QUESTION: I am so sad. I lost at the Immigration Court and then I lost at the Board of Immigration Appeals. Is there anywhere else to go and anything else I can do to try to stay here in the U.S.? Answer: Yes. You are eligible to file a Petition for Review to the Circuit…
“ Avoid low gross receipts and few but unusually high expenses.” 1. DO not hide interest and dividend income from the IRS, even if your spouse may not be aware of some savings and stock brokerage accounts. Remember Murphy’s Law—your bitter half will learn about it at a worse time later when IRS sends notice…
HAVE you ever faced a situation in your life where you needed help so badly but you were just too afraid to ask for it? Perhaps you felt confused and overwhelmed with the problem that you spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do. Or maybe you were afraid of being judged, I…
IN my midweek article, I wrote about Fil-Ams who support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. I shared with you the letter of support written by US Pinoys for Real Change in the Philippines, penned by its Chair, Atty. Arnedo Valera a— Fil-Am community leader from Washington DC who is also a…
TO keep up with my social life, while at the same time support our local artists, I spent one melodious Sunday watching the “Birit Queens” belt out a tune or two at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and it was phenomenal! I confess that I am not into the “birit” fad otherwise known as your voice…
On April 18, President Donald Trump signed an executive order which focused on two areas of the administration’s policy: protection of American jobs (“Hire American”) and preference for U.S.-manufactured goods (“Buy American”). With regards to the protection of U.S. jobs, the order includes a section directed to the H-1B visa program. Trump has previously expressed…
IN one’s life, reminiscing the past is something inescapably imperative while profoundly inevitable since every current life’s episode has a past to recollect and reckon with. There will always be people, events, places, things, and even mere thoughts that will persistently attach us to the years of yore and frenziedly lead us to stride down…
QUESTION: I found a person who called himself a ‘notario’ and said he would do the work I needed for ½ the cost of an attorney. He also said I did not need a Waiver. Should I hire him? Answer: Your immigration situation and your immigration case is critcally important. Is it worth to save…
Q: TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS FIRED FROM WORK. MY EMPLOYER TOLD ME MY LAST PAYCHECK WILL BE MAILED TO ME BY NEXT PAYDAY. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET. WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY TO ASK WHERE MY CHECK IS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS ON THE WAY. I WAITED AGAIN BUT STILL NO…
“ Child custody comes in two parts, physical custody and legal custody.” ONE of the most emotional aspect of a marital dissolution case is dealing with Child custody issues. Sadly enough, this is an area where most parents play games with each other trying their best to deprive the other parents of their right to…
YOUR credit card payments are past due. You’re confused and don’t know what to do. The bill collectors are calling you non-stop and writing you threatening letters. What do you do? Should you just file bankruptcy? Or are there other options? Most people are unaware that credit card companies will negotiate with you if they…
Marrying a U.S. citizen is one of the fastest and most commonly known ways to obtain a green card. It is also subject to much fraud and abuse, where people will enter into a marriage of convenience with a U.S. citizen solely for immigration benefits. The U.S. citizen might be a friend willing to do…
Individuals may be put in removal (deportation) proceedings for a number of reasons. Some of them may have been put in removal proceedings for committing certain crimes. Others are in removal proceedings because they may have filed applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have had their applications denied by the USCIS….
What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is malignant tumor of the cervix (mouth of the womb). It is the second most cancer in women and the third most common gynecologic cancer, the second being cancer of the ovary. The most common gynecologic malignancy is endometrial (inner wall of womb) cancer, which is the fourth most…
WHEN the term “illegal immigrant” is used, some assume that the discussion is about someone who entered the United States without presenting themselves for inspection at the air, sea or land border. However, “illegal immigrant” can also apply to one who entered legally but whose status has expired. In fact, more people become “illegal immigrants”…
TAGALOGS have a term for approaching or solving a problem:santong dasalan or the soft, diplomatic way (dasal meaning prayer) and santong paspasan or the direct, tough way. We now know what approach President Rodrigo Duterte prefers. But wasn’t that why he was voted into office by a citizenry that had gotten exasperated with the way the administration of President…
The Filipino Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) is a world unto itself. Last Friday, as the energy levels started going up, members gathered talking, laughing and thinking. The brain power becomes formidable, cell phones ringing as the day begins to beautifully blur and becomes formidable. Fruits of brain storming, working against all odds or parallel…
HOW do you determine if the person visiting you either at your business or at home or calling you are not an IRS imposter? Look for two forms of credentials. IRS Knocks at your door – why it happens and what you need to do when it happens: • Reasons why an IRS visits you…
“ If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged.Better now than later.” CLIENT is 48, married and has a good job paying him $100K gross a year. A family emergency has caused him some financial hardship because money meant to pay for the house and credit cards were used…
In Beijing, we said we were honoured to be asked to speak before the great Beijing Forum, for we subscribe to the founding principle of President Xi Jin Ping’s historic revival and expansion of China’s legendary Silk Road—which links today’s Europe, the Middle East, and Asia much as its history and legend had linked them…
AFTER the escalating conflict and attack by the terror group Maute in Marawi City, President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the much dreaded martial law in the whole of Mindanao to stop the “contamination” of the ISIS-linked terror group in Mindanao, in the whole nation, and in the Southeast Asia region. Duterte said the terror group…
“Worshiped, but they doubted.” “DOUBT isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith…Sometimes I think it is my mission to bring faith to the faithless, and doubt to the faithful.” –Paul Tillich It’s good to be critical of our faith. Otherwise, we’re merely blind followers, not fully understanding what we’re believing and…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent “friendly exchange” with Chinese President Xi Jinping over rights to exploit the natural resources of certain areas of the South China Sea (AKA West Philippine Sea) has alarmed Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, and several of our honorable senators, notably Senators Franklin Drilon, Richard Gordon,…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may have had the best intentions in declaring martial law in Mindanao following the escalating violence in Marawi City in Mindanao, but many Filipinos in America continue to be haunted by the ghost of Marcos-era martial law years. “Takot ako. In the horizon looms big and clear contamination ng ISIS,” Duterte explained…
He followed the footsteps of his father who sang for the group S.O.S. (A Society of Seven) in Hawaii. He went back to his birthplace in 1982 to pursue his musical career and released his first album that went platinum in a span of five months. Thus, began the journey of the man who would…
They say growing old is one exceptional privilege not granted to many as it is the crown of a full life… the final act in one’s role play on earth. During one’s youth, the days are seemingly short and years are quite long but as one grows old, days seem dragging while years are getting…
Aleksandra Flasz out-designed her competitors to walk away with the grand prize of $100,000 PHILIPPINES (May 25, 2017) – Without any professional background in interior design, Aleksandra Flasz, a Polish fashion design graduate and model was crowned the winner of Sony Channel’s first original production, The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition. In a grueling 40-hour design…
IF a person commits certain immigration violations (such as fraud, or overstaying in the US for over six months and then departs, etc.), the person may not be eligible to receive a green card, unless the person applies for, and is granted, a “waiver of inadmissibility” (or “forgiveness”) on a Form I-601. To be eligible…
Coconut water (buko juice) is a popular drink in Asia and South America. The top ten countries on the list of world-leading coconut producers according to volume are: Indonesia, Philippines, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. The Philippines export more than $1 billion worth of coconuts to the United…
While most individuals are deep in their slumber at 2 a.m., Shanna Mendiola’s day is already beginning. By 2:30 a.m., like clockwork, she arrives at NBC4 Southern California, where she has been the meteorologist for the weekday morning newscast, “Today in LA,” since March. And for the next five hours, it’s nonstop as she prepares…
