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…
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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…
An in-depth review of the 2017 international beauty pageants
Filipinos, as well as millions of beauty pageants enthusiasts around the world, constantly find beauty competitions as alternative entertainment with relevant positivity and obliging advocacy. Just like basketball, boxing, teleseryes,…
Things that can mess up your child’s CSPA eligibility
ELIGIBILITY for benefits under Section 3 of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is based on a mathematical formula, where you subtract from the child’s age the length of time…
DACA renewal requests affected by USPS service delays
ON September 5, 2017, United States Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions formally announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, which has protected from deportation nearly 800,000…
USCIS forms updated
True to one of its promised immigration policies, the present administration is implementing its extreme vetting. Since it took over the White House a year ago, attempts to reform the…
Unhealthy foods
THE Christmas season is upon us once more and feasting has already started. As we indulge and enjoy the food galore, it behooves us to stay away from foods that…
When am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case?
THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest…
Penalty relief: How to establish reasonable cause
PENALTY could still be relived even if you fail to file your tax returns and pay taxes owed if you have reasonable cause. How to establish reasonable cause • Facts….
Jonas Gaffud on making beauty queens
Behind every strong woman is herself, but it doesn’t hurt to receive expert guidance from someone who has proved to produce success. For beauty queens of the Philippines, that someone…
Simbang Gabi offering: How to help Filipino priests help and serve Kababayans back home
CHRISTMAS is less than two weeks from now, and this wonderful season is just opening the hearts of people to give more, in gratitude to all the blessings we have…
SF’s first Asian American mayor, Ed Lee, passes at 65
PRAISED as a trailblazer and voice for civil rights, Ed Lee, mayor of San Francisco and friend of the city’s Filipino-American community, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, at the…
When am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case?
THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest…
A client wants Chapter 7, but can he avoid the presumption of abuse?
A CLIENT wants Chapter 7, but can he avoid the presumption of abuse? The client is 55, married with a son and daughter who have just entered college. His income…
Sexual harassment can happen in any workplace: How to recognize the signs
BETH Silverman worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles since 1994. In 2006, she joined the Major Crimes Division (MCD), an elite trial unit in…
IRS moves to revoke passports for unpaid taxes
1. CONGRESS created a new code section called “Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Tax Delinquencies.” The idea of this new law is to use travel to enforce…
Bankruptcy: Forget the past to move forward
IF you are up to your neck in debt, you may feel that you have no choice but to file for bankruptcy. But perhaps you’re dreading to make that decision…
Not from a treaty country? Try the L-1 and then the multinational visa petition
QUESTION: I wanted to start my own business in the U.S. and in fact, have sufficient money. However, I was told that I am not able to do so because…
Preempting a looming power crisis
It is said that if hindsight is a perfect science, that makes scientists of our country’s national leaders and bureaucrats. In administration after administration, the would’ve-could’ve-should’ve syndrome has been a…
TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year: Not Trump but the ‘silence breakers’
Vindicated. Empowered. This is how I feel on behalf of my fellow women, and men who want to do what is right in honor of their mothers, wives, sisters, friends….
In these painful times of Christmas season
“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…
Triumphs and tragedies of 2017
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…