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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Invest in Nevada’s future

by Juan Serafica “DR – EA – M.  Dream!”  Every day I teach Nevada’s children how to read.  We preach college and career readiness in my school, yet Nevada is ranked dead last for educational outcomes. We are in last place for students’ chance of success in the annual Quality Counts rankings by Education Week. …

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Undervalued

“AMERICA has failed us,” said Foreign Affairs Sec. Perfecto Yasay as he echoed Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s sentiments against the U.S. Amid a maritime dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea, Yasay lamented that the “U.S. could not assure the Philippines that it will promptly come to our defense under our existing military treaty and…

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Once upon a Secret Service

Once upon a time, the Secret Service had to be an all-embracing elite force —  self-respecting, fearless and valiant.  They were the ones who took charge of the security and decorum of every event that the president attends, and still do. The Secret Service is more than a motorcade of shiny black limousines with dark…

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The power of full engagement

“AS they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.” — (Luke 17:16) I tell my students to examine the way they preach. Is it a result of…

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Filipinos in America in the middle of what could be a bitter breakup between the Philippines and the US

AS the leaders of America celebrate the contributions of Filipinos to the United States during this month-long Filipino American History Month, kababayans in America cannot help but feel “lost,” lamenting what seems to be the beginning of the end of a long-time friendship and alliance between our Motherland and our adoptive country. This comes in…

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Provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar from inside the US

ON January 2, 2013, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano  announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States commonly…

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