MANY people have misconceptions or are misinformed about family law here in the United States, specifically, in the State of California. They tend to not know their rights that deal in this area. These include the areas of divorces, custody, child/spousal support, paternity actions, wills/trusts, property rights etc. In the years that I have practiced…
YOU are still upset from losing an IRS audit. You can either pay or fight. If you choose peace and quiet—pay. If you choose to fight—go to appeals. Let me give you 10 tips on how to prepare for the appeals conference: 1. Be organized in gathering and grouping records. An organized approach to gathering,…
ARE your debt problems keeping you up at night? Stressed out and worried about your financial future? According to a recent article written by a doctor, this can affect your health, leading to stress-related illnesses. This may seem like a stretch, even funny at first, but this is no joke and I’ll tell you why…
THE Philippines may have scored a moral and legal victory after the United Nations (UN)tribunal in The Hague ruled that China has no historical basis in claiming the resources-rich West Philippine Sea, but the debate continues even among Filipinos in America who are heavily invested on this fight: Should the Philippines negotiate with China? What…
Oh yes, it’s summertime. As the temperatures warm up, we are inspired by the season’s hottest trends. Whether it’s patterned party dresses or bold printed shorts, these summer fashion trends are guaranteed to have you looking hot this summer. Casual days Summer mornings are the best. Stand out by wearing nautical stripes and finish the…
The undiminished manifestations of the Filipinos’ intellectual achievements and unprecedented global status has consistently been the boosting power in their unsurpassed competence to uphold and commemorate habituated century-old tradition even across the miles and seas. That despite the unrelenting growth, development, evolution, social modernization, and new edifying adjustment, the innate cultural dynamics they brought along…
The new 2016 Miss World America is a Fil-Am from North Dakota! Twenty-year-old Audra Mari, a dean’s lister at the North Dakota State University taking up Public Relations and Communications, was crowned last Friday, July 8, in Maryland, beating 27 other finalists. She will represent the United States at the 2016 Miss World pageant to…
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…
SUMMER is here, and it’s time for summer barbecues and bonfires by the beach! Before partaking in summer fun, however, know where you stand: If you are a non-U.S. citizen, read this article carefully. What Uncle Sam giveth, Uncle Sam can just as easily take away. Whatever you do, try not to get deported. A…
What is gluten? Gluten is protein substance found in cereal grains, barley, rye, and triticale, especially wheat, which is responsible for the elastic texture of dough, an ingredient that “glues” the dough together. It is actually a mixture of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin. Gluten causes illnesses in persons with celiac disease. What is celiac…
AS of 2014, there were around 10.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), a number that is only increasing. Many Filipinos living abroad ship their families back home balikbayan boxes, large cardboard boxes filled with items from the foreign country that the sender believes the recipients would enjoy. There are many things overseas Filipinos are allowed…
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…
KUDOS to former Philippine Pres. Benigno Aquino III, former DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario and the whole team which, on behalf of the Filipino people, filed, argued, and won the case against China before the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal. The court found China’s claims illegal in its territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South…
A FORMER agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that the illegal drug trade in the country is thriving, and has become a P200-billion “industry.” An even more alarming report is that the Philippines has turned into a global hub for the distribution and increased production of illegal drugs for international syndicates. According…
It was one of those Padres-Dodgers slugfests — where 43,588 people in a wave of blue collectively sent out ear splitting displays of offensive chants throughout that evening at Dodgers Stadium. Frustrated at carrying out three straight losses into a game and not getting any further, the team struggles. For years we’ve watched them play,…
Twenty-five years of service in the priesthood! It’s a significant number of years in ministry. How fast the years went by! It seemed like yesterday when I was just a young seminarian at St. Martha’s Church directing a summer camp. They were not only 25 years of service to God and his people in the…
Senior files same for $55k credit cards “Do not sign personal guaranties for business loans because you will be on the hook if the business cannot pay the loans. If you own a house, why risk your house with a personal guaranty for a business loan?” Client is 45. He is actually a medical professional…
Ninoos Benjamin worked as a Director of Economic Division of the City of Los Angeles’ Community Development Department (CDD). According to several news outlets, Benjamin sued the city claiming retaliation for his whistleblowing activities and for refusing to take sides in a race turf war between African-American and Latino managers in the department. When he…
After losing an audit to the IRS, you have the option of paying or appealing. Pay if you are happy with the results or don’t want to extend the agony of dealing with the IRS. Appeal if you are not happy or feel that you have not been treated fairly. Let’s explore the advantages &…
IRS problems have a way of ruining all aspects of your life. They can take a toll on you financially, emotionally and physically. When you owe the IRS, you’re always wondering if today might be the day when the IRS shows up at work, your home or your business; or if today might be the…
Have you ever been in one of those cruises that just took your breath away? If not, I highly encourage you to try it at least once in your life. I promise you’ll never regret it. I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I am now when my dear friend, Dr. Lorraine Diego asked me to join…
LOS ANGELES — Farewells are always both sad and bright like after the rain. June has been a string of goodbye parties for LA Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim Out of their ink-stained asylums, the LA media trooped to the Philippine Consulate. From town hall meetings at the Rizal Hall, where elbows, perfumes and conversations invaded…
I COULD list off the ways I’ve been lucky in life, but it all stems from my parents’ decision to leave home and become American citizens. The Vietnam War had ended in 1975, but five years later, the conflict was still fresh in people’s minds. The government was actively suppressing any suspected dissent. People were…
The east coast’s biggest Filipino and multicultural indoor expo will revolve around a Total Wellness theme, according to Nanding Mendez, Fiesta In America’s President. Fiesta In America will celebrate its 18th anniversary on August 13 and 14 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. “A Goya Foods, Inc. cooking show based on ancestral…
Man can neither be judged by merely based on his failures nor through the vast wealth accumulated but by the macadamized roads he traveled from where his journey commenced. The same way when we try to fathom the disheartening pain every time we fall: the barometer for evaluation shouldn’t be based on the intensity of…
I WAS one of the most severe critics of Rodrigo Duterte as a presidential candidate. But now that he has assumed the presidency, I believe he should be given every chance and every reasonable support to succeed. And, boy, will he need a lot of support! In my own limited way, I’ve faced the challenges…
OUR congratulations in advance to actress and host Toni Gonzaga and her husband, director Paul Soriano for their upcoming baby boy! The baby’s gender was revealed in an interview with TV talk show host Boy Abunda last Tuesday, June 30. “It’s a boy! It’s going to be a mini-Paul,” the soon-to-be father excitedly shared. He…
IN most cases, in order for a person to adjust status (obtain a green card) in the U.S., the person must prove he or she was “inspected and admitted” by an immigration officer at the airport or border (port of entry). This means that the person presented himself to an immigration officer who reviewed his…
OFTEN, many immigrants have kept pushing back their decision to apply for US citizenship. Many of them have also failed to keep track of the validity of their permanent resident cards such that when they are now ready to apply for naturalization, they discover that their permanent resident cards have either expired or are about…
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 PPI…
