, you will be spending much of your time traveling. Since streets will be a lot busier (and in some places, raining, snowing or covered with ice and frost), it’s a…
BEGINNING January 2018, the IRS will start certification of individuals with delinquent tax debt to the State Department. How will the IRS certification impacts you? • Upon receipt of certification. The State Department will either deny application or revoke current passport or both. • You are overseas. Limited validity passport for direct return to the…
IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code §760. This becomes a problem if you…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump gave his full support behind the candidacy of Roy Moore, a former judge who is running for senator in a special election in Alabama on December 12. Trump endorsed Moore despite the fact that at least six women have come forward, accusing Moore of making unwanted sexual advances toward them when they…
When I first learned how to drive, I was baffled with how much paperwork is actually involved. However, it turned out to not be as scary and complicated as I thought. Car registration and the driver’s license are two of the most important components for every driver. Car registration is proof that you’re the owner…
Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed rock band Journey, brought down Palace Theater in Los Angeles as he sang to a sold-out crowd of over 1,000 attendees on Sunday, December 3. The concert came two days ahead of Pineda marking his 10-year anniversary as the vocalist of the iconic rock group, with…
MANY Filipinos consult with me saying they are sad, lonely, and depressed over their immigration situation, and just want to give up, and go back to the Philippines. Many of them came to the U.S. years ago, leaving behind a spouse and small children. Because of their immigration situation, they are unable to travel back…
IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code §760. This becomes a problem if you…
THE Japanese created Godzilla a long time ago. It’s a gigantic T-Rex on steroids that destroys Tokyo and the rest of Japan until someone comes to the rescue and kills it with nukes. Mr. Honda, the author, created the concept of Godzilla as a metaphor for the atomic bombs in 1954 when Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which were the recipients of…
Q: I work in a hospital on 12-hour shifts. During my meal break, I sometimes go to our break lounge to take a nap. My supervisor told me sleeping is forbidden. Since it is my 30-minute meal break, I feel that I should be able to spend it however I want. What are my rights?…
1. DON’T volunteer information. A typical agent is a low-key, friendly agent. They get your guard down by playing a nice guy role. Don’t be deceived by it. Remember that he (includes her) is not on your side. He may appear to be, but he is not. 2. Don’t be a blabbermouth. Taxpayers are scared…
QUESTION: I have lots of years of experience and lots of publications and awards. However, I don’t have an employer to sponsor me. Is there any other option? Answer: There might be. EB1-A or EB1-EA is a subgroup of first preference employment-based immigration (EB-1). This immigration preference category is for foreign nationals of extraordinary ability…
IF you are struggling with debt and have done everything you can to no avail, bankruptcy may be the only way for you to wipe the slate clean on your financial troubles. Some people have gotten so behind on their debt payments that it has become impossible for them to catch up. Creditors are calling…
ADVERTISING is one indicator of changes in lifestyle, social mores, fashion and language. One such development that has become apparent in U.S. television commercials is the use of mixed race families (i.e., an African-American husband, a Caucasian wife and mixed-race children). This would have been unthinkable only a few decades ago. In 1978, at the…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been in office for almost a year now but has yet to score a legislative victory. This is why he has been so adamant in getting his Republican legislators to pass the GOP tax bill before Christmas. However, even his party mates have aired their concerns about the tax bill, especially…
“YES, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay, and you are the potter: we are the work of your hands” (Is 64:7). These are beautiful words the Scripture presents to us on this First Sunday of Advent as we prepare for Christmas! We’re going to spend the weeks of Advent in prayer,…
DURING the winter, our hair experiences dehydration because of unavoidable exposure. We need to be proactive about maintaining moisture in our hair. For the entire winter months, we want to help you keep your hair and skin keep it shiny and healthy. Hair Reborn, Brazilian keratin treatment, shimmer and shine are the perfect respite for…
(Part 2 – conclusion) LAST week, we took our readers in a journey back to year 1628, almost 400 years ago, when blood circulation, as we know it today, was “discovered,” understood, and accepted by medical science for the first time. This fundamental information inspired and led to cascading advances, one after the other, in…
I JUST moved to California last month, and I’d like to file for divorce. Can I file now? To file for divorce in the State of California, the person filing (called the “Petitioner”) must first meet the jurisdictional requirements: (i) residence in the state of California from the past 6 months; and (ii) residence in…
(Conclusion) Last week, we took our readers in a journey back to year 1628, almost 400 years ago, when blood circulation, as we know it today, was “discovered,” understood, and accepted by medical science for the first time. This fundamental information inspired and led to cascading advances, one after the other, in medicine as a…
Music is therapy. It moves people…soothes pain and longing. It can boost memory and sets mood. Its healing power is as effectual as the curative control of a medical dosage. For hopeless romantics there’s but a thin line dividing Music and Medicine for both, no matter how diverse their specific range of knowledge, there’s still…
SERIES 1 we talked about the factors you need to consider before you decide choosing OIC, and meeting the compliance requirements before proceeding. Series 2 we explored on what you can do if your offer is rejected and you have disagreed items. In general following are grounds for compromise: 1) Doubt as to liability: valid …
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been touting that he will be giving Americans a great Christmas gift when he signs the Republican tax bill into law before the holidays. What is he talking about? Who among the American people will pop the champagne for Trump’s tax plan? Unfortunately, it will not be you and me and…
Coming-of-age story explores complex family dynamics between a single mother and her eldest son The coming-of-age story has become a staple in independent cinema, beautifully and artistically told from filmmakers spanning the globe. Typically geared towards young adults, these stories explore the growth of a protagonist, pulling from often-comedic experiences that have strengthened our hero….
