Beijing sets precondition before talks MANILA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have agreed to adopt a “framework” for further negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed South China Sea. In a news conference on Sunday, August 6, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that he and his…
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I just received a jury summon from the County Courthouse, but I am in illegal status (TNT). How did they get my name and address? Do I have to serve on a jury? Will Immigration be able to track me down? Will I be reported to Immigration? How can I get out…
Client receives notice of default on house, tries Chapter 13 relief CLIENT is 60 & wife is 58. He issued his check to pay rent of $1200 but the check was dishonored for insufficient funds. Landlord called him to tell him that his rent check bounced. Client was surprised that his check bounced because he had…
Q. My former employer did not pay me for overtime hours and missed breaks. Many fellow employees experienced the same thing but they are afraid because they think if they complain, they’ll be fired. I understand their fears and want to help them. Is there a way that I can claim wages on their behalf…
YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue…
QUESTION: Can I use an office based in my home and/or garage for the L-1? Answer: No. You must have an ‘actual office’. The reality might be that you can run your business from a computer or your garage. However, for immigration purposes, there must be a brick and mortar office and you must be…
IF you are not satisfied with the results of your IRS audit, go to Appeals. You have a choice of either ending your misery by paying up or by continuing to fight at the Appeals Office. The appeals process is an administrative means to resolve your problems without resorting to legal action. It’s a good…
IF you are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average consumer. The truth is that every situation is different and what may work perfectly for others is not necessarily going to work the same way…
Los Angeles is not just the City of Angels — it’s the City of Food Angels who were out in force on Sunday, July 30 to support the Los Angeles Mission and to offer the over 1,700 people attending the event sample tastings. Angeleno Magazine’s annual Live & Dine LA event, which was held at…
DURING the Philippine revolution against Spain, the Katipunan had two mutually-hostile factions: the Magdiwang of Andres Bonifacio, and the Magdalo, which was identified with Emilio Aguinaldo. While they literally went at each other’s throat, the two groups continued to fight alongside each other, acknowledging that they were struggling for a common cause against a common…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s job approval rating dips further south to a new historic low of 33 percent, with 61 percent disapproving of how he is doing his job as president, according to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll. The right-leaning Rasmussen Poll reports a 39 percent approval rating. Meanwhile, a majority of Americans (62 percent) say…
THIRTY years ago, I would never have imagined such a beautiful soul fleeting out of existence; let alone write a tribute for him in my column. He is one of those friends who you’ll either hate or love but could never live without. He gives the best advice and the most helpful criticism. You feel…
The tense situation plus the Herculean task and responsibilities bestowed upon the shoulders of anybody dispensed with the task of organizing and managing an event left him fidgety, uptight, edgy, ill-tempered, and petulant…and even sleepless at the worst case scenario. The success of the occasion depends not solely on him but on a collective effort,…
Trump, GOP senators rally behind bill that would eliminate family-based petitioning Acting on a crucial campaign goal, President Donald Trump on Wednesday, August 2 backed proposed legislation that would eliminate the current family-based immigration system into a more “merit-based” one that favors applicants’ skills and employability. Trump stood with the bill’s co-authors, Republican Sens. Tom…
The tense situation plus the Herculean task and responsibilities bestowed upon the shoulders of anybody dispensed with the task of organizing and managing an event left him fidgety, uptight, edgy, ill-tempered, and petulant…and even sleepless at the worst case scenario. The success of the occasion depends not solely on him but on a collective effort,…
I JUST moved to California last month, and I’d like to file for divorce. Can I file now? To file for divorce in the State of California, the person filing (called the “Petitioner”) must first meet the jurisdictional requirements: (i) residence in the state of California for the past six (6) months; and (ii)…
What is “sore eyes”? Sore eyes, medically known as conjunctivitis, is a highly contagious infection of the eyes, commonly cause by an adenovirus. There are several serotypes of adenoviruses. The incubation period (from time of exposure to appearance of symptoms) is 5 to 12 days. The conjunctiva (thin lining of upper and lowers eyelids that…
IF you receive an IRS notice, keep the following suggestions in mind: • Be alarmed, but do not panic. Call your tax professional for guidance. Do not delay your response. Mail your response at least one-week before the specified deadline. • Do not ignore the notice. Read the notice very carefully and understand what have…
THE White House is in chaos, but let us look at the glimmer of hope in President Donald Trump’s appointment of General John Kelly as chief of staff, replacing Reince Priebus, who reportedly served for the shortest time in White House history — January 20 to July 27, 2017. Kelly previously served as the secretary…
During the early morning of Sunday, July 30, members of the Philippine National Police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), armed with search warrants, raided homes of alleged illegal drug personalities in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog Sr. and his wife died during the raid on their house, while 13 other…
City promises economic upturn leading up to the games After weeks of negotiations, the City of Los Angeles has finally locked in a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, a move that officials are confident will be financially advantageous. The deal brings the Summer Games back to LA…
Rep. Judy Chu, Fil-Am actor/activist Lou Diamond Phillips discuss importance of mobilizing the AAPI electorate By now, many are seeing the significance of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) electorate following the 2016 general election. Particularly, the AAPI community won big during the Senate races and AAPI voter turnout was the largest in American…
FOR most people, being served with divorce papers by your spouse is probably one of the biggest surprises in your life. The spouse in the receiving end of the divorce sometimes are not offered any explanation for the divorce petition by their spouse. You may start getting upset about how this can happen to you…
FREAK accident liability I want to discuss the client with the freak accident first. The first client is 45. This is really a very unusual case. In fact, I have never encountered a case like this before in the last 30 years. The client has a rental condo that needs plumbing repair because of a…
Q: I am a registered nurse in the Philippines but I have not yet obtained a license in California. However, I am working as a ‘private nurse’ to a bed-ridden patient in Los Angeles. My duties are mainly nursing duties – tube feedings, inserting catheter, tracheal suctioning, observing and recording vital signs, administering therapies prescribed…
Q: I AM a body builder and just won a big amateur contest. Can I come and work in the U.S. on some type of visa? A: Yes, there is what is known as the P Visa. The P-1A is for a person who performs as an athlete, individually or as part of a group…
YOU’LL be happy to note that the IRS also gets audited. It’s audited by the Treasury Department to determine whether tax compliance officers conduct required filing checks in accordance with IRS policies and procedures. In particular, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA, an agency that oversees the IRS) instructed the IRS to expand…
INDIVIDUALS who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether they should file bankruptcy in order to get out of debt. Sometimes, these people feel that somehow, they’ve lost, failed, or that they will never have a chance to rebuild their credit again. Because we are living in a society where having a…
SURPRISE! President Donald Trump woke up on the morning of Wednesday, July 26, and announced via Twitter that transgenders (those born with a certain gender but identify self with another gender) will now be banned from serving in the U.S. military in any capacity: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised…
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Bruno Mars is bringing his “24K Magic World Tour” concert to Manila on May 3, 2018, at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City. Concert promoter, Music Management International (MMI Live), confirmed the news on social media on Thursday, July 27. The album, “24K Magic” already hit the 1 million…
