LOS ANGELES – On a recent evening, summoned by invitation, about 20 or so distinguished guests arrived at the palatial home of Rupert and Grace Mercado, a haven that flattered their impeccable sense of courtesy and hospitality. The honored guest, Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, governor of the province of Batangas, was welcomed over dinner at their…
Summer is a time of reunions with families, friends, and former classmates. In these gatherings, the conversations are not just about memories of years long past but also about the present and the future. “So how many kids do you have? Are they all done with college? How’s your business? How’s your practice? “When and…
On July 29, 2016, the USCIS finally published their FINAL rule expanding eligibility for a provisional waiver of the 3\10 year bar. The rule will go into effect on Aug. 29, 2016. The expanded provisional waiver “expands eligibility for the provisional waiver process to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for the waiver of the…
Filipinos can acquire visas by expanding their business to the United States. The L-1 visa enables United States employers to transfer existing executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge from an affiliated foreign office to an office in the United States. Alternatively, the foreign company can send an executive or manager to the United States…
” It is a wonderful thing that we and try to keep our parents, grandparents, and other family members at home as long as possible. When my grandfather had a massive stroke, we cared for him at home until he passed (which was relatively quickly). However, there are compelling reasons to seek assistance taking care…
“The new California law clearly states that a person who takes a photograph or makes an audio or video recording of a police officer (or any public officer), while the officer is in a public place, is not violating the law. Even if the officer is not strictly in a public place, the act of…
If you are a U.S. citizen (or dual citizen) residing outside the U.S. but do not report your foreign accounts, you may be subject to harsh penalties—penalties that are more severe than you expect, penalties that can even exceed balances in your accounts. It is therefore critical that you learn the new rules for FBAR…
Caregivers are presumptively disqualified from being named as beneficiary of a patient’s Will or Trust. Probate Code Section 21350, subdivision (a) provides: “Except as provided in Section 21351, no provision, or provisions, of any instrument shall be valid to make any donative transfer to any of the following: …… (6) A care custodian of a…
Senior wants to wipe out $22k credit card debt “The chance of winning power ball is 1 in 292 million. You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning, twice, than winning power ball.” The first case involves clients who are still young. By young, I mean less than fifty, late forties. They have…
Have your credit card debts become so large that you can’t even afford the minimum payments? Or perhaps you’re already behind and your accounts have been turned over to collections? What do you do to get out of this financial mess? If you are in this situation, maybe you’ve wondered about what the legal repercussions…
Diners looking for a unique twist on the flavors of the Philippines can satisfy their craving for something both familiar and fun at Tacolipino, a Filipino-Mexican fusion restaurant in Carson, California. This cozy eatery with a come-as-you are atmosphere serves re-imagined favorites, as well as finely executed classic dishes in healthy portions, all prepared according…
I went through the transcript of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte with a sincere desire to experience the emotional impact that it had on Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar. He said a preview of the speech made him cry. At the risk of seeming like a cold-hearted individual, I felt…
IT is official! It will be Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton vs Republican nominee Donald Trump in the final stretch of the race to the White House after both were officially nominated in their respective party conventions during the past two weeks. After testimonial speeches and videos making the case as to why their respective candidate…
IF you’ve been reading my columns or following my posts on Facebook, you’d probably notice that I have three things that hold a special place in my heart: passion, pleasure and beauty pageants – particularly the Miss Universe pageant. And what could be more awesome but to have my favorite event of all time hosted…
Photographs ably offer a clear representation and interpretation of what the retina of the human eye sees but do not always perceive like the elemental components and minuscule details which are integral pieces that add texture and depth to the whole picture. Regarded as a man-made eye which was initially designed by Johann Zahn in…
Philippine’s real life couple, GMA 7’s Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who are now proud parents to daughter Letizia, heads the list of birthday celebrants for this summer month of August. Dingdong, will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, August 2, while his wife Marian will turn another year on Friday, August…
Dear Attorney Gurfinkel: I married a US citizen after my child’s 18th birthday and am now a conditional resident. I know my husband and I need to file a joint – petition to remove conditions within 90 days of the expiration of my two – year conditional green card. I had hoped my husband could…
What is Barrett’s esophagus? Barrett’s esophagus is a condition where the normal cell lining (stratified squamous epithelium) of the food pipe (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach), or a segment of it, is replaced with a different tissue similar to the lining of the intestine. The transformation is called intestinal metaplasia. This…
BEING granted United States citizenship is a dream-come-true for countless people from around the world. Though the dream is the same, the paths to actually obtaining U.S. citizenship can vary greatly because there are many different ways that a person may become a U.S. citizen. The most common way a person is granted U.S. citizenship…
Interviewing Jed Madela is like having a fun conversation at a party with someone you may never run into again. It is filled with the possibility of random pleasures. It is hard to keep in mind that Jed had so much and as long as he is in the public eye, you feel you know…
More than two weeks have elapsed since the international tribunal from the Hague unanimously decided in favor of the Philippines in the South China sea dispute with China. Much credit for the Philippine victory goes to former President Benigno Aquino who initiated the dispute at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013. Recent developments in China, including from its…
The fierce and contentious debates, criticisms and attacks among candidates of both parties and their supporters in the age of a 24/7 news and social media cycle present a very real challenge for both the Democratic and Republican parties: how to unite their voters who supported different candidates during the primary season and rally behind…
IN his 98-minute speech on Monday, July 25, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte made his administration’s agenda clear in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of the 17th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City. What was supposed to be a rehearsed 38-minute delivery in English, extended as Duterte opened his…
There is an endless fascination about the people who make fashion, rather than just about fashion. Described as graceful, they can be an alluring information prose that serves as a model, but one is discussed in. Impossible to emulate and minimize, the sketching of words into vivid fashion portraits is caught in every detail. It…
I’M still savoring the outpouring of love and support that my family and friends showed me when I celebrated my silver jubilee as a priest last July 9. I felt so special that day as I saw the huge number of people that came to the event— about 600 people including the 17 fellow priests…
Senior files chp 7 to discharge $35k credit cards CLIENT is 59 and single. He has a decent job where he makes $4K a month gross. He doesn’t owe any credit card debt. He only owes 3 secured debts. He owes a mortgage on his house for $400K plus he has arrears of $83K on…
MANY Filipinos do not know that they can obtain a green card within 2 years by simply investing money. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program was created in 1990 to stimulate the economy through capital investment by foreign investors and job creation. The EB-5 program continues to be popular with Asian countries. For Filipinos, the EB-5…
FIVE year-old Jane Fine* was walking along the sidewalk on Green Street with her parents, trying to peer into the shops which displayed brightly colored toys. The Fine family was taking Jane out for a frozen yogurt treat in the city’s shopping district. While the Fine family was making their way to the yogurt shop,…
ONE of the goals of bankruptcy is to allow debtor-filers to start anew. This means that after filing bankruptcy and getting a discharge of their debts, these debtors will be in a position to move on financially. Allowing these debtors to keep certain basic assets despite a bankruptcy filing is one way of helping debtor…
MARRIAGE for many persons is the culmination of one’s life. Getting married signifies the beginning of a new phase in life, both socially and economically. For those persons who lack permanent residency in the United States and have married a United States citizen, marriage also presents an opportunity to obtain permanent residency. However, although the…
