With a firm hand he shakes my hand, his face seasoned by storm and values. Charles Simbulan smiles kindly, almost trying to disguise shyness. His voice is light hearted, his hair is spiked, but tousled like a high school lad. The more you look and listen to him, you experience mixture of feelings. You get…
(Part 3 of 3) Knowing that our days were numbered and the overwhelming thrill would soon subside, we struggled to make the most out of every single moment and enjoyed it ultimately while it lasted. Our overnight stay at Amman International Hotel brought about a sudden wisp of cold air into our faces the morning…
Barely five months after they broke up, the Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla and architect Conrad Onglao are together again. People were taken aback when the news came out that the couple ended their relationship at a time when they were reported to be already finalizing their wedding somewhere in Europe. Zsa Zsa has never…
Mario, was admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) when he was 18 years old. Now he wants to apply for citizenship, but the application is asking about something called “selective service.” He doesn’t know what this is. Will this bar him from his application to become a U.S….
Is exercise really essential to health? Yes, very much so, especially in lowering the risk for diseases, as shown in the recently published studies discussed below. To illustrate a point, let us exaggerate and consider a situation that is extreme: a person who is bedridden, a stroke victim or a quadriplegic, someone practically unable to…
By: Luisa Blue, BSN As a nurse, I have had the privilege to care for patients and help them get better. Few things are more rewarding, which is why so many of us who want to help others are drawn to a career in healthcare. My nursing code of ethics calls for me to “practice with…
You may be liable for U.S. self-employment taxes if you have become an independent contractor either for a new employer or a foreign employer with no ties to the U.S. U.S. citizen residing abroad is subject to self-employment tax as though you reside in the U.S. unless an agreement between the U.S. and the country…
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey should add a new act to its circus lineup, considering how Cirque de Soleil appears to have outdone the veteran big top masters in their own game. I suggest the Philippine Political Circus. As circus acts go, the Philippine political version has all of the features of a great…
IN less than three weeks, on November 8, the American people will elect the 45th President of the United States, along with the VP and other public officials. Filipinos in America, both naturalized and natural-born, will have their voices heard and will cast the consequential vote that will determine the future of the country in…
ON Monday, Oct. 17, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that money sent home by Filipinos living and working abroad reached $2.319 billion—growing at its fastest pace in over two years. This resulted in a 4.6-percent expansion in the amount of money sent home by Filipinos abroad to $17.64 billion in the first eight…
(Part 1 of 2 ) “THE alphabet of grace is full of sibilants (hissing) —sounds that can’t be shouted but only whispered: the sounds of bumblebees and wind and lovers in the dark, of whitecaps hissing up flat over the glittering sand and cares on wet roads, of crowds hushed in vast and vaulted places,…
New York is full of fragmented people — from those who talk to themselves and move jerkily, to those whose faces are set in hostility or negation. But others live tulmutuously, whose energies they save for the acceleration of fighting on the highest levels of their professions. On Greenwich Village The bohemian’s lair, I fell…
A PRIEST flew thousands of miles to spend a month with the community of Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India. He was in a stage of discernment for God’s further purpose in his priestly life. On the first morning that he met Mother Teresa, the pious nun asked him, “What do you want me to pray…
REPUBLICAN Party presidential nominee Donald Trump shrugs his statements of groping women by their genitals, making sexual advances without their consent, and being able to do what he wants with women because of his “star” status, off as “locker room talk,” but many people aren’t buying it. According to the latest national poll conducted by…
If you haven’t dined at Cafe Sierra located inside the Hilton Universal City in a while, you will be in for a surprise. Earlier this year, the famed buffet unveiled sleeker inte- riors and repositioned all the food stations toward the back of the restaurant. This way, during peak hours, the lines don’t interfere with…
Hordes of Filipino Americans flocked to Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles for the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) on Saturday, October 8. FPAC is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California, originating in 1992 shortly after the LA riots. It was created to not only unite the…
Senior wants Chapter 7 to wipe out $22K credit card debt “ Some credit cards specialize in giving credit to people who have come out of Chapter 7. Chapter 7 is the best choice for client.” THE first case involves clients who are still young. By young, I mean less than fifty, late forties. They have…
Q: I WAS diagnosed with herniated disc and severe anxiety. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell my employer about my medical or psychological condition? A: No. The employee is not required to disclose the nature of the employee’s medical condition or disability (i.e.,…
1. THE failure-to-file penalty is generally more than the failure-to-pay penalty. If you cannot pay all the taxes you owe, file to prevent that more costly failure-to-file penalty. 2. The failure-to-file penalty is 5% per month of the unpaid taxes. This penalty will not exceed 25% of the taxpayer’s unpaid taxes. 3. The failure-to-pay penalty…
HOW much debt is too much? Are you worried that you have accumulated more debt than you can afford to pay back? Are you feeling depressed, frustrated, hopeless or maybe even angry about your situation? What can you do about it at this time or at least stop the situation from getting worse than it…
LOS ANGELES -— Honoring the life and work of labor and civil rights leader Larry Itliong, the City of Los Angeles, Pilipino Workers Center, Larry Itliong Day Committee, FilAm Arts and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust will present the 2nd Annual Larry Itliong Day Parade & Festival on October 22, 2016, from 10am to 2pm on 125…
“Be Cheerful sir, “ cried Prospero, “our revels are now ended…” – Parable of the Tempest (Shakespeare) It is said that the wind that scattered the Spanish Armada blew English literature. In a sudden release of magical energy, into a nation in flower, a love that raged like fever — it was fragrant like a May morning….
Krista is a jack – rather queen – of all trades. Aside from winning the Binibining Pilipinas-International title in 2010, she has made a name for herself in the Philippines as a TV personality who hosts, acts and performs on a number of primetime television shows. She has also ventured out to other countries in…
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 priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
(Part 2 of 3) If you thought the first three days of our pilgrimage were exhaustingly draining enough, think again… for the following days were earmarked for much challenging trudges, energy-consuming treks, and breath-catching rumbles underneath the scourging heat of the sun. But there never was any sort of grumble and protest from among our…
If you are a United States legal permanent resident (“LPR” or “green card holder”), you may be eligible to become a United States citizen. United States (“U.S.”) citizenship opens the door to substantial benefits, including having the right to vote, eligibility for federal benefits or jobs, and unlimited length of international travel. In order to…
After being provoked by a false allegation on social media about a necklace that was suggested as once owned by Imelda Marcos, the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino broke her silence on the issue during the press launch of her latest product endorsement. “The last thing, I think, my family will do would be…
THERE have been many people who claim non-citizens are registering to vote in the upcoming elections, and their votes could affect the ultimate outcome of the Presidential election. These claims and accusations are unfounded, and there is no vast conspiracy to have non-citizens vote in the upcoming federal election. I realize there could be situations…
A LEGAL permanent resident may be eligible to file for U.S. citizenship if he or she has lived in the United States for at least five (5) years or three (3) if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. In addition to the residency requirements, the applicant must also show that he or she:…
Indeed our world feels smaller. The norm is ‘global’; be it in business or love. Travel abroad has become a ‘must’ for businessmen in order to keep up and promote international trade growth. With the advent of the Internet, prevalence of social media, long distance love affairs are a breeze. One client talks with…
