Is your broken marriage really ‘fixed’?
IF a person is ever caught in a fi xed marriage (married solely to obtain immigration benefits), the consequences (or punishment) could be severe. A fixed marriage finding by the…
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Superbug kills lady
Alarming news, warning to all “PUBLIC health officials from Nevada are reporting on a case of a woman who died in Reno in September from an incurable infection. Testing showed…
Thank you for your service, President Barack Obama
IT was President Barack Obama who welcomed me and my family when we took our oaths as new citizens of the United States of America in 2012. It was during…
ASEAN at 50
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is turning 50 years old this year. The 10-member organization will celebrate a milestone, from starting as a loosely constructed regional association at…
The ‘immortality’ of Filipino matinee idol Ian Veneracion
Guys, seriously. Is Ian Veneracion a vampire? I was looking at his pictures from the time he started showbiz and pictures from his newest teleserye, “A Love to Last,” and…
Mama Bares: “Once Upon a Playdate” encore concert
If you haven’t had a chance to go to the Hollywood Pantages to see “The King and I,” then you still have time before they leave town. The final performance…
Chapter 7 to discharge credit cards, loans
CLIENT is 64, a young senior. I say young because I consider seniors in their sixties as still active and robust. Except for more white hair, they still feel like…
Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence
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. …
Gender equality: A winning fight for a women’s basketball coach
Mary Burns worked as the women’s basketball coach at San Diego State University (SDSU) for 16 years, and was considered the “winningest coach in SDSU women’s basketball history.” However, during…
Debt forgiveness without bankruptcy?
You’ve probably seen a lot of these ads: “Settle your debts for pennies on the dollar!”, “Reduce your debts legally without filing bankruptcy!” “Stop bill collectors now and pay them…
Mithi Aquino Thomas: her vicarious roles as mother, wife and ‘trailing spouse’
Modernity has significantly brought about an immense amount of change that affected not only the social and cultural aspects of life but, most of all, the basic unit of society…
Don Darryl Rivera: IN HIS OWN WORDS
HOW is it like being on Broadway? It’s so exciting here, there are so many opportunities. And to somehow represent the Filipino community on Broadway is really cool, too. Was…
The February 2017 priority dates
EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…
Do you have a stomach ulcer?
WHAT is a stomach ulcer? A stomach ulcer, also known as a gastric ulcer or peptic ulcer, as the second part of the name suggests, is a “wound, an open…
Fil-Am artist Rea Lynn de Guzman: Reconnecting with her roots, heritage and history
ONE way to reconnect with one’s roots is by creating artistic pieces, whether in writing, sculpting, painting and more. In mixed-media installations, some people would think it is just a…
“#LeniLeaks” : Are criticisms of Duterte’s drug policy and the call for his resignation an act of sedition OR free speech?
Many kababayans in the Philippines and here in the United States have been asking me about the truth behind #LeniLeaks — a trending topic on social media that talks about…
God, I am old!
In silent hot rebellion, we cry silently, “I have lived my life – haven’t I? What more is expected of me?” With a certain haughtiness, one realizes that we have…
2017: What’s IN and what’s NOT
The year 2016 has been an interesting year in terms of fashion and lifestyle, which also means the fashion icons and newsmakers of 2016 had their moment. 2016 was a…
Proving your citizenship
A little known provision of a new law could result in a denial of health care benefits to an estimated 50 million Medicaid (California’s Medi-Cal) enrollees. This includes hundreds of…
“On-call” during breaks? You may be entitled to additional wages
ABM Security Services, Inc. employed about 15,000 current and former security guards at residential, retail, office, and industrial sites throughout California. In 2005, Jennifer Augustus and two other security guards,…
Do you have these fears about bankruptcy?
Are you struggling with debt problems and have thought about filing for bankruptcy but have questions that you’re afraid to ask? Over the last 12 years, I have counseled and…
Warning to all California drivers on new law re: cellphone use
BEFORE YOU DRIVE, take the time to know these new laws in California or you may end up paying hefty fines and have a record of violating laws. The State…
Devon Spence: Life within and out of camera range… a private assertion
While the fashion industry has impressively produced branded products and familiar household commercial faces, it has simultaneously opened doors to the mushrooming integer of aspiring live mannequins. The glamorous and…
The instincts of a leader
In the wake of the devastation wreaked by super typhoon Nina in the Bicol Region, Vice-President Leni Robredo has been pilloried in social and mainstream media for being “missing in…
Veteran homelessness in LA down 32% in 2016
The City of Los Angeles is notorious for having the largest population of homeless people in the United States. Furthermore, LA has more homeless United States veterans than any other…
Enlighten skin whitening on sale!
WE all wonder why many stars and celebrities seem to have flawless, white skin. For sure, not all of them were born with perfect skin. Many rely on beauty products…
What to do if you get a ‘knock on the door’
MANY people are justifiably afraid and concerned about their future in America once Donald Trump becomes president. When he kicked off his campaign, he stated his intention to deport the…
Failed relationships of fiance visa beneficiaries
One advantage in filing a fiancé visa petition is that the fiancé beneficiary will be able to enter the United States faster compared to a spousal immigrant petition to be…
Post-holiday ‘damage control’
The holidays may be behind us but their physical effects, among others, will linger for a while. Medically speaking, it is actually a time for “damage control” for those of…
The necessity of being represented by an immigration attorney
The ability to lawfully live and work in the United States is a dream of so many people. The fulfillment of this dream requires the aspiring immigrant to navigate the…