Non-profit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, in partnership with community-based organizations and local government, on Wednesday, April 6, announced new campaign to encourage and boost the number of Asian American immigrants applying for US citizenship. The campaign, “Endless possibilities. Citizenship Now!” is a coordinated effort of more than 10 organizations, government agencies,…
Singer and actress Sarah Geronimo finally cleared the rumors that she’s already engaged and living with boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli. In an interview with push.com, the Popstar Princess denied that she’s already engaged. “Maraming naglabasan. Nagli-live in na daw kami, buntis daw ako at engaged na kami. Wala, wala,” she said. In an interview with Pep.ph,…
MANY people may be guilty of attempted “alien smuggling” and not even realize it. They may also be totally unaware of the harsh or drastic consequences to themselves and the rest of their family if they are caught. A person could be committing alien smuggling by claiming a grandchild or “given” child (whom they raised…
ALL we need is love, says a love song. Love will keep us alive, says another. Unfortunately, real life is not a three-and-a-half minute power-ballad love song. Love and marriage in the real world involves trying to put order in the chaos of work, maintaining a home, and raising a family all the while maintaining…
And I won’t even discuss her lies regarding the point in her life when she stopped being a US citizen, and when she established this country as her domicile, as my colleague Kit Tatad has already compressively written about that. What is scandalous in Grace Poe-Llamanzares’ high ratings in voter-preferential polls is that those who…
“IDEAL medicine, the unbeatable nutrition, the sound economics of a free good, the deep ecology of no waste, and last, but not the least, the sheer joy of bonding of mother and child — these five petals of the power of breastfeeding make it one of the basic pillars of ‘The Good Society,’ one that…
On March 16, President Obama did his constitutional duty by nominating DC Circuit Court Chief Judge Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court. Now, it is the Senate’s turn. It is time for Senate Republicans to do their duty under the Constitution and give Judge Garland a fair hearing and a timely vote. The Constitution does not…
As Manny Pacquiao nears what he has said will be his final bout in the ring, the boxing champion says he plans to donate a portion of his guaranteed $20 million earnings to the Philippines to help his countrymen build houses and make other improvements so they can emerge from poverty. “I’m not keeping that…
(Part 1) MAJORITY is concerned with saving money on their taxes, but ignore planning to avoid estate taxes, which can consume at least 40% of a family’s taxable estate before it can be passed on to the children. With proper estate tax planning, you could avoid probate and save wealth in estate taxes. Estate planning…
FOLLOWING the March 22 bombings in Brussels, Belgium, spokesmen of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines immediately issued official statements to the effect that there were “no validated terrorist threats in Metro Manila.” One of the major dailies promptly ran the headline, “No terror threats in Metro, says PNP,” and…
HILLARY CLINTON and DONALD TRUMP—they are the front-runners in the Democratic and Republican races, respectively. But the voters in Wisconsin delivered a divergent verdict in their primary elections last Tuesday, April 5, favoring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Let us discuss how crucial the Wisconsin primary may be as each party…
DESPITE a stern warning by China, this year’s anticipated Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises among 9,000 American and Filipino forces, pushed through. The Balikatan exercises, which began this week, will feature war exercises, naval drills and humanitarian activities. “A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its…
All roads lead to Las Vegas this Saturday, April 9, as Filipino boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao faces Timothy Bradley once again. The spirit of boxing cannot be easily defined, because long after the score has lost importance, we remember how the fights were. Long after the date has faded, we remember how the bouts…
THE Supreme Court on Monday, April 4, unanimously upheld that the traditional method in which voting districts are created – based on total population – is constitutional. The lawsuit that challenged the rule was brought on behalf of Sue Evenwel, a Republican county official from East Texas who claimed that the way individuals are counted…
GOV. Jerry Brown made history on Monday, April 4, when he signed legislation that made California the first state in the nation to set its minimum wage to $15 per hour. “This is about economic justice,” Brown said prior to signing the bill at the Ronald Reagan State Building in Downtown Los Angeles, according to…
Last week was a relatively tough but gratifying week for my family as we were practically living in a suitcase for 6 nights while traversing Osaka, Manila and Hong kong. My Family Business coaching work in Japan and a speaking engagement in Hong Kong to celebrate Julie’s Bakeshop’s 35th Anniversary were the highlights of the…
“Never start a business just to make money. Start a business to make a difference”. This quote extracted from an online magazine, successtory.com, best applies to the Chinese business tycoon Wang Jianlin. Known as “The Wealthiest person in China”, he never started business with a motive of quick money during that point of time. The real…
I made plans of seeing my dear friend, Ruffa Gutierrez, when I went to the Philippines last February. She kept inviting me for dinner (part of the reason was for me to meet the person who is making my friend really happy), but because of my tight schedule, our supposed dinner didn’t happen. It would…
AT St. John the Baptist in Baldwin Park, California, they do something big at the conclusion of the Holy Thursday liturgy. The priests and the parishioners transfer the Body of Christ in a huge monstrance to an elaborately decorated hall. You should see the faces of the people as they do this—they are filled with…
COMING to the United States as a K-1 Fiancée is an exciting and joyous occasion. After typically waiting many months to be together, couples are finally reunited and ready to embark on a new life together. Most couples bask in the glow of their new marriage and smoothly navigate through the immigration process of obtaining…
IMAGINE that you lived 2016 years ago in Jerusalem and that you were one of the new converts of Jesus Christ. You’re a 50-year old man or woman who was a gentile. You are a retailer of garments with a stall in a busy retail district of Jerusalem. The news was aplenty about the 33-year…
Q: TWO weeks ago I was fired from work. My employer told me my last paycheck will be mailed to me by next payday. I have not received it yet. When I called the company to ask where my check is, I was told it was on the way. I waited again but still no…
IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a misconception that the only assets or properties that have to disclose assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even think that since an asset or property is situated in a different country or state, that property is not community property and not subject to…
MOST of us take medical expenses for granted because we have to spend more than 10% of our gross income before we can deduct medical expenses. However, changes in health care plans make this a good time to brush up on 10 medical expenses. 1. Only Prescription Drugs are deductible. Over-the-counter drugs, even if taken…
ARE you overwhelmed with debt problems that seem insurmountable? Are you starting to feel hopeless about your financial future and thinking you’ll never get ahead? You may be at a critical point in your life where the decisions you make at this very moment will determine the kind of life you will have in the…
THE race to the second-highest post in government is a must-follow in Philippine politics. Unlike in the United States where the president and his/her vice presidential pick are elected as a team and from the same party, Filipino voters pick their choices for president and vice president, independently from one another. This is why the…
DESPITE the generally slow Internet connection and only half of its population having access to the World Wide Web, the Philippines has been tagged as a social media haven by digital experts. Filipinos are adoptive to new technologies. According to a survey by Wave 7, Filipinos are the most social people online. The poll found…
What a noble trade it is to be a street sweeper. It consists of sweeping the filth we produce, making our existence less infected. Mindless and ungrateful are those who use the word sweeper in a disparaging way, and who do not understand how extraordinary and precious the sweepers are. We would die of stench, dirt…
WITH affirmative action being used as a wedge issue in communities, ethnic community leaders and members are working toward expanding educational access, affordability, and ethnic diversity in public higher education. “[How] are we going to frame the discourse around education as a public good?” said Betty Hung, policy director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice –…
Our ever-changing world had been enormously manipulated and dominated by not only laudable men known for their commendable deeds that benefited mankind but also by their equally dominant female counterparts who have arguably defied the customary “men-power-rule” with their identifiably influential visions. If only for this, the month of March was specifically earmarked to celebrate…
