List for Urian nominees revealed, John Lloyd Cruz gets 2 Best Actor nods
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…
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The June 2016 priority dates
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…
Be prepared for dental emergencies
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…
New regulations extend OPT extension for STEM
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…
Tanning salons: A skin cancer risk?
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…
Obama congratulates Duterte
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…
10 facts on debt forgiveness on your main residence mortgage
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…
Should transgenders be allowed to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity?
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…
Measures introduced to continue funding for LA County parks
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…
The ‘pause’ every woman endures
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…
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles recognized as Certified Duchenne Care Center
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…
‘Change is Coming:’ A warm welcome to the newly-elected PH President
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…
Living, working, and governing in the Spirit
“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,…
USCIS to begin parole program to reunite families of Filipino WWII veterans
“ 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…
Work-related activities before you clock-in: Should these be paid?
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…
Will a domestic violence finding affect my claim for sole or joint cutstody of our children?
AN action under the DVPA (Domestic Violence Protection Act) seeking a restraining order often is necessary to protect parties from abuse or domestic violence perpetrated by the other spouse or…
Can you be deported for filing false tax returns?
YES, you can be. Terrible, but it happens. In a landmark case, the Supreme Court held that a conviction for willfully filing a false tax return is a deportable offense…
7 common bankruptcy misconceptions that stop people from getting help
PERHAPS you’ve considered filing bankruptcy but in the back of your mind, you have one or two questions that you’ve always been afraid to ask. In counseling thousands of people…
Poe, Roxas & Cayetano: Strength and patriotism in conceding
WHEN Sen. Grace Poe conceded on the day of the May 9 election after the numbers showed it would be mathematically impossible for her to overtake the lead of Davao…
Glowing goldies and the magical fun of dancing
I am struck by women who are no longer young. At the same time, startled by the beauty of their old faces. Lived, grooved and puckered as they may…
Advocates rally to make overtime pay for domestic workers permanent
IN commemoration of Mother’s Day, labor organizations, domestic workers and their advocates demonstrated Monday, May 9, at Los Angeles City Hall’s South Steps to support a bill that would make…
Hans, Shanne, & Kiel: All set to ‘Take The Stage’
The phenomenal invasion of British boy bands during the mid-60s had inevitably clouded and unsuspectingly misted up the predominant supremacy of the then most idolized musical entertainers, balladeers, crooners, and…
No-meat diet and longevity
There is no question that diet plays a very important role in health and the development of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and some forms of cancer, especially of the gastrointestinal…
Families of Filipino WWII Veterans may be allowed to come to the US ASAP, and wait for their petitions
BEGINNING on June 8, 2016, certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans may apply to come to the US (through “humanitarian parole”) and wait in the US until…
Exemptions to inadmissibility bars for employment-based adjustment applicants
FOREIGN professionals wishing to immigrate to the US (as permanent residents) may do so under 3 general classifications: • 1st Preference (EB1) – extraordinary ability foreign professionals; outstanding researchers and…
So Cal Edison celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
IN celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), utilities company Southern California Edison (SCE) on Friday, May 6, awarded business and community partners for their contributions to energy efficiency…
An election of images, a collection of tribes
C’MON, just a day after the elections: Who remembers the platforms of the five presidential candidates, the topics they discussed in three presidential debates, or even their campaign slogans? The…
Historic Halalan 2016 busts apathy among Filipino voters
EIGHTY ONE PERCENT turnout among registered voters in the Philippines is a reason enough to celebrate in a country that has complained about apathy among Filipino people, who have much…
Progress report
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) proudly announced on Monday, May 9, that of the 54.4 million registered Filipino voters, about 40 million or 81.62 percent exercised their right of suffrage….