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…
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$3-M lawsuit against business forces client to consider Bankruptcy
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…
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…
Getting around the six-month residency requirement to file a divorce in California
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Janine Tugonon: the first full-blooded Filipina model of Victoria’s Secret
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo return to the big screen via ‘Barcelona’
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…
Will Hillary eliminate the harsh immigration laws signed by Bill?
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…
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…
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…
Do you agree with Pres. Obama’s decision to cancel the bilateral meeting after Duterte’s insults and profanity?
“PUTANG ina mumurahin kita diyan sa forum na iyan…(Son of a whore, I’ll curse you at that forum).” These are just some of the toxic words spewed by Philippine President…
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…
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…
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…
Celebrating the sainthood of Mother Teresa
I REMEMBER standing next to her at the Luneta Park in Manila when Pope John Paul II beatified Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and his companions. I was a young college…
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…
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…
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program – direct investment vs. regional center investment
UNDER the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, foreign investors can apply for a green card if they 1) invest in a company in the United States and 2) plan to create…
World War II Veterans Parole Program: Frequently asked questions
AS you may be aware, the USCIS has started implementation last June 2016 the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program (“FWVP”). The program allows certain family members of Filipino…
What are the rights of a true salaried employee?
Q: I AM a salaried employee exempt from overtime. I often work more than 40 hours per week. However, there are days when I work less than 8 hours per…
Grounds for annulling a marriage
MOST couples that want out of a marriage in California usually file for Divorce. There are circumstances though that allow a couple to have their marriage “voided” rather than “dissolved.” …
Should you run your business as a sole proprietorship?
SHOULD you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or LLP? Which entity is most beneficial for you? Choosing the wrong form could cause unnecessary taxes, increased liability, and…
Have your credit card debts become a financial nightmare?
HAVE your credit card debts become larger than you have ever expected? Are you struggling to even keep up with the minimum payments required every month? If you are in…
Trump’s Statements about Filipinos show lack of respect, lack of knowledge of history, and total disregard for international relations
As an American of Filipino descent living in the traditionally conservative state of Arkansas, I have a unique viewpoint that many of my fellow Filipino-Americans on the West and East…