IF you’ve ever found yourself financially broke or buried in debt at one point in your life, I’m sure you still remember how it felt. The feelings of despair and helplessness, the sleepless nights, the endless anxiety about the future- A lot of people will never understand until they have experienced it for themselves. From…
LOS ANGELES — “The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World” by Grace O was awarded the 2017 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards’ top honor — ‘Best in the World’ — in the innovative category on Sunday, May 28 at Gourmand’s annual awards event in Yantai, China. Grace O and members of the…
FIRED FBI Director James Comey finally testified under oath before the Senate Intelligence Committee, armed with his contemporaneous memoranda he wrote immediately after each communication with President Donald Trump that made him feel uncomfortable, with the integrity of his bureau and the Department of Justice in mind. Comey, a veteran career official at the FBI…
“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…
I was watching the news the other day when I saw a report about Richard Gutierrez’s transfer to ABS-CBN. As I watched him talk about the move to his former rival station, my mind wandered off to memory lane. I recall the time when this young man was just a little kid – yes, I’ve…
ON July 29, 2016, the USCIS published its FINAL rule, expanding eligibility for a provisional waiver of the 3\10 year bar. The expanded provisional waiver now includes “all individuals who are statutorily eligible for the waiver of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility.” This includes people who have a spouse or parent who is a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
WHAT was President Donald Trump really thinking when he withdrew the United States’ commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change? He said his reasons were economic — to bring jobs back to American workers, whom he said were affected by the regulations that killed the jobs of coal miners in favor clean and renewable…
“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…
“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,…
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…
“ If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged. Better now than later when you are about to retire. ” 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…
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,…
Q: I worked in a company for over 10 years. A new supervisor and I do not get along. Last week, the company let me go without any explanation. I don’t have any disciplinary record. Can the company just fire me without a good reason? A: Yes, an employer may fire an employee without a…
LAST May 31, 2017, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory that the CBP will now remind travelers to the US of their last possible departure date, according to the terms of their admission, in two (2) ways: by email and through a new feature in the…
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…
