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…
IS it safe to drink beverages from the cans? Only after cleaning the can. Canned beverages (soda, beer, etc.) are usually warehoused in areas where they are exposed to possible contamination. There have been reports of illnesses among persons who drank directly from the can, which was contaminated with feces or droppings of mice or…
ON Tuesday night, March 15, five more states held key presidential primary contests–Ohio, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Missouri–where two party candidates emerged as front-runners of the race. Hillary Clinton swept all five contests in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio, racking up more delegates to solidify her lead for the Democratic nomination. The…
CERRITOS, Calif. – True to its name, the Happy Seniors of Cerritos truly live up to its name as an association by organizing activities that entertain them, promoting fellowship and recognizing important milestone among its members. Hence, the Happy Seniors of Cerritos enhance their quality of life as they journey to the sunset of their…
CALIFORNIA law on the nature of spouses’ rights and obligations with respect to management and control of community property has evolved over the last thirty years from less stringent “good faith” standards to heightened “confidential duty” and “fiduciary duty’ standards. Under current law, the duties owed between spouses in transactions between themselves are the same…
SHOULD you report the accounts to the U.S. government if you have offshore bank accounts? Yes, if at any time during the year the aggregate balances exceed $10,000. What if you already had the accounts before you left for the U.S.? Yes, you should. There is a rationale why our government wants to know: fight…
WHY all the hassle over the two social security numbers (SSN) allegedly used by Sen. Grace Poe when she was living in the US? In the Philippines, there must be a lot of people who are paying monthly social security premiums but can’t remember their SS numbers. This, aside from the fact that millions in…
A WEEK before Super Tuesday 3 — when five states were slated to vote for the candidate whom they believe should be their party’s nominee for the next president of the United States — Donald Trump has been criticized from the left, the right, and everyone else in between. The latest round of criticism comes…
THE world today is characterized by intense global competition and rapid technological change. According to a human capital theory, economic development is a function of the quality of a nation’s education system. In other words: the more and better educated the people, the better the chances of reaching economic development. The key to success is…
It was “hail, hail the gags all here” at the Beverly Hills Country Club. The live roast started with tip toe humor, nodding deferentially to the seven “honorees,” rising to verbal heights. With male roasters, it was beyond brilliance — their pauses got screams and wit barbs. Some feathers were ruffled, egos deflated and stabs…
INTERNATIONAL students who earn their degrees in highly-sought STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields may be able to extend their stay in the United States longer. The revamped STEM Optional Practical Training program, or STEM OPT for short, adds an additional seven months to the previous length of stay required, while offering some safeguards…
1. WHAT is paternity? Paternity means fatherhood. Establishing paternity is the legal process of determining the legal father of a child who was born to unwed parents. When parents are married, in most cases, paternity is established without a legal action by virtue of their marriage. If parents are unmarried, paternity establishment requires a judicial…
Client seeks chapter 7 discharge for $30K credit cards Senior seeks chapter 13 protection for fully paid house CLIENT is a young senior in his early 60’s who took an early retirement last year. He owes $15K of credit card debt and nothing else. He has a community property house that is fully paid with a…
(Part 2) S. YUSUF is an Indonesian native who was brought to work as a housekeeper for Tija and Tija’s wife, Choi, in the United States. The Tijas promised to pay Yusuf $500 per month, plus expenses and meals. Yusuf gave her passport to the Tijas, who did not return her passport but kept it…
