“IN moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one — and it always has. We call upon the bonds that unite us — our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity. Our unity cannot be…
MANILA – Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday, October 2, filed a wiretapping complaint against Senator Risa Hontiveros in connection with the controversial capture of his phone message. In his complaint before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office, Aguirre said Hontiveros violated Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Act when she publicized his exchange…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, October 2, challenged Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Morales to join him and make their bank accounts public. In a speech before the government troops and displaced residents of Marawi City, the president maintained that he has never committed any corrupt practices as he denied anew…
The Philippine government on Friday, September 29 said it is open to accept help from its foreign allies in combating narcotics, corruption and criminality in the country, but not “dictation” on the process. Palace Spokesperson Ernesto Abella made the statement after 39 member-states of the United Nations (UN) recently expressed “serious concern” over Philippine President…
Philippine Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo said she is not a member of “Tindig Pilipinas,” a multi-sector coalition that calls for an end to the alleged spate of killings related to President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. Robredo made the clarification more than a week after attending a mass organized by the group during…
Generally, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under family code section 760. How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or…
(This article is part 1 of several parts) Having literally represented several thousand clients in successful bankruptcy cases in the last 35 years in California, I have distilled the common misconceptions about bankruptcy into the following: 1. Will debtor go to jail for filing bankruptcy? NO. The debtor will not go to jail for filing…
Allen Buckingham, and three other employees, worked as “Implementation Advisor” or “Client Fulfillment Consultants” for Bank of America, N.A. They were classified as exempt by their employer and paid a fixed monthly salary. They were not paid overtime, regardless of their hours worked, and they were not provided meal or rest breaks. The employees were…
IRS agents are equipped with audit techniques unique to attorneys. Here’s insider info on how IRS instructs its agents to probe into: 1. Unreported income, deferral of income. 2. Advanced client costs. 3. Bartering. 4. Constructive receipts. 5. Personal service corporations. 6. Worker Reclassification – were employees misclassified as independent contractors? 7. Were Form 1099s…
Are you thinking of hiring a debt settlement company to help you solve your debt problems? Before you do, maybe you should read this article as it could save you a lot of money and frustration. One reason many consumers hire a debt settlement company is that their debt amounts have become simply unaffordable to…
Question: I entered a couple of months ago to the U.S. I want to get married and file my adjustment application. Do you see any problems with that? Answer: Yes, it will be a problem. On September 1, 2017, the Department of State (DOS) updated the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) with new guidance on the…
AS CONGRESS scrambles whether to repeal Obamacare and what to replace it with, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in the Senate that attempts to actualize what he has been advocating for: health care is a right for all Americans, and not just a privilege to be accorded to and enjoyed by those who…
The special election seeks to fill the vacant seat in CA’s Assembly District 51 On Tuesday, October 3, Angelenos from a handful of communities on the northeast side of Los Angeles will head to the polls to vote for a new representative in the State Assembly. The special election was announced after former State Assemblymember Jimmy…
“If you ask me if I’d die for my Christian faith as St. Lorenzo Ruiz did before his torturers, I’ll say I’m not sure,” Deacon Danilo Guinto openly said during his homily to the seminary community on the Feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions. “I hope I could,” he added. His honest and…
They say, “Experience is the best teacher.” Through it, we learn what makes us strong and what breaks us. It teaches us what to do and what to avoid. It makes us want to dream, live, laugh, fail, and try again. We live and get the most out of every experience so that when we…
Come to think of someone who envisions and strives for perfection…someone who thinks that struggling for faultlessness and aptness could enhance life and living worthwhile. ‘Though living life entails a whole lot of adversities and trials, one’s positive outlook could possibly avert unconstructiveness. As one artist was once quoted: “One could still find peace and…
Come to think of someone who envisions and strives for perfection…someone who thinks that struggling for faultlessness and aptness could enhance life and living worthwhile. ‘Though living life entails a whole lot of adversities and trials, one’s positive outlook could possibly avert unconstructiveness. As one artist was once quoted: “One could still find peace and…
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, September 26 urged the United States to work closely with his government against drug smuggling, saying international syndicates are using the Philippines as the transshipment point. In a speech, Duterte claimed that the so-called Taiwan-based Bamboo triad and Hong Kong-based 14-K triad were using the country as a…
(Part 2) In a previous article, a reader, who was scheduled for his visa interview, asked about some of the things which could trigger suspicions or investigations by the Embassy, and how a person could best avoid having his case looked upon with suspicion. This article discusses additional suspicious situations. If you can avoid these…
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle aches and pain, tenderness, spasm, and stiffness, along with areas of the tendons and ligaments, and chronic fatigue. These tender points are common around the neck and shoulders, in the front of the knees, elbow, hip joints, chest, low back, thighs and calf (lower leg)…
Last week marked the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law over the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos. While the day itself may not have been as eventful, as say, 9/11, the Marcos declaration, did change the arc of many Filipino lives, both in the Philippines and abroad; it certainly changed mine. While organizing against…
Pursuing the arts is risky business, but Filipino-American artist, designer, and all-around creative, Rich “One” Cofinco made it his business and has been holding it down for over ten years. At the Skyline Room at the Cerritos Library in Cerritos, California where Cofinco spent much of his younger years, fans came to listen to his…
MANILA – The House Justice Committee on Wednesday, September 19 dismissed the impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chief Andres Bautista. Twenty-six members of the committee voted on the complaint filed by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former Negros Occidental representative Jacinto Paras of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to be insufficient in…
MANILA – The National Day of Protest is a “healthy exercise of democracy,” Malacañang said on Thursday, September 21, as various groups rallied against some policies of the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos. Earlier this week, Duterte signed Proclamation 316, declaring September 21 as a National…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, September 20, met with United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and discussed various issues concerning some of the administration’s policies. A Palace statement released on Thursday, September 21, said among the issues tackled include the Philippine government’s “strong policies” against illegal drugs and terrorism in the country. During…
Tips to remember when you have outstanding tax liability to the IRS: • Receipt of tax bill. If you receive a bill for taxes due, pay the taxes owed including any penalties and interest. If you are not able to pay in full the total amount due, consider getting a loan to full pay the…
Much of the criticism surrounding Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs can be pointed to how he looks at drug addiction. The administration’s policies to solve the drug menace appear to be based on the president’s belief that drug addiction is a crime, and criminals need to be penalized, and in many times…
ACCORDING to the United Nations (UN), the rate of environmental damage on our planet is increasing at a faster pace than previously thought and seen in the last 10,000 years. This makes it imperative for governments to act now and reverse the damage being done to the planet. Under the “Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6): Regional…
“AS Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the custom post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9) This excerpt from of the Gospel Reading on the Feast of St. Matthew led me to an insight to this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16) on…
Whether you’re a fresh graduate who has the faintest idea what it’s like to apply for a job, or someone who’s looking for a major career move, the whole process of seeking a post can be quite a challenge. Tired of the frustrating course of applying and someone else taking it because they crop up…
