Thanksgiving: Gratitude and appreciate of life
THIS great holiday of thanks and giving is not a date on a calendar, but a state of mind. It is about our capacity to realize things that we can,…
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Investing in democracy builds America
By Luisa Blue, BSN Many of our parents fled repressive regimes for America to be able to freely voice their opinions and pursue their dreams. At a time when authoritarian…
The December 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…
Immigrants, immigration laws, and the new administration
LAST week, we as a nation took part in the age-old tradition and privilege of making our voices heard through casting a vote for our preferred candidates in our local,…
Calcium is essential
What is calcium? Calcium is a hard, silvery metallic element with an atomic number of 20 and an atomic weight of 40.078. It is a mineral found in bones, teeth…
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…
What’s on the table for Thanksgiving?
AS its name suggests, Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on giving thanks for the numerous blessings in our lives. During the meal — whether held at lunch or dinnertime —…
When in Vegas
What happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas. For Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronal “Bato” Dela Rosa, his recent sojourn to Las Vegas, Nevada could have…
The history of Thanksgiving: Celebrating past the turkey
Thanksgiving is a particularly American holiday. The word evokes images of football, family reunions, roasted turkey with stuffing, pumpkin pie and, of course, shopping. However, the holiday is much more…
War is a filthy tragedy
WAR is a filthy tragedy — but it has always been like that. The violent age that was the Renaissance, then the Roman Empire, while the golden age was in…
Davao City charms Japanese visitors
Prevalent peace and order, unperturbed nature and ecological wonders, world-class accommodations, and the genuine hospitality of the people boost up the prospects for tourist influx into Davao City and surrounding…
Thousands march in LA to protest Trump
WHEN Filipino-American Catherine Garvey woke up on the morning after the historic presidential election, she knew the “status quo was over.” “I couldn’t sit idly by and just accept that…
H-1B Visa: live and work in the United States
THE H-1B visa enables foreign professionals from all over the world to live and work in the United States (“U.S.”). It is a particularly great option for international students whose…
A new perspective on beauty and image with Imee Ong-Maghanoy
“IT’S not really just serving someone’s vanity but more like making a difference in a person’s self-esteem. You help them feel better about their physical appearance and ultimately about themselves. …
Praying for the nation
“BUT for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its rays of healing.” — (Malachi 3:19-20) Many of us are deeply concerned about the things…
Client with good income seeks Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 relief for $84K credit cards
CLIENT is 58. He is not divorced but separated for 20 years. His income is good. He nets about $7K to $8K a month. He lives by himself and does…
Where does that tip go? – A question for consumers and workers
THE Uber app allows riders to call, arrange and pay for taxi cab rides and other transportation services electronically via their mobile phone. On September 9, 2012, Caren Ehret used…
Can I get reimbursed for my separate property contribution from all subsequent community properties purchased during marriage?
QUESTION: I contributed money which I saved before the marriage into purchasing a property during the marriage which I acquired with my spouse in joint name. During the marriage we…
Should you submit an offer in compromise (OIC)?
IF you are unable pay all your taxes owed to the IRS, you may make an offer to pay a smaller sum to fully pay all taxes, penalties, and interests….
How you can get your family out of debt — safely and legally
AS we prepare to wrap up another year, I still see a lot of families who are at the end of their financial rope with no place to turn for…
The inconvenient truth about Duterte’s war on drugs
BORROWING the term used by former US Vice-President Al Gore to sound the alarm about global warming, I believe there are certain inconvenient truths that need to be confronted concerning…
Donald Trump wins: What must he do to heal the nation of hatred, bigotry, discrimination and sexism?
AMERICA has spoken — business mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States, defeating his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a surprising…
Beyond age lies a gentler joy
Getting old is a natural thing and no one must not be afraid of the natural. Trees age, as well as animals and everything that is alive. I am not…
Why is Duterte so quiet about the rubout of the century?
IT’S been three days (as of this writing) since more than 15 policemen of the Eastern Visayas Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) motored for several hours from their headquarters…
Could Congress block President Trump’s immigration plan?
People are justifiably concerned, anxious, and even terrified over Donald Trump’s proposed plan to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. However, let’s remember that the executive…
Some issues and pitfalls in pursuing US citizenship
(Part 3) FOR many people, attaining US citizenship is the final step in achieving their “American Dream.” After getting a green card, they eagerly count off the years until they…
Immigration filing fees to increase
ON December 23, 2016, the filing fees for most petitions and applications filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase. The current filing fee for an application…
Criminal convictions and consequences
(Part 2 of 2) Every nation’s immigration rules and regulations seek to weed out ‘undesirables’ or ‘deplorables’ maybe – those with the propensity for malicious mischief or simply, to do…
Drinking your own urine?
IF you are, hold that glass and do not say “cheers or ganbei” yet until you read the information on urine therapy in this column. Informational technology is a wonderful…
Tips to keep the IRS away
KEEP a low audit profile. It reduces risk of an audit. Here are some tips to keep the IRS from auditing your tax returns: • Make sure that social security…