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…

Read More

Marriage while in removal proceedings

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….

Read More

Anti-cervical cancer

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…

Read More

Help! I overstayed my visa!

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”…

Read More

Now is the time for all good men

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…

Read More

‘Let us join hands’

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…

Read More

On critiquing our Christian faith

“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…

Read More

Friendly dialogue between Duterte and Xi

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,…

Read More

What is “extreme hardship?”

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…

Read More

Facts about coconut water

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…

Read More

The girls he left behind

Thirty three years ago, my husband left me. He died. Leaving a house filled of daughters, young and adorable, innocent, with the world on their side. In the face of adversity, we were not permitted to ask, “Why me?” You can ask, but you won’t get an answer. Through the years, I’ve learned the hard…

Read More

Is real estate property purchased prior to marriage considered community propery in a divorce?

GENERALLY, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under family code section 760.  How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or…

Read More

High alert

THE Philippines extends its condolences to the victims’ families and voiced solidarity with Britain in the fight against extremism following the deadly terror attack in Manchester, United Kingdom that left 22 people—including children—dead and 50 injured. “We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella…

Read More

We preach Christ, not ourselves

THE rooms of the dormitories are now clean and empty, and the seminary is quiet, for the academic year has ended and the seminarians have left for summer vacation. Some of them finished their long years of seminary formation — seven years for most of them — and they are now preparing for ordination, ready…

Read More
Back To Top