Whenever a major corruption scandal or a heinous crime exploded in the public sphere, oldtimers like myself followed the developments in the courts of law, as reported by the newspapers. While the wheels of justice moved excruciatingly slowly, they did manage to move. Eventually, decisions would be reached, appealed to higher courts, and finally decided…
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is predictably unpredictable, and his recent move may come as a pleasant surprise to his political detractors as much it has been a shock to his loyal conservative base. First, he reached an agreement with Democratic leaders in Congress to raise the debt ceiling in order to avert another government crippling shutdown….
PHILIPPiNE Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday, September 15 said that President Rodrigo Duterte is unlikely to declare a nationwide martial law in response to possible violent demonstrations by leftists across the country. Last week, Duterte threatened that he may place the entire country under martial law if communist rebels “commit the mistake of staging…
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the Gawad Mabini award to Philippine foreign service officials, including Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz, at the President’s Hall of Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, September 13. Cruz was conferred the Gawad Mabini with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross). Under Presidential Decree 490, Gawad Mabini…
THE governments of the Philippines and United States are set to hold a bilateral, interagency counterterrorism drill next week, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced on Friday, September 15. Dubbed as “Tempest Wind,” the drill will take place in the Philippines and Hawaii; and aims “to improve the ability of both nations to rapidly plan,…
THE message of this Sunday’s Gospel is straightforward. It’s about forgiveness. When Peter asked Jesus how often he must forgive, Jesus answered, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” To expound on this lesson on forgiveness, Jesus shared with his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to…
Being a famous celebrity has its perks. And then there’s social media. But this is now the world we live in. We post photos of ourselves even in our most vulnerable moments, we share our thoughts regardless of its tendency to be misread or misinterpreted and in doing so, we forget the most important thing – our…
The ever-changing trends in education and related technology careers constantly challenge computer science enthusiasts, practitioners, and jobs interconnected to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). In the U.S. alone, 9 out of 10 parents want their children to study computer science but only one out of four schools offers and teaches computer programming with maximized…
The ever-changing trends in education and related technology careers constantly challenge computer science enthusiasts, practitioners, and jobs interconnected to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). In the U.S. alone, 9 out of 10 parents want their children to study computer science but only one out of four schools offers and teaches computer programming with maximized…
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 priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
ON June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama unveiled a program known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.) Under this program, the Obama Administration will stop deporting illegal immigrants who entered the country as children. These individuals will also be allowed to get work permits to enable them to work and get a driver’s license. …
Your guess is as good as mine. Last Tuesday, September 5, 2017, the President, through Attorney General Sessions, announced that the DACA program under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is being rescinded effective the very same day. Since its implementation more than 5 years ago (June 15, 2012), a lot of people still…
Nothing to date can dissolve kidney stones, in spite of various marketed herbal substances or “natural and home” remedy potion or pills that claim to be able to do so. Don’t be fooled by false advertisements which are only after your hard earned money. If you are prone to develop kidney stones, drink lemonade. It…
Both Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Año denied reports that members of the military are being recruited to join a coup d’etat plot against the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. “Nothing to worry. There’s no coup,” Lorenzana told reporters after a Senate hearing on Thursday, September 14. “We have not…
Banner – MANILA — Several Philippine senators vowed to ensure a higher budget for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in 2018 after the House of Representatives approved a measly P1,000 (around $20) budget for the constitutional body next year. PH senators vow to fight for higher CHR budgetOne hundred and nineteen lawmakers from the…
FOLLOWING his scheduled visit to the Philippines, United States President Donald Trump will likely make a stop to China this coming November. A Reuters report on Tuesday, September 12 cited a U.S. official confirming Trump’s visit to Beijing. Trump is set to attend the U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit and the East Asia…
MANILA – Tropical depression “Maring” (international name Doksuri) brought heavy rains and strong winds to Luzon, leaving at least two minors and an infant dead before exiting the landmass. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that as of Wednesday morning, September 13, Maring was 270 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales, with…
The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed the graft and usurpation of authority indictment of former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in connection with the botched Mamasapano operation that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos two years ago. In a resolution approved Monday, September 11, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales rejected Aquino’s motion for…
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday, September 12, has approved the implementation of Mega Manila Subway Project (MMSP) — the Philippines’ first subway and the soon-to-be longest mass railway transit. The estimated $7-billion (P358.25-billion) subway will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to FTI complex in Taguig City. With the new…
WHAT you need to do when you received a call or notice from the IRS? Below are some tips that you should be aware of: • Revenue Officer (RO) observes fair tax collection practices and taxpayer rights. • You have Right to Representation under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.1.10.7.2. • You will be advised first…
Our hearts go out to people and communities in Texas, Florida, and other states in the southeast of the United States following the devastation left by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As of press time, at least 60 deaths have been caused by Hurricane Harvey, the storm that dumped several feet of rain in southeast Texas…
WILL Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno share the same fate as her predecessor? Sereno succeeded the late Renato Corona, the first Filipino magistrate to be impeached and convicted. Beginning this week, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice will tackle impeachment complaints again Sereno. The committee will review whether the complaints are sufficient in…
MANILA – The Senate Minority bloc on Tuesday, September 12 backed Senator Risa Hontiveros’ call for Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to resign after he was “caught red-handed plotting” against her. Hontiveros, also a member of the Senate minority, earlier released a photo showing Aguirre urging a certain “Cong. Jing” in a text message…
MANILA – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV maintained that he has not done anything unparliamentary during the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, saying that he trusts in the “wisdom and good judgment” of his colleagues who will decide on the ethics complaint filed against him. In a radio interview, Trillanes insisted that it was Senator…
Both critics and supporters of late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos gathered outside Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig city on Monday, September 11, for the centennial birth commemoration of the former dictator. Security personnel were deployed to maintain order in the area. The air was charged with tension, but there were no reported…
By Alex De Ocampo, Candidate for Assembly District 51 For generations, immigrants have come here seeking a better life for themselves and their children. America has welcomed these newcomers and we all have benefited from their contributions to our society. That’s why I support Senator Kevin De Leon’s legislation, SB 54, the California Values Act….
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the effort to stop it from implementing its decision to end the Obama-era program that temporarily protects “DREAMers” — young undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as kids and are now being “punished” for the “sins” of their…
IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which…
ON September 5, 2017, President Trump, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced the rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As a backgrounder, on June 12, 2012, then President Obama, also through the DHS, issued a Memorandum Entitled “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United…
Q: I HAVE recently joined the work force and received my first paycheck. When I reviewed my paystub, I see all these deductions. What are allowable deductions and what are not? A: A payroll deduction is essentially a subtraction of money from the employee’s paycheck so that the employee receives less than the promised compensation….
