10 ways to avoid passport problems with the IRS
IF you owe more than $50,000 in delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest to the IRS, you are considered seriously delinquent. This puts your passport in jeopardy. Take action now before…
Read More
Starting the new year fresh with a divorce
TO many people, the New Year signifies a chance to have a fresh beginning. People dispose of old personal items and clean out the closet in order to make room…
Get out of debt legally and safely for a fresh start in 2018
ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an…
An opportunity to modernize Parañaque
If EDSA has become known as “carmageddon” (or the Armageddon of cars) because of the horrible traffic, Sucat Road AKA as Dr A Santos Avenue in Parañaque easily qualifies as…
Philippines deadliest country for journalists in Asia
THE Philippines remains the deadliest country for journalists in Asia, according to a year-end overview of journalists killed, held hostage, detained, or reported missing around the world. The Philippines comes…
Filipino doctor in US granted probation in sexual assault case
A Filipino doctor who was charged a year ago with sexually assaulting his 53-year-old male patient in Bridgeport, Connecticut was placed in a special probation program on Tuesday, December 19,…
God’s love
HAVE you ever felt the profound love of another human being? Have you loved someone so deeply? If you did, then you have experienced what it is to be truly…
Richard Maghanoy, husband of Image Spa MD co-owner Imee Ong-Maghanoy, celebrates 50th Birthday
“Behind every man’s success is a woman,” but beside every strong woman is an even stronger man whose iconic existence demands a celebration filled with fun and dancing – Studio…
2017 Holiday revelries and community celebrations
The advent of the holiday season has incessantly ushered in isochronous celebrated organizational events that more than added sparkle and dazzle to the already highly spirited universal occasion. For what…
January 2018 priority dates
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…
New USCIS Policy: Adjustment interview for employment-based petitions
IN the past few months, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, beginning October 1, 2017, it will expand in-person interviews for employment-based adjustment of status (“AOS”…
Quantum of proof
Gender inequality. Is it an issue some societies in the world have relegated to the past? The trend to recognize same-sex marriages is picking up. Women are accepted (sometimes…
Is your drinking water safe?
Around 71-72 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all water on this planet. The human body is between 50-75 percent…
TURKEY EMBUTIDO With cranberry sweet and sour sauce
By Yana Gilbuena Ingredients: • 1 small shallot, finely chopped • ½ cup of celery, brunoised • ½ cup of carrots, brunoised • 2 tbsp freshly ground pepper • 2…
Stocking stuffers we’re eyeing
Looking for the perfect stocking stuffers for those with a sweet tooth? Look no further than these packaged candy cubes from Sugarfina. “Penguin” Party ($8.50) is a box of penguin-shaped gummies…
Christmas, more fun in the Philippines!
While the days leading to Christmas Day are usually festive, there is no denying that this season makes one wistful and sentimental. I recently received a message from a relative…
Grounds for annulling a marriage
MOST couples that want out of a marriage in California usually file for Divorce. There are circumstances though that allow a couple to have their marriage “voided” rather than “dissolved.” …
2017 guide for rental property owners and managers
THE bills described in this Rental Property Owner and Mangers Guide are rental housing related bills that were signed into law in 2016 and become effective January 1, 2017 unless…
No peace among nations, unless there is peace among the religions
We were at the United Nations headquarters in New York last week where we watched with admiration our articulate Philippine Ambassador to the U.N. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. deliver a well-researched…
How Fil-Ams carry on Filipino Christmas traditions
CHRISTMAS Day is fast approaching and for many in the U.S., that means hustling to finalize Christmas gifts, finding the perfect tree, and sending out family Christmas cards. For the…
How important is it to have a living trust?
THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a…
Client with nondischargeable judgment of $80K needs Chapter 13 relief
THE client is 50 and operates a business. There is a state court judgment against him for $80K. Is this judgment dischargeable in bankruptcy? The answer is: If the judgment…
Are part-time employees entitled to paid sick leave?
Q: I AM a part-time hourly employee working in retail. I work between 20 to 30 hours a week. I recently got sick and had to be out for three…
10 questions and answers about new passport restrictions
1. CAN you get a passport if you owe taxes? Of course, you can. But if your taxes, penalties and interest total more than $50,000, you fall under a new…
Is President Trump erasing all immigration laws from the books?
QUESTION: I am so afraid that I will be deported (even though I have legal status here) because I’m an immigrant. Is that the case? Answer: U.S. immigration law is…
Bankruptcy debt relief: Chapter 7 or 13?
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, which type of bankruptcy is right for your situation: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?…
Mourning the death of the internet as we know it, as it should be in a democracy
The internet has been an important part of our modern civilization. It has exponentially changed our world by leaps and bounds because it made access to information and communication so…
The joy of living the Gospel
“REJOICE always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ.” St. Paul admonishes us with these words in…
Blushing Bride Ai Ai delas Alas stuns in her pastel-themed wedding
IT was magical. A moment so surreal and poignant that it brought memories of both pain and redemption; of love that’s found after the heart has been broken one too…
Of pushers, politicians and presidents
A FEW weeks ago, I posted on Facebook two anti-drug abuse ads that I created back in 1972. The headline of one read, “Is a pusher paying more attention to…