A revolution of love

“God so loved the world that he gave his  only son, so that everyone who believes in  him might not perish but might have eternal life.” – John 3:16 I PREACHED about love last Pentecost Sunday—a revolution of love that the world urgently needs in these times of violence, hatred, and terror. I told people that we need…

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California divorce frequently asked questions

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 from the past 6 months; and (ii) residence in…

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Am I a US citizen?

Whatever  the immigration status of an alien is so  long as they are residing or simply physically present in the United States, a  child born in the U.S. is a  citizen.  The U.S. Constitution bestows citizenship based on  place of birth (‘jus soli’ or ‘law of the soil’).  Other countries which were or are  highly…

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Queries from readers

What causes palpitation? Palpitation (pounding heart beat, harder and faster than normal) could be due to extrinsic causes like ingestion of a stimulant (coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolates, some medications, etc.) and/or cigarette smoking, or due to intrinsic causes like coronary or heart valve diseases. The person feels the heart thumping in the chest that…

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119th Philippine Independence Day: A celebration of progress through peace and freedom

The Philippines will celebrate its 119th Independence Day to commemorate its independence from colonial Spain.  Also known as “Araw ng Kasarinlan” or “Araw ng Kalayaan,” it is an annual national holiday in the country observed every June 12.  The theme for this year is “Kalayaan 2017:  Pagbabagong Sama-Samang Balikatin.” Background and history Originally, Philippine Independence…

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The unhappy king

ONCE there was a mighty, oh so, mighty king with a short fuse. One night in autumn, the king fell into a deep melancholy.  He could neither eat nor sleep, and tears of unknown origin fell frequently, which infuriated him, triggering angry fits that made those around him quake in fear. Each day, the king…

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Disclosure of text messages, e-mails and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence

DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child.  Family Code Section 6211.  Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218,…

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When can the landlord enter the rental unit?

THE landlord or its representative must give the tenant a reasonable written notice in advance before entering the unit, and can enter only during normal business hours generally, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The notice must state the date, approximate time and purpose of entry. Under  California Civ. Code § 1954 landlord may…

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Clients seek relief for credit card debt

CLIENTis 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 instead for medical expenses of his brother abroad. Brother is only 35 and single and lives abroad, waiting his…

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Bright spot

“THE Philippines is a beautiful country, and we intend to leverage on this strength to boost economic growth,” the Duterte administration stressed when it said that it intends to develop the tourism sector by drawing more than 12 million tourist arrivals by 2022, which is more than double the number recorded in 2015. Based on…

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Grandmas are to love

“SO, if you have a grandma, thank the Good Lord up above and give grandmamas hugs and kisses  for grandmothers are to love.  Funny, you don’t look like a grandmother.” – Lois Wyse The most invisible person on the street is an old woman, what a bittersweet tragedy, yet Victor Hugo believed “if you want to civilize man,…

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The journey of the heart

MANY years ago when I was an associate pastor, there was a young man named Nick who spoke boldly in front of hundreds of his fellow youth about his Christian faith. He was filled joy, passion and courage as he shared his faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He spoke with genuine concern for…

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Disclosure of text messages, e-mails and facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence

DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child.  Family Code Section 6211.  Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218,…

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12 ways to avoid an IRS audit

“ 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…

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The joys and pains of reminiscence

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…

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How courts determine child custody in california

“ 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…

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