A personal account of the 1992 Los Angeles riots
The Los Angeles riots of 1992 are among a few moments that are seared in my memory. It was mid afternoon on Wednesday April 29, when I got a call…
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The beautiful world of Camille Agbayani
Her positive energy radiates across the room. Her disarming beauty makes it hard to believe that beyond her imperial persona is a beautiful person who makes a living by making…
Angels of mercy in the medical arena
Nursing is most certainly a world in itself. Even as the American health care debate rages, these remarkable men and women quietly continue to provide the day to day grit…
Dr. Joven P. Dungo unbolts his munificent heart so that others may live
Choosing a career path puts one in a thorny, unfathomable crossroad hard to decide… or deal with it pragmatically and face the consequences brought about by an erroneous pursuit. Like…
I came to the US under a different name; is there hope for me?
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I came to the US under a different name on a visitor’s visa. The passport and visa had my picture, but somebody else’s name. I still have…
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…
Seeking asylum
(Part 1 of 2) Back in the 70’s and early 80’s, when the New People’s Army (NPA)and other militant organizations were a potent disruptive force in Philippine society even if…
Is CPAP for you?
What is CPAP? CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, the best treatment, the accepted evidence-based standard of care, for persons with confirmed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). What is OSA?…
National Nurses Week: Celebrating Filipino nurses’ contributions to the US
The United States will observe National Nurses Week in the coming week with festivities beginning on Saturday, May 6 through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of…
Interesting facts about nursing
• THE word “nurse” means many things to many different people. However, AllNurses.com traces the origins of the word back to the 13th century from the Latin “nurtrire,” referring to…
New California laws
EACH year brings hundreds of new laws to Californians and the year 2017 is no exception. Cell phones while driving AB No. 1785: Any electronic devices including smart phones will…
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…
The Duterte and Marcos US trips, a case of déjà vu
President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited by President Donald Trump to the United States. I seem to have seen this scene before. A case of déjà vu. In September 1982,…
Can adopted children petition biological family members?
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: Before I was 16 years old, I was adopted and petitioned by my aunt, and got my green card through her petition. I am now a US…
Kindly men called doctors
Everyone pretty much agrees that if you exercise and eat right and don’t smoke or drink or annoy a cop, you’ll never die. I have been told that by my…
Christ’s presence within us
“ The words of Jesus at the end of Matthew’s Gospel are the promise of Christ’s abiding love for us through His Spirit present in the world. “And behold, I…
Lourdes, Aida and Gisele: The three faces of ‘A Beautiful Life’
Living ‘beautiful lives’ means living with passion, dedication and sacrifice. And these four amazing women of the Filipino-American community tell us how they do it. Meet the Queen of Queens…
Clients seek Chapter 7 and Chapter 20 bankruptcy relief
FIRST client is 45 and single. His gross income last year was $98K, which is good. It reached $98K because of bonus. Without bonus, his gross income is $72K. This…
Protecting employee rights and guarding against employer retaliation
CYNTHIA Begazo, then 53 years old, was hired in March 2015, as the Human Resources Director at Passages Malibu, an addiction treatment center in Malibu, CA. Shortly after starting work,…
Returning to the US after months of being outside
QUESTION: I have been outside the United States for eight months and have friends who went back to the country and were forced to give up their green cards and…
Individual tax changes under Trump tax plan
HERE are proposed tax changes that could affect individuals like you and me. Individual Tax Rates: President Trump plans to simplify the tax code by condensing the current seven rates…
Here are 4 ways to get out of debt
ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do about your situation? Are you afraid that unless you do something about it, thing will just continue to get…
Felisa Nillo Sansait aspires to live beyond being a centenarian
Living life to its fullest is one exceptional privilege denied to many while being surrounded and cared by loved ones upon achieving a full-cycled existence is, undeniably, a rewardingly gratifying…
Infrastructure boom… or bust?
The usual skeptics have dismissed as pie-in-the-sky the recent announcement concerning the “infrastructure boom” that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte plans to undertake. According to them, it is wishful…
Interview tips at the US Embassy
There are no hard and fast rules to follow during interviews to obtain a visa from any U.S. embassy amongst the almost 294 around the world. The basic creed to…
Sexually transmitted diseases
IT is quite alarming that 45 to 50 percent of men and women in the United States have an HPV—genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV)—infection. This information was recently reported by the…
The language of laughter
“Neither of us would ever die of love, we will grieve, part and separate. For we were not meant to be tragedians. We were meant to be comedians.” – Graham Green,…
Regional lunches: Showcasing the diversity of Filipino cuisine
FOR a couple of hours, congress attendees and guests take a break to eat a carefully curated themed ad festive lunch showcasing the diversity of Filipino cuisine and the sustainability…
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….