THE clients are seniors. The wife is 67 and had just retired from a lifetime of being a registered nurse. She has social security benefits of $2,100. The husband is 67 and has social security of $700. So together, they have social security of $2,800. They don’t own a house. They live with their daughter and they…
Q: I HAD to undergo surgery mid-way through my probation period as a new hire. When I told my manager that I needed to be off-work for several weeks to recover, and that my return date will not until be after the probation period had expired, my manager said not to bother returning, that I…
10 States with the Lowest Combined Income and Sales Tax Rates: • New Hampshire • Alaska • South Dakota • Wyoming • Florida • Texas • Washington • Delaware • Montana • Colorado 10 States with the Highest Combined Income and Sales Tax Rates: • New York • New Jersey • Connecticut • California •…
QUESTION: My DACA expires in about seven months. However, what will happen after that? Do I have any other options? Answer: You do have options, many of which you will need a personal consultation. However, there is what is known as prosecutorial discretion which is still a possibility. Question: What exactly is prosecutorial discretion? Answer:…
FILING bankruptcy can be very stressful and uncomfortable for people who are facing a financial crisis for the first time in their lives. But a lot of the anxiety involved can be alleviated by simply understanding the process and keeping things in perspective. Oftentimes, people are so focused on their current financial problems that they…
AS we follow the investigations being done by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and those of Congress in the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence, meddle, interfere in the 2016 US presidential elections—which allegedly put down Clinton and helped Trump win—I told you I will write about legal terms we often hear…
Some weeks ago we welcomed the Fall season with an article on hairstyles. Today, we tackle another one of my fortes—and a sought-after subject for women—the latest makeup trends. I can describe this season’s makeup peg in two words: fresh and minimal. With that image in mind, I invite you to experience “Valentine’s in October”…
I’VE always wondered what “human formation” is in regards to training men to become priests. I understand the spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation, but I couldn’t quite grasp human formation. Perhaps it’s because the term “human” is too general and encompasses varied aspects of existence. The term becomes intelligible to me when I look at…
One of the most technical rules on visa fraud focuses on a person misrepresenting his or her intent when applying for certain nonimmigrant visas or when entering the United States. If a person is applying for a visitor’s visa, they are effectively representing to the consul their intent in coming to the United States is…
THE Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued additional guidance on the DACA phase-out. On September 5, 2017 DHS initiated the orderly phase out of the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Next steps for phasing out DACA All DACA benefits are provided on a two-year basis, so…
IN the United States, one person is diagnosed with a stroke every 40 seconds. This dreaded and debilitating illness is so common it victimizes more than 2,000 individuals each day and killis about 133,000 each year. In the Philippines, the prevalence is between 1.9 to 6.59 percent. I have friends who had developed a stroke…
Just like people who need to go to see their doctors for regular check ups, the same thing goes for cars that require basic routine care. However, many car owners think that just because their vehicle is new, they don’t need to bring it for its regular tune up yet. That mentality is wrong. You…
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has not received any reports of Filipino casualties in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico on Tuesday, September 19. More than 200 people were killed and a still undetermined number of individuals were injured in the powerful tremor that toppled buildings in the country, including…
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is set to discuss the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal drugs before the United Nations (UN) on Saturday, September 23. Cayetano will represent Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the upcoming 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. He is expected to deliver the chief…
MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the agency is not meant to oppose the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte but instead, serves as the government’s conscience. In a television interview last week, Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana maintained that the agency does not have any agenda of ousting Duterte despite being critical of…
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes “green vehicles” as more efficient and less polluting compared to standard vehicles. These vehicles have lesser emissions and help save fuel, which, in return, help save the environment and your money. In the U.S., vehicles that burn gasoline and diesel fuel are still the main form of…
THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law for many years. A common question I hear from clients is “my spouse doesn’t know I have an account in this bank, do I have…
FILE your past due returns even if you cannot pay in full your . And file the returns the same way you file if you file on-time. Let me tell you why you should file your past due returns now? • Substitute return. If you do not file voluntarily the IRS will file a substitute…
NARCISSISTIC. We hear this word in our everyday life lately. We hear this as an adjective describing today’s generation — the “I,” “me,” and “myself.” We also hear this in reference to certain stages of a person’s life — when one’s consciousness and priorities revolve around him/herself more than anything else for developmental reasons. As…
FORTY-FIVE years and five presidents later, Filipinos are once again expected to appreciate the genuine meaning of democracy as they commemorate the day when former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972. However, this year’s celebrations may be different from what Filipinos are used to. Only work and…
MANILA – With his alleged Singapore bank accounts proven to be non-existent, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said it’s now checkmate for his accuser, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. “Mr. Duterte, pusoy ka na. Checkmate ka na. Wag ka na magpalusot (Mr. Duterte it’s checkmate. Stop making excuses),” said Trillanes, who has been highly critical of the…
The United States has put on hold the delivery of thousands of rifles to the Philippines due to concerns over the drug war killings and alleged human rights violations in the country. This was according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday, September 19, during the Senate hearing on…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte maintained that the government’s crackdown on drugs will continue despite heavy criticism against it in connection with the recent killing of teenagers. Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs came under fire following the deaths of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos and 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz, who were both killed by Caloocan City police in…
by Imee Ong-Maghanoy AS a skincare specialist, I’ve heard the most common misconceptions anybody can say about skin discoloration: ‘Only older people get it,’ ‘Sunblock is the solution’, ‘fair-skinned people won’t ever have to worry,’ ‘there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to this problem.’ Sadly, these are what most people think and some actually fall prey to…
SOME debtors contemplating filing bankruptcy have expressed their personal preference of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, instead of Chapter 13, for various reasons such as a shorter time frame to get a discharge under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. While a majority of bankruptcy filings may qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, some might not. One needs…
Senior loses job, needs chapter 7 debt relief “When it rains, it pours just like Irma in Florida. Everything gets damaged.” THE clients are 63 and 64. They are young seniors. Up to 65, you are a young senior in my book. You can get senior discounts at Golden Corral for a satisfying buffet. Last time…
RICHARD Brown and Charles Ridgeway worked for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as truck drivers in California. Wal-Mart paid them per miles driven and per activity (drivers had to input pay codes for certain activities) rather than hours worked. The drivers sued Wal-Mart in a class action claiming that Wal-Mart’s compensation plan violated California law because drivers…
INDIVIDUALS and businesses in all 50 states pay federal income tax. Residents in 41 states also pay state income tax while nine states have no state income taxes. Here are list of states with lowest and highest state income tax, sales tax, combination of both, as well as county, city, and school district taxes. States…
LIKE most people, you’ve probably heard that filing for bankruptcy when you are in debt will ruin your credit forever and that you will never be able to buy a car or a home again. Nothing could be further from the truth. Is it actually possible to improve your credit rating by filing for bankruptcy?…
QUESTION: I know DACA has ended. What can I do? Answer: There are actually different categories as the current policy stands. It is important at the present time to know which category you are under so that you can take the appropriate action. On September 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the Deferred Action…
