Drowning in debt but too afraid to ask for help?
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…
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ISIS radicalizing and forcefully recruiting kids in Mindanao
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…
A night with the ‘Birit Queens’
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…
President Trump’s ‘Buy American, Hire American’ executive order
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…
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…
A notario or immigration consultant is not an attorney
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…
Employee’s right to final paycheck at termination
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….
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…
Negotiating with credit card companies to avoid bankruptcy
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…
Your marriage petition could be in trouble if USCIS visits your home
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
‘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…
IRS consumer alert tips – the IRS at your door
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….
Client seeks chapter 13 relief for mortgage default, credit cards Senior seeks chapter 7 for relief for 40K credit cards
“ 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…
Joint exploration in South China Sea: Proposal for third silk route
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…
Duterte’s martial law in Mindanao: The pros and cons sides among Filipinos in America
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…
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…
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)…
Fil-Ams protest against Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao
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…
Martin Nievera: The man who would be ‘king’
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…
A dissertation on the ‘sunset’ in the life of senior citizens
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….
Fashion Design Graduate Crowned the Winner of Sony Channel’s The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition
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…
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…
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,…
Shanna Mendiola: NBC4’s Emmy Award-winning meteorologist on hard work and success
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…
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…
IRS consumer alert tips – identity theft
Someone uses your social security number to file a fraudulent tax return to claim a refund or get a job. An employer’s tax identification is stolen to create a false…