LAS VEGAS: On a hot, dry day in May, the whole city was breathing and heaving like a tired beast. On the strip that controlled all the luxurious hotels, cursing motorists are melting down encased in a steeled impotence, trapped in a horrendous gridlock. But come hell or high water, people flock here to untie…
A FILIPINO man from Los Angeles wanted for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend last month has been named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Philip Patrick Policarpio, 39, was charged with first-degree murder on April 22 in Los Angeles. Authorities have issued local, state and federal warrants for his arrest, and are…
Don’t you just love it when summer is approaching? I love how the suns sets so late and how it makes you feel like you have more daytime hours; not to mention, plenty of things you can still do ‘til the sun goes down at about 7-8pm. And since you have so much “solar-powered” energy,…
“WHY do we hear all this stuff about the Trinity?” The question burst from a man in the audience of a talk of mine. “Why can’t we just be good to each other and go to church? I answered, “Because.” “Because the Triune God is not some kind of brainy speculation by scholars. It is…
– Seniors seek relief from $80K and $28K credit cards CLIENT is 52, still young by any standard. He has got it all together. He has no credit card debt or bank debt. He doesn’t own a house but owns a mobile home that he lives in with a fair market value of $45K. He’s…
THROUGHOUT the years that I have practiced family law in the State of California, I have heard many ideas from clients as to how they think child support is calculated in the State of California. Unfortunately, some of their ideas are misinformed or not complete. Some feel that they are stuck with a low…
Q: MY job title is “manager.” I work at least 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days per week. While I supervise a few employees, I mostly do the same tasks they do. I cannot hire or fire anyone. My employer insists that since I am salaried and paid double the hourly minimum wage,…
Background WHEN is your return free from IRS audit? From your point of view, statute of limitations prevents the IRS from collecting a deficiency in tax or beginning a civil or criminal case. Statute of limitations provides a date of finality after which the IRS or the taxpayer can take no further actions. We can…
ARE your debt problems keeping you up at night and causing a lot of stress in your life? Have you thought of filing bankruptcy but can’t decide whether it’s the smart thing to do? When no other means of debt relief are available, filing for bankruptcy may be the only way to get out of…
Some exciting news for foodies who live and work in Glendale. Caruso Affiliated, the privately held real estate company behind The Americana at Brand and the Grove, announced on Thursday, May 12 that in addition to burger chain Shake Shack, four eateries will be making their way to downtown Glendale this fall. Last December, it…
TIME is of the essence for Filipino World War II veterans who are now living in the United States but are still counting years to finally have their children and grandchildren with approved petition to join him here and enjoy the remaining years of their life together as a family. With the Obama Administration parole…
A long, long time ago, Kris Aquino and I sat together by the steps of the Guest House, the official residence of then President Cory Aquino. We goofed around at the foyer of Hacienda Luisita and during various presidential sorties around the archipelago — a trusted listener in casual conversation about school, love and crushes,…
AS California’s June 7 primary approaches, 20 organizations plan on calling 20,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) registered voters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in a campaign called “Your Vote Matters.” “Primaries have lower turnout than general elections in November, which amplifies the power of those who do cast a vote this June,”…
The current trend of reuniting disbanded or gone-on-its-own-way old-time singing groups and bands, in a despicable evaluation, could offer a nostalgic flashback while simultaneously proving their (still) acceptable capability to perform and entertain…that their inherent magic of collectively making music had neither been carelessly lost nor intentionally abandoned. Resurfacing under the blinding spotlights and performing…
THE nominees for the 39th Gawad Urian have been announced and John Lloyd Cruz heads the list under the Best Actor category with two nominations. The actor is nominated for lead roles in his films “A Second Chance” and “Honor Thy Father.” “A Second Chance” is the sequel to the 2007 film, “One More Chance.”…
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…
INJURIES always seem to happen when we least expect them. Picture yourself at an outdoor gathering, having fun, when suddenly a crying child runs up to you, knocked-out tooth in hand. Would you know what to do? Dental first aid saves teeth Knocking out or fracturing a tooth is especially distressing—just thinking about it can…
ON March 11, 2016, the US Department of Homeland Security released its final rule enhancing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 international students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The new STEM-OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to the student’s program of study in an…
THE US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning on the use of tanning beds at home and salons. Tanning increases the risk for melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer, by up to 59 percent! More than 2.5 million teens, mostly girls, use tanning booths each year in the United States. Just like…
US reaffirms alliance with incoming PH president US President Barack Obama on Tuesday, May 17, personally called presumptive Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to congratulate him on his victory. “President Obama noted that the successful election and record voter participation were emblematic of the Philippines’ vibrant democracy,” the White House said in a statement released Tuesday,…
THE exclusion from gross income of discharged qualified principal residence indebtedness is extended for two years through December 31, 2016. It applies to discharge occurring before January 1, 2017 or subject to an arrangement entered into and evidenced in writing before January 1, 2017 code section 108(a)(1)(E) amended by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes…
CREATING a lot of buzz in the United States these days is a law in North Carolina which forbids transgender people from using public restrooms that comport with their gender identity. If a person is born male, then he should go to the boys’ bathroom, and conversely, those born female should go to the girls’…
“THOSE who kill my country will be killed. Simple as that. No middle ground. No apologies. No excuses,” incoming President Rodrigo Duterte warns, as he is bent on giving the country the facelift it needs as soon as he is sworn into office on June 30. Despite his snarky remarks and unconventional approach to politics,…
A NEW comprehensive report examining Los Angeles County’s park needs revealed that nearly half of residents live more than half a mile away from a park. The report comes as funding for County parks nears expiration in 2019. “I don’t believe this type of needs assessment has ever been attempted anywhere in the country before,”…
They call it hormonal mischief. It is the new perspective coming into view in every woman’s major life passage. A midlife agitation, literal and poignant — first, the gushing, like the reddening of a dying tree as it blazes out in the funeral autumn with a flowing canopy, then reduced to basics, forced to lie…
THE neuromuscular program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) became recognized as a Certified Duchenne Care Center, making it one of only 10 in the United States and the only one in Southern California. On Friday, May 13, in a small ceremony on the hospital grounds, 11-year-old Ian Saur Sunga, a Filipino-American with a…
CHANGE. A six-letter word that’s easily spelled than done. This concept is basically embedded in every platform and in any campaign speech we heard from presidential candidates. But if there’s one thing we have in common with these aspiring presidents, it is our desire for change. In fact, it is most likely the only thing…
“THE Spirit is present only when charity, joy, peace, patience, endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity are deeply in our lives—and permeate the air around us.” –Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday—the great feast when we commemorate that time when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and assembled as…
“ It is with great honor that such a program is finally being implemented so that Filipino WWII Veterans can finally be together with their loved ones once again.” ON May 9, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally announced that it will be begin the much deserved “Filipino World War II Veterans Parole”…
Q: I WORK as a “team member” in the service industry in Los Angeles. Before we clock-in for our shift, we are required to attend a “huddle,” or a meeting where we discuss events during prior shifts, our assignments, etc. These “huddles” last 15 to 20 minutes every day. Should we be paid for these…
