Hermilando Mandanas: the people’s governor
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…
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As we grow older
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…
DHS finally publishes ‘final’ expanded provisional waiver rule for 3/10 year bar!
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….
L Visa: Come to the US by expanding your business
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…
The problem with family caregiving
” 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…
Can we videotape police activity in public?
“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…
Penalties for noncompliant US citizens residing abroad
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…
Caregivers are presumptively disqualified to be named as beneficiary in a patient’s will or trust with ‘certain exceptions’
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,…
Clients choose Chapter 13 to avoid risk of losing house
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,…
When an unpaid credit card debt turns into a lawsuit
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?…
Experience a unique take on food at Tacolipino
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,…
Trying to appreciate the SONA
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…
100 days to the November 8 election: Clinton vs Trump
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…
Newsflash: Miss Universe 2017 to be held in the Philippines
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…
Dominic Senador sees life through his lens as a shutterbug
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…
Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera head list of August birthday celebrants
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…
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…
Barrett’s and GERD
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),…
The many ways of becoming a US citizen
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…
Jed Madela, the voice
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…
Winning the South China Sea battle
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…
Post-convention goal: How to unite the parties after a contentious primary election
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…
The glass of fashion
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…
The excessiveness of God’s mercy
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…
Homeowner files last minute Chapter 13 without credit counseling
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…
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program – Invest in a US business and receive a green card
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…
Finding sources of compensation for the seriously injured
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…
Exempt property in bankruptcy
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…
What to do with conditional greencard status in troubled marriages
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…