United States citizenship

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….

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Exercise lowers health risks

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…

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The Philippine political circus 

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…

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Reciprocated

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…

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New York, my favorite city

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…

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The treasure of persistent faith

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…

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The largest Fil-Am History Month celebration hits Echo Park Lake

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…

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10 tips on penalties for late filing/paying your taxes

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…

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The most famous speech in literature

“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….

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Catching up with Krista Kleiner

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…

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The November 2016 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 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…

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Travelogue: Israel sojourn, the Holy Land Diary

(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…

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Naturalization – Becoming a United States Citizen

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…

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False claims about unlawful voting

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…

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Adjust status or consular process?

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…

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Our children’s food

WHAT children eat greatly determines their growth and development, the integrity of their immune system, their body’s ability to ward off infections and diseases, and their morbidity and longevity. The other essential factors are their daily physical activities, abstinence from harmful substances, like tobacco and illegal drugs, and disciplined intake of alcoholic beverages. While genetics…

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Misogyny and Leila de Lima

Senator Leila de Lima would like us to believe that she is victimized because of her gender. I vehemently disagree. This is not a gender issue. And it is offensive that she plays the gender card. It is pure theatrics, like the many she inflicted on us, in her press conferences, in her walkouts. Now…

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