The power of tourism for Bicolandia
In Bicolandia, the renowned Mayon Volcano towers majestically at 8,000 feet from the base to its pointed tip, with its crater a mere 1,640 feet across. At dawn, mists bank…
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Healthy alternatives to your favorite Filipino dishes
Meet Michelle Ibarrientos, a Fil-Am based in Southern California, who whips up healthy versions inspired by Filipino favorites. Before she was a self-proclaimed “health enthusiast,” Ibarrientos would feel bloated and…
A beginner’s guide to working out
Getting started on a workout routine may seem intimidating to beginners, but it’s certainly attainable. Longtime personal trainer and proud Fil-Am Joshua Hayes lends his tips to kick starting a…
On living well: Fit Chef for Life Katrina Palana-Soledad
For Katrina Palana-Soledad, living well has been a journey — one 12 years in the making. “Growing up in the Philippines, there’s no such thing as dieting,” she shared. When…
Do you support Donald Trump’s plan to ban immigration from the Philippines?
DONALD Trump has declared before that should he be elected President of the United States, he would ban immigration from countries identified to be a hub of terrorists so he…
Motivation
ONE can win races and break world records, but an Olympic medal is still the highest feat an athlete can accomplish. To conquer the Olympics is every athlete’s dream. On…
The anguish of a love gone wrong
Romanced by fantasies, terrible things are done in the name of love. And when love goes wrong, it could be the most intensifying and painful experience of a lifetime. Secrets,…
Devotion to the Black Nazarene now in Baldwin Park, CA
I ASKED a Filipino man who was participating in a ‘Traslacion’ procession of the Black Nazarene in the streets of Manila during my last trip to the Philippines why he…
Conditional green card holders can petition certain family members even while still a conditional resident
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…
The USCIS expands the provisional waiver eligibility
On 7/29/16, the USCIS announced the release of the final rule on the “Expansion of Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility”. This rule expands the class of individuals who may…
Top reasons to have a life insurance
” Singles or married alike must know that certain life insurance policies have valuable cash value. There is no restriction as to where you can use the cash value for….
Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (Fbar) reporting requirements
If you own a foreign bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, or other financial account, you may be required to report the account annually to the government. Let’s get an…
Get the best care
“You as the family member have the right to give information, ask questions, participate in care plan meetings, offer suggestions, review care plan documents and accept or refuse offered care.”…
Fighting for pay equality at work
” California law prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees at wage rates less than the rates paid to employees of the opposite sex for substantially similar work,…
Provisional waiver of unlawful presence bar expanded to cover more immigrants
The USCIS announced the final rule expanding the existing provisional waiver to allow certain family members of US Citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for the provisional waiver of…
Senior loses job and converts chapter 13 to chapter 7
Fights to keep house “Nowadays, the correct value of the residence is critical to keeping the house safe from the clutches of the Chapter 7 trustee, because house values are…
Should you deplete all your savings to pay debts?
Like most people, you’ve worked hard and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But in life, at one time or another, all of us get…
A majority of Fil-Ams think Trump should apologize for slamming family of fallen Muslim American soldier
Did Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump go too far when he defamed the parents of a Muslim American hero who was killed in the line of duty in Baghdad in…
Palawan: the most beautiful island in the world
I’ve been to so many places. Stories about my international exploits occupy a significant amount of coverage in my column. Traveling soothes my soul and makes me appreciate life. It…
To win, Hillary should speak a little Tagalog
IF all politics is local, then candidate Hillary Clinton may very well need to speak a little Korean and Tagalog in order to win the 2016 presidential election. Why? In…
The Great Gatsby’s influence on the Roaring 20s Era & The People’s Ball
That fashion is a reflection of the social, economic, political, and cultural changes is indubitably factual and that while it mirrors the changing trends of our daily life, it simultaneously…
An open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte
Many years ago, in May of 1986, our family — my husband and three children — decided to leave our country when weexperienced too much chaos and violence after the…
14th annual Plate by Plate tasting benefit brings together over 40 culinary geniuses
LOS ANGELES — Project by Project has announced premier restaurants and beverage purveyors for the 14th Annual Plate by Plate Tasting Benefit. The non-profit’s signature event brings together over 40…
The next Miss Universe pageant will be in the Philippines
Surely, Filipinos back home — and all over the world — are dancing with pride and joy now that it has been confirmed that the Miss Universe 2016 pageant will…
Expanded provisional waiver of unlawful presence
On July 29, 2016, USCIS announced it is expanding the existing provisional waiver process to allow certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”), to apply for…
Coffee and diabetes
WHAT we eat and drink affects our health. The relevance of this association is even more significant among those who have pre-diabetes and those who actually have diabetes. Soft drinks—diet…
Coping with the new forms of journalism
On blogs, cable news and radio, they take aim at the print. They provide people with social media tools to gauge the trustworthiness of specific news outlets and individual stories,…
Do you owe taxes and cannot pay now?
The IRS announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Payment plans – more taxpayers can apply without financial statements. • Offer…
Could this be the beginning of the end of Trump’s sprint to the White House?
Donald Trump’s millions of loyal ardent followers, many of whom are Filipinos in America, would even question the title of this piece as they believe in their hearts that he…
Turnaround
AMID President Rodrigo Duterte’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) proudly reported that the country has also seen a downward trend in crime in the first…