The January 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…
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Appetite regulators
IN this day and age of health consciousness and the appreciation of the value and role of weight on longevity, interest in weight control and dieting is greater than ever,…
Crimes that may affect your citizenship application
WHEN a legal permanent resident files for citizenship, one of the questions being asked of the applicant is whether the applicant has ever been convicted or charged with a crime. …
Warning to DREAMers: Do not leave the US when Trump becomes president
These are Filipinos who are living and working in the United States without the required immigration papers, while some have benefitted from President Barack Obama’s DREAM Act — deportation relief…
How to cook ginataan bilo-bilo
A Filipino sweet soup snack perfect for chilly winter nights Contributed by Sarahlynn Pablo / Filipino Kitchen Beyond the brown sugar and coconut milk, my aunt said, any available fruit or vegetable…
Recipes for the holidays from Chef Eric Pascual
Though born and raised in the Bay Area, Chef Eric Pascual spent a good amount of his childhood in Hawaii. His passion for cooking started at a young age when…
Ginataang na Alimasag at Hipon by Chef Eric Pascual
Ingredients: • Meat from 2 large Dungeness crab (approximately 1 lb. of meat) • ½ lb. shrimp (shells removed) • 1 cup green jackfruit, chopped (fresh or 1 can large,…
Cassava Cake by Chef Eric Pascual
Ingredients: • 3 ½ cups of frozen grated cassava or fresh cassava if available • 1 ½ cup evaporated milk (or ¾ cup of whole milk and ¼ cup half…
Food, glorious food: The noche buena spread
There is no doubt that Christmas is one of the Filipinos’ favorite holidays. Aside from having the longest holiday season (starting in September until January), Christmas is the time for…
From books to chocolate: How a Fil-Am college dean transitioned into becoming a chocolatier
One night about two years ago, Romeo Garcia decided it was time to take a “creative sabbatical” from his career in academia. Over the past six years, Garcia — who…
What is new: Federal penalties for late W2s and 1099s
JANUARY 31, 2017 is the new deadline for filing 2016 Forms W-2 and W-3 both in paper forms and electronic. If you need 30-day extension complete Form 8809. There are…
He said, she said
“I WILL continue to fight against things I do not believe in. If being an opposition leader entails that, then I will be an opposition leader,” Vice Pres. Leni Robredo…
A celebration of Christmas and Filipino culture
It was an unbridled celebration of sound and scenes last Saturday at the International Celebrity Center for the Philippine Institute of Language, arts and culture (PILAC) in partnership with the…
Green card petition for widow(er)s
SPOUSES of deceased United States (“U.S.”) citizens may apply for green cards, if they self-petition within 2 years of their spouse’s passing. The unmarried children under 21 years of age…
How to obtain a waiver for immigration fraud and misrepresentation
IF you are an applicant for an immigration visa, K visa, or V non-immigrant visa, your application may be denied if you are found inadmissible under certain circumstances. In this…
Consequences of failing to disclose material assets, income, facts and information in a divorce case
THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law…
Fall in love with these fall makeup trends
SOME weeks ago we welcomed the fall season with an article on hairstyles. Today, we tackle another one of my fortes—and a sought-after subject for women—the latest makeup trends. I…
To be prophets of hope
“THE Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers.” – Psalm 146:8-9 Archbishop Gomez…
Taking some of the mystery out of an attorney consultation
WITH the election of Donald Trump as president, and his statements about deporting millions of illegal aliens and getting tough on immigration, many people are scared, anxious, and worried about…
Young seniors file Chapter 13 for $145K unsecured debt
Another young senior files Chapter 7 for $10K credit cards CLIENTS are 59 and 58. Husband had a solid and well paying job for the last 20 years. He grossed…
Are you entitled to additional pay for time spent at work on ‘bag checks’?
KIMBERLY Murphy worked at a Caremark CVS pharmacy in California. As a pharmacy employee, she was required by her employer to undergo a security inspection of her bag every time…
Community property with right of survivorship
MARRIED couples buying property are asked to decide how they should hold title: • Joint tenancy or • Community property. Basically, it is a choice between the ease of transfer…
Couples filing bankruptcy: Two incomes but still going broke
ONE of my clients told me recently: “My wife and I both work very hard to raise our two children. On some days we work long hours and don’t even…
What to know before you go
HOLIDAYS are here and that means travelling to see family members. But before you go, here are a few things to remember. Departing the United States when you are not…
Anorexia nervosa & bulimia
What is anorexia nervosa? This is a “psychological” disorder where the person has a disturbed sense of body image. He/she has a morbid fear of obesity, refuse to maintain a…
US Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino WWII veterans
MY father-in-law, Jose Nobleza, Sr., and my eldest brother, Wilfredo, did not live long enough to see this happen, but 99-year old Celestino Almeda of Gaithersburg, Maryland still walks the…
The interview: A delightful minuet
INTERVIEWS come in many ways. Some regard them as battles, others call them theater pieces — even as delightful minuets. But for showbiz interviewing, which tends to elicit mere entertainment,…
Weird on the road: Unusual driving laws you may not know
The rules of the road aren’t always as straightforward as red, yellow and green. For example, if a police officer were to pull over a driverless car, who would get…
Buckle up for safety: Why the seat belt is your best protection
Confusion and panic often accompany the sounds of screeching tires and metal slamming into metal. A passenger’s body hurtles forward during a front end collision, carried by momentum for a…
Federal tax update for 2016 tax returns
1. YOU are REQUIRED TO FILE an income tax return if your 2016 gross income reaches: A. Single $10,300 (11,850 age 65 or older) B. Married filing jointly $20,300 (21,850…