President Obama, as is his right, has nominated to the US Supreme Court another white man from Harvard, Merrick Garland. Yet Mr. Garland is highly unlikely to ever be confirmed given the Republican leadership’s unanimous position that no Presidential nominee will be confirmed while President Obama remains in office. The question raised by California’s more…
Suicide bombers are brothers and believed to be dead, 1 suspect still on the run THREE explosions in Brussels on Tuesday, March 22, that killed at least 34 and wounded about 270, were conducted by two brothers and a suicide bomber linked to the Paris attacks in November. Ibrahim El Bakraoui, 29, and his brother…
“ A single taxpayer is only required to file if the overall value of his specified foreign financial assets is more than $200,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $300,000 at any time during the tax year.” RECENTLY, the IRS issued rules that require you to attach a disclosure statement…
LAST DECEMBER 8, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Mercy of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, inaugurating the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Mercy is defined as getting the grace that we do not even deserve, including God’s compassionate forgiveness of our sins, liberating us from condemnation so that we could start life all…
“THE world today no longer counts on God. We count on money, arms, private armies, intimidation and connection, and if we continue to do these, it is very easy to lose mercy [for] our neighbors,” said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as he celebrated a Mass at the Manila Cathedral on Sunday, March 20….
IN the Philippines, when someone is asked to work in the United States, it’s tantamount to winning the lottery. So when the option to do so was presented to Angela Guanzon, 38, a Filipina who relocated to America about a decade ago to work as a caregiver, she grabbed the opportunity and applied for the…
THE Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) outreach director for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has left the campaign. Lisa Changadveja, who was first appointed outreach director last August, is moving to Colorado to take a position with the Democratic Party, Clinton campaign spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa told NBC News. “The campaign is expected to announce a new…
PRESIDENT Barack Obama became the first sitting US president since 1928 to visit Cuba when he landed on the island nation for a three-day visit on Sunday, March 20. “This is a historic visit, and it’s a historic opportunity to engage with the Cuban people,” Obama said, according to the Associated Press (AP). On Monday,…
The Lenten season is the time for people to renew themselves with the teachings of Christ. Presented in words in a thousand pulpits across the nation, some may be true to the teachings, but some may self-righteous, mournful and/or violent. If I was asked about the rationale of my faith, I’d say that first, I…
FIFTEEN YEARS ago when she debuted her first fashion show at Reflections, I already saw the promising career that lies ahead of this amazing designer. From starting a couture shop and Barong Tagalog store to launching her own ready-to-wear line: those refining years have brought her this far. It is an honor to feature her…
CAN you think with your heart? In other words, can you have a critical mind and at the same time have intense feelings of love, compassion, sympathy and care for other people? Jesus was able to do this as he entered the city of Jerusalem before his crucifixion and death. He fully knew what was…
Client seeks chapter 13 again for default on residence WHO said that, first is chance, twice is coincidence and third is habit? I have two new clients who are actually previous clients. The first is 55 and she filed jointly with her husband 12 years ago for chapter 7 relief of credit card debt. To tell…
BECAUSE of the current economic downturn, some people are interested about bankruptcy as a relief to their financial dilemma. I deem it therefore appropriate to discuss bankruptcy and Chapter 7 bankruptcy in particular. Any person who resides or is domiciled in the US can file bankruptcy. In fact, a foreigner who owns property or has…
MELISSA Fong and other hair stylists worked for Regis Corporation, which operates several hair salons all over California. During their employment, the stylists were paid on a “commission” or piece-rate basis for performing hair styling services. According to the employer’s policy, stylists were paid 50% of the sales price of each styling service performed on…
• YOU may deduct donations to qualified organizations. Qualified organizations have tax-exempt status from the IRS. These include corporations or foundations organized in the U.S. for religious, charitable, educational, scientific, literary, or prevention of cruelty to children and animals. • You cannot deduct contributions made to specific individuals – priests, nuns, victims, and political organizations…
A TENANT may terminate his or her tenancy on written notice to the landlord that the tenant, or a household member, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking or elder or dependent adult abuse. Civil Code § 1946.7 Code of Civil Procedure Section 1946.7 provides (a) A tenant may notify the…
“ In some cases you may also be called to appear in court for something called a “debtor’s examination”, in which case, a bench warrant for your arrest may be issued if you ignore it. Sorry, but you can’t mess with the judge!” HAVE you been sued or threatened to be sued by a creditor…
IT helps to visit my favorite watering hole in Daly City. I pick up insights from folks who can still see the forest from the trees, with respect to the passing political scene in the Philippines. “Have you read the latest about Grace Poe in the Manila papers?” asks Pete from behind the bar and,…
DONALD Trump is winning more and more states in the primary contests across America and has knocked out all of his opponents in the previously crowded field, making it now a three-man race. The Grand Old Party (GOP) leaders are scrambling to stop the surge and possibly the inevitable nomination of Trump, contending that he…
THE recent $81-million money laundering scandal in the Philippines is a testimony to the dirty, hideous work that is hounding the banking community. It brought a darker shade of reality: that money makes the world go round. Last February 4, hackers broke into Bangladesh Bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and…
After having visited Real, Quezon, Boracay and Bohol during my month-long vacation in the Philippines, I came to a conclusion that I am certain my friends (who came with me) would likewise agree: My three-night stay at “Eskaya” in Panglao, Bohol is by far the best one ever. Adding the fact that my recent vacation…
There is no arguing that Washington is one of the world’s most powerful city. But amidst its power, no one is immune to the spell of the city’s beauty, magnificent monuments, world-class museums, ornate bridges, and lush verdant parks. A gallery pass could entitle one to marvel at the histrionics of long winded senators railroading…
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Supporters, friends, and immediate family gathered in front of the Long Beach Police Headquarters on Thursday, March 17 for a press conference regarding the death of Mharloun Saycon, a Filipino-American who was shot by Long Beach police last December inside Looff’s Lite-A-Line Casino Game of Skill. “We really can’t believe that…
TO expand its reach of legal services in the growing Filipino community, non-profit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles has launched a free Tagalog helpline to assist the community with citizenship issues. “We know that many Filipino-Americans speak English, but many still have language barriers and many prefer to speak Tagalog or another…
“We can all make a difference in the lives of others in need… because it is the most simple of gestures that make the most of difference…” – Miya Yamanouchi If volunteerism is to be based on theology, easily, it could mean the theory that God is to be conceived as some form of will…
Not all are privileged to work with a former Philippine president. But for over 15 years now, I’ve had the blessing of serving alongside former President Fidel V. Ramos, who turns 88 today (March 18), whose love for our country and heart for good governance still ring a bell. FVR, as fondly called by his…
THEY say only the good die young. So when news broke out on March 2002 that then young actor Rico Yan was dead, everybody thought it was a hoax. He just turned 27 years old that time and was at the peak of his career. Born Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan on March 14, 1975;…
COULD the secret to perpetual youth be found in your smile (wink, wink)? Well, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration! But as you know, here at our practice, we obsess over our patients’ smiles. We know that a confident smile can be life changing. But what does your smile have to do with aging?…
WHEN the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), their ruling enabled same-sex couples to marry and, for immigration purposes, to petition one another for green cards. However, what happens if one partner is a US citizen, living in the US, and the partner is living in the Philippines? To file…
Carpio’s revelation Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, there is no 9 – 6 majority vote in favor of declaring Mrs. Grace Poe Llamanzares a natural-born citizen, and qualified to run for President. This is what we learn from the dissenting opinion of Senior Associate Justice Carpio, who revealed the real…
