1. What is New? Same sex marriages are considered the same as couples of opposite sex marriages for Federal tax purposes. On the other hand, other relationships that are not considered marriage under state law are not considered marriage for Federal tax purposes. 2. In most cases, tax is usually less if you file married…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has accused media, specifically the Philippine Daily Inquirer and ABS-CBN, of being bastos and unfair and, in the process, he sounded just as foul as the objects of his ire. Perhaps it is too much to expect Duterte to change. But, with due respect to my media colleagues, I believe they –…
WHEN is the Use of Deadly Force by Police Unreasonable? The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects persons from unreasonable search and seizures, including the use of excessive or deadly force. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in the case of Tennessee v. Garner, that an officer cannot use deadly force against a fleeing suspect…
IT’S a brand new day! For me, this greeting sums up the message of Easter, not only because we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but also because we rejoice in the fact that there is always hope for each one of us amidst our personal and global struggles. If we don’t have hope, we…
In writing this piece, I was given the rare opportunity to talk to one of the greatest Filipino actors of all time. This person also happens to be the man who played “Jesus Christ” in the 90s film, “Kristo.” With the observation of Lent, the timing of this article couldn’t be more impeccable. Continuing the…
MANY legal permanent residents (LPR or green card holders) mistakenly believe only U.S. citizens can petition family members. Even after they obtain their green cards, they still wait many years until they finally become citizens, before they petition family members. This belief is WRONG! LPRs are able to petition the following family members: • Spouse…
“God has come to help his people.” YOU may be surprised to find out that quite a number of dead people were resurrected. The Bible mentions some resurrections that occurred en masse at the resurrection of Jesus. The whole Christian world celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Sunday about 2000 years ago, after His…
TERRY Lafitte was a 49 year-old black man riding his bicycle in the dark of night in South Central Los Angeles. Two sheriff’s deputies, in their squad car, saw that Lafitte’s bicycle did not have safety light reflectors attached to it. The deputies also claimed that that they thought Lafitte was drunk. The deputies tried…
QUESTION: I will be applying for asylum. I’m not exactly sure of the process, but if I lose, will I be deported? Answer: Clients who have arrived in the United States and who have not been issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) will apply for asylum “affirmatively,” meaning that they will be interviewed at an…
ARE you a U.S. citizen or resident working in a foreign country? Did you declare your foreign income? Did you even file a tax return? Or are you hiding from the long and lovely arms of the IRS? Can the U.S. government reach you on the other side of the globe? Unfortunately, yes. But is…
IS the government after you for huge unpaid taxes that you cannot afford to pay? Do you get sick to your stomach not knowing what the government will do next to collect what you owe? Most people think they have no recourse when it comes to dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. This is absolutely…
WARNING: If you are among the 7 million people, or 58 percent, of those who signed up for Obamacare coverage for 2017 and qualify for cost-sharing subsidies, then you may lose that help you are getting, thanks to President Donald Trump. Contrary to what he said about moving onto his other agenda, it seems Trump…
Teaching is considered the noblest of all professions since all professionals, highly skilled or merely trained, underwent education with a teacher. What profession can be more gratifying and satisfying then than that of being a teacher? Miss Virginia Cu of Bacolod City has spent most of the years of her life educating children and tirelessly…
Author Cristie Locsin writes about change and possibilities in “The Value of Equality” WHEN writers make fiction, many would expect that they would go beyond what is expected of them purely because they have more room for imagination. For first time author Cristie Locsin, she had that in mind when she wrote “The Value of…
MANY legal permanent residents (LPR or green card holders) mistakenly believe only US citizens can petition family members. Even after they obtain their green cards, they still wait many years until they finally become citizens, before they petition family members. This belief is WRONG! LPRs are able to petition the following family members: • Spouse…
ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about the rights of undocumented immigrants who may come into contact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during home visits, workplace raids and public…
A non resident alien who marries a U.S. citizen or has a U.S. citizen child who turns 21, or a parent who becomes a U.S. citizen before the alien turns 21, can adjust status and obtain a green card. For this to happen, one essential requirement is the entry to the U.S. “with inspection”, i.e.,…
An important study conducted at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia showed that people who sleep less tend to weigh heavier than those who sleep more. The clinical investigation, which included 1,000 subjects, reported that “total sleep time decreased as the body mass index (a measure of weight based on height) increased.” Whether…
If I could, I would look into the hearts of soldiers and try to know their stories. Why are they fighting? Who will tell them (if the reasons exist) who is going to kill them, or who they’re going to kill? To understand a soldier’s life is to find out what he’s looking for —…
ESTATE and gift tax basics • Form 706 must be filed: 1) To elect portability regardless of the size of estate, to transfer deceased spouse unused exemption (DSUE) to surviving spouse; 2) Gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts and specific gift exemption valued in excess of $5,490,000 if death take place in 2017 or $5,450,000…
SOME years ago, I was asked to create an ad campaign to debunk the argument that a non-smoking section in restaurants and other public places could spare non-smokers from the hazards of second-hand smoke. I depicted a public swimming pool where someone urinated at one end of the pool, causing all the swimmers to jump…
Amid his historic 35 percent approval rating and an ongoing investigation into his alleged conspiracy with Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on Friday, April 7 in Syria without seeking Congressional approval, following news reports about Syria dictator Bashar Al-Assad slaughtering innocent civilians using chemical…
“MAY the virtues of kindness and benevolence that Christ exemplified serve as our inspiration to aid in the plight of our less fortunate fellowmen. Let the story of crucifixion challenge us to remain persevering in our struggle for a better life and a stronger society,” said President Rodrigo Duterte in his Holy Week message to…
LAS VEGAS – On this heated and dry day in April, the whole city is breathing and heaving like a tired beast. On the strip that controls all the luxurious hotels, cursing motorists are melting down encased in a steeled impotence, trapped in a horrendous gridlock. But come hell or high water, people flock here…
ARE you ready for Holy Week? Are you ready to enter deeply into the mysteries of our faith–the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ? Are your hearts open to the graces of renewed faith and the outpouring of God’s mercy and love in the image of water and blood that flowed out…
(Part 2 of 2) HERE are some more misconceptions about bankruptcy that we did not discuss last week: 1. Will I lose my house? Normally, debtors get to keep their residence as long as their equity in the house does not exceed the applicable homestead exemption. If the equity of the house is within the…
Q: I WORK as a “team member” in the service industry in Los Angeles. Before we clock-in for our shift, we are required to attend a “huddle,” or a meeting where we discuss events during prior shifts, our assignments, etc. These “huddles” last 15 to 20 minutes every day. Should we be paid for these…
QUESTION: I know that Trump issued a second executive order. What is happening with this one? Answer: The District Judge in Hawaii has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. In other words, that judge has ruled that the brief Temporary Restraining Order is now converted to a Preliminary Injunction, and therefore, is both nationwide and…
ARE your debts keeping you up at night? Are you always worried about money? Are you barely surviving and can’t even keep up with minimum payments on your credit cards? Do you wish to reduce or eliminate your debts but don’t even know where to start? If you are searching for debt reduction solutions, you…
by Florencio Sunga Mallari, Sr. IN March 2008, my life took a big turn when I moved to the United States from the Philippines. I was full of hope as I stepped off the plane in Los Angeles. The warm air reminded me of home, but that familiarity quickly disappeared as I found myself in…
