Clients choose Chapter 13 to avoid risk of losing house to Chapter 7 trustee on steriods
Senior wants Chapter 7 to wipe out $22K credit card debt “ Some credit cards specialize in giving credit to people who have come out of Chapter 7. Chapter 7 is…
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Should I tell my employer about my medical condition to accommodate my disability?
Q: I WAS diagnosed with herniated disc and severe anxiety. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell my employer…
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…
Here are the early signs of debt trouble you shouldn’t ignore
HOW much debt is too much? Are you worried that you have accumulated more debt than you can afford to pay back? Are you feeling depressed, frustrated, hopeless or maybe…
Historic Filipinotown to mark 2nd annual Larry Itliong Day on Oct. 22
LOS ANGELES -— Honoring the life and work of labor and civil rights leader Larry Itliong, the City of Los Angeles, Pilipino Workers Center, Larry Itliong Day Committee, FilAm Arts and the…
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….
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Kris Aquino and her controversial necklace
After being provoked by a false allegation on social media about a necklace that was suggested as once owned by Imelda Marcos, the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino broke…
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…
Citizenship application — not just a formality
A LEGAL permanent resident may be eligible to file for U.S. citizenship if he or she has lived in the United States for at least five (5) years or three…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Must US workers abroad pay self-employment tax?
YOU may be liable for US self-employment taxes if you have become an independent contractor either for a new employer or a foreign employer with no ties to the US….
Is Trump’s race to the presidency over after tape exposes him bragging about sexually assaulting women?
Could Trump’s October surprise, revealed a few weeks before the November 8 presidential election, be the beginning of the end of Trump’s chances to be the 45th President of the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Original Medicare and completing the Medicare puzzle
(Part 2 in series of seniors) THE Original Medicare has Part A and Part B. Part A covers inpatient services like hospitalization. Part B covers outpatient services. In 2006, prescription…
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…
Seniors file chapter 13 to rescue house and handle tax liens
Client files chapter 7 for $40K credit cards CLIENTS are seniors. Husband is 72. Wife is 71. Both are retired and receiving combined social security and pension total of $4,015/mo….
Strength in numbers: court sides with employees, strikes class action waivers
THERE are valid overtime or meal break claims that may be too small to require a lawsuit. The litigation may cost too much and the payoff for one employee may…
10 tips for late filers
• FILE Electronically – Consider filing electronically instead of using paper tax forms. If you file electronically and choose direct deposit, you will receive your refund faster. 2. Check social…
How to file bankruptcy and keep everything
ONE common misconception people have is that if they file bankruptcy, they will lose everything that they’ve worked hard for. For this reason, a lot of people continue to suffer…
Sanctuaries at twilight
Adult care centers are important fixtures in the Filipino-American community. This little piece takes us not just to a place, but into the minds and hearts, the courage, the wisdom…