I learned what it means to be a U.S. citizen at the family dinner table. My earliest memories are of the vivid stories my parents told me, stories that shaped the values I hold to this day and that emphasized the importance of citizens playing an active role in shaping and improving our world. Over…
If you are a United States citizen or green card holder, you may be able to petition for certain members of your family to come and live permanently in the United States (U.S.). Your relative’s eligibility and waiting time depends on your U.S. status and the familial relationship. Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens Immediate relatives…
After weeks of rumors and silence from Kris Aquino’s camp, the Queen of All Media finally confirmed on social media that she is indeed leaving ABS-CBN, which had been her home network for 20 years. In a three-part Instagram post early Monday morning, Sept. 12, Kris shared her side on why she is leaving the…
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…
PRIOR to the implementation of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, undocumented individuals who are beneficiaries of an approved immigrant petition but are not eligible to adjust their status in the United States must travel to their home country to obtain an immigrant visa. Individuals who have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence…
Acid reducers and their side effects Preliminary studies suspect Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) and H2 Blockers, which reduce the secretion of stomach acid used by millions to treat gastro-esophageal reflux “heartburns,” may also have adverse effects on the kidneys when used regularly. Presently known side-effects of PPI and the H2 Blocker drugs, popular before the…
by Rina Jimenez-David WHEN you come to think of it, Mary Jane Veloso, who is still—as this is being written—held captive in an Indonesian jail even as she faces execution on drugs charges, has received better treatment at the hands of her captors than thousands of Filipinos suspected of being either drug pushers or users. Veloso…
Global technology planning manager for Buick, GMC and GM China Strategy at General Motors Growing up in Chongqing, China, Coco Zhang-Miske thought she would have a professional career in dancing. Her early training in gymnastics — beginning at the age of 6 — soon segued into the art of dance years later. From there, she moved…
Your vehicle is one of the most important purchases you will do in your life, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are some tips that not only help make the process quicker and stress-free, but can also save you a few bucks. • Know your vehicle needs. Not sure what car you want yet? First…
AFTER an audit of your tax returns by the IRS and you disagree with the determination, you have the option to either accept the assessment and settle the tax you owe by signing the agreement form or request an appeals conference by writing a protest to Appeals Office. The appeals process is an administrative means…
ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, Fil-Am group U.S. Pinoys for Real Change (USPRC) held a prayer vigil in front of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. to declare its support for Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s all out war against the drug pandemic in the Philippines, while making sure the Duterte administration follows the rule of law, due…
BEVERLY HILLS — The essence of boxing is what we seek to capture and record. It might be the decisive moment which makes the bout last in your memory, or perhaps the mood of place they have not seen except a photograph of the story we convey. We already know that people look up to…
I met Erick Esteban on the set of an AFI film called “Unrest” several years ago. We have collaborated on the sketch comedy show we featured on Kababayan Today on several occasions, and when I heard about him getting back into the swing of stand-up, I knew it was important to share this information with…
BUT Moses implored the Lord, his God saying, “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,…
A FRIEND who was recently hit by a car while jogging asked me if her premium would go up if she would claim from her auto policy. Sounded like a simple question to ask. But really a good situation to borrow to explain the different coverages of an auto policy. My friend could have opted…
Senior seeks Chapter 7 to wipe out $40K credit cards ONE of the many problems of owning a business is: getting sued by the employees. Employees always think that employers have deep pockets to pay for lawsuits. Perhaps some large businesses can afford to pay big chunks of money for lawsuits, but most actually, cannot. If…
A SEPARATION package or a severance agreement is a contract between an employer and an employee who is about to leave the employer’s employment. In a typical severance agreement, the employer agrees to give the employee additional compensation (the severance pay) in exchange for the outgoing employee’s agreement not to sue the employer for any…
GENERALLY, you must have resided in California for at least six months in order to file a divorce in this case. Under Family Code Section 2320, a judgment of marriage dissolution (divorce) may not be entered unless one of the spouses has been a “resident” of California for six months and of the county where…
S CORPORATION is a corporation that has elected to be taxed under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. But why elect S status? Well, this type of entity enjoys both the limited liability of corporations and absence of double taxation of sole proprietorships and partnerships. The corporation elects to pay zero corporate federal tax!…
IF you’ve accumulated a lot of debt and something has happened in your life that’s made it difficult to pay your bills, you are not alone. After almost 18 years of practice as a debt relief attorney, I know that bad things can happen to good, honest and decent people. If you are going through…
FILIPINOS in America are divided in their reactions after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to curse U.S. President Barack Obama should he question Duterte about the human rights violations and drug-related deaths in the Philippines related to the all-out war against drugs. Obama canceled what should have been their first formal bilateral meeting. The stock…
LAS VEGAS — On a hot, dry day in September, the whole city was breathing and heaving like a tired beast. On the street that controls all the luxurious hotels, cursing motorists were melting down encased in steeled impotence, trapped in a horrendous gridlock. Shakespeare did not live in the age of malls, but the…
The face that captured the Universe—and emerged as 1st runner-up—at the 2012 Miss Universe pageant has once again conquered the international scene. This time, as one of Victoria Secret’s models for its “Pink” fashion line, making Janine Tugonon the first full-blooded Filipina to be part of the prestigious brand. As she ventured into the international…
If the Philippines has been globally known for exporting Manila hemp after the war followed by the world’s sweetest mangoes from Guimaras Island, and locally assembled by-products like semi-conductor devices, garments, copper, petroleum, and various quality hand-woven fabrics, just during the early 70s, supplying professionals worldwide became the chief source of income among Filipinos. The…
Those old enough to remember using that trusty contraption called a typewriter, before the advent of personal computers, may recall the typing exercises, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” and “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” The second exercise was what appealed…
WHAT is the hardening of the artery? The hardening of the artery, medically known as arteriosclerosis, is a condition that starts very early in life, where blood clots and cholesterol deposits adhere to the inner wall of the arteries non-stop for decades. They eventually make the arteries throughout the body lose their normal elasticity and…
One of the most sought-after tandem of Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo returns to the big screen via their romantic movie, “Barcelona: A Love Untold,” under Star Cinema. The popularity of Daniel and Kathryn has never been in question, especially with movie hits like “She’s Dating the Gangster” and “Crazy Beautiful You.” They also just…
HILLARY Clinton and the Democrats push for comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to legalization for the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. Of course, I’m fully in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. But as a starting point, could Hillary at least eliminate some of the harshest immigration laws ever enacted, which were…
WHAT happens when my green card expires? Lawful Permanent Resident status is not affected by the expiration of the Form I-551, or the “green card.” A person does not lose his or her status as a lawful permanent resident of the United States by the mere fact that their green card has expired. However, individuals…
(Part 2) FORM 1098-T from an eligible educational institution is REQUIRED for 2016 TO CLAIM the American Opportunity Tax Credit AOTC (previously Hope Scholarship Credit), Lifetime Learning Credit LLC, and Tuition and Fees deduction. Here are some tax tips to benefit from these credits in 2016 • Additional criteria must be satisfied for these refundable…
