Being on the right side of the road:  Tips on how to buy a car

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…

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Basics of IRS appeals process

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…

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What do auto policies cover?

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…

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Should you sign that severance agreement from your employer?

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…

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Should you run your business as an S Corporation?

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!…

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When bankruptcy becomes necessary

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…

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Filipinos in America divided: Some praise Duterte while others want him to resign after tirade vs Obama

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…

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A paradise for the misbegotten

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…

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The Band of Brothers in search of its clear-cut stature in the music arena

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…

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Now is the time for all good men

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…

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Artery hardening is a killer

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…

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When your green card expires: What next?

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…

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What is new for 2016 education tax credits

(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…

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Sharp-tongued

U.S. President Barack Obama has described the Philippines as America’s oldest ally in Asia, a relationship bound by friendship and mutual respect. This may not hold true for his Philippine counterpart because even before leaving for his first official foreign travel, President Rodrigo Duterte has managed to cause an international stir with a “son of…

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Anti-Marcos burial proponents organize protest in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Filipinos opposed to the planned burial of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani gathered en masse in front of the Philippine Center Building in downtown San Francisco on Wednesday, September 7. The building houses the Philippine Consulate General offices in the Bay Area. Chanting “Marcos…

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The emperor of maladies

What gives cancer its awful power?  No one can explain why a malignant tumor strikes one and spares another. Anyone whose been to Cancerland is familiar with the scan: They’re like revolving doors, emotional roulette wheels that spin us around for a few days and spit us out on the other side. They come in…

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Accidental disinheritance

ASK any parent whom they would want to inherit their estate and the overwhelming majority would answer the same thing, “My kids.” Unfortunately, many Filipino parents are unintentionally disinheriting their children that they love and adore. Here is how it usually happens: A man marries, has children, works hard and accumulates an estate, i.e., generally…

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Client files adversary against debtor for $370K

Senior files Chapter 7 to discharge $40K credit cards “ To live for eternity in paradise, we have to believe in Jesus Christ who said that “I am the way, the truth and the light; No one gets to the Father, except through me.” That’s pretty simple and clear, isn’t it?” CLIENT is a foreign company…

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