The gospel and theology of mercy
NO one is ever late for God’s mercy and forgiveness. This contention is what Pope Francis has always reflected on in all his actions and words, especially in promulgating 2016…
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Senior seeks relief from $40K credit cards
Business owner seeks to discharge $100K credit cards used to buy business; Clinton beats Trump to become first woman president of America CLIENT is 65 and recently widowed. Her husband…
Health insurance enrollment periods
THE government is more lenient to people with low-incomes and assets in the sense that they can get Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) anytime of the year. That leniency to get…
How to apply for Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Program
(Part 2) IN an earlier article, I discussed about the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program (“FWVP”). The FWVP allows certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans…
New law aims to increase minimum wage to $15 by 2022
ON January 1, 2016, the minimum wage in California became $10.00 per hour. Most employees in California are entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage. On April 4,…
Should you employ your children this summer?
IF you run your own business, consider employing your children this summer vacation. Employing your children gives you a triple benefit: 1. It teaches your children the virtue of work…
Need to file bankruptcy and rebuild your credit?
A LOT of people in need of debt relief are often hesitant to file bankruptcy for fear that it will ‘ruin’ their credit and that they will never be able…
The sizzle’s nice, now let’s taste the steak
Jess Matubis, who has worked under more Philippine presidents at close quarters than most broadcast journalists, recently posted the following blog by president-elect Duterte’s Agriculture Secretary- designate, Manny Piñol: “NO…
These Filipino celebrity dads make fatherhood so adorable
They say, “Anyone can be a father but it takes a real man to be a dad.” As Father’s Day approaches, I would like to pay tribute to all the…
Hollymont Castle is ready for more Chopin concerts
Hollywood—Peerless on its grace and splendor with changes subtle and grand, noble and patriotic this unending testimony of class, tradition and old world elegance has left even the most eloquent…
Julee Ann Marie Bourgoin: ‘Beauty could be a blessing, an asset, and a curse…’
As beauty authorities often say: “A beautiful woman has the most probability to explore every possibility but failure sets in the absence of an excellent head on her shoulders.” Realistically,…
Filipino bakery workers win $15.2-M case against employers, awarded T visas
FILIPINO workers, who prevailed in a yearlong legal battle against the owners of a French bakery in Southern California, now have temporary authorization to live and work in the US….
Claudine Baretto’s ‘mysterious’ illness revealed by her nephew
MOST artists don’t want the public to know if they are undergoing a medical procedure, especially those have serious health conditions. But since they live under the public eye, it’s…
The July 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…
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
ABOUT 20 percent of people in the United States (323.58 million population) have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) of some type, a condition that is not well-understood and is under-diagnosed. I…
A flavorful experience across Vietnam at The District by Hannah An
Hearing the “An” last name immediately draws a connection to Crustacean, a fine-dining institution with locations in Beverly Hills and San Francisco. For three generations, the An family has successfully…
Seniors seek relief from credit card debt
CLIENTS are young seniors at 60. Husband has a stable middle management job that pays $5K a month. Wife is not employed. They don’t own a house. They rent for…
Penalties for noncompliant US citizens residing abroad
YOU may be subject to harsh penalties – penalties that are more severe than you expect, penalties that can even exceed balances in your accounts if you are a US…
Minor hiccup
SEVERAL emerging markets in the world have experienced exceptional economic strides. These nations are mostly highly export-driven with strong inflows of capital and investment and well-capitalized banking institutions. Many emerging…
Vacations fade fast
VACATIONS are nothing more than series of moments that you remember between all the exhaustion, moving from one place to another. It’s the special times obliterated by little things that…
Chefs Michael Hung (Viviane) and Alvin Cailan (Unit 120) team up to host a Filipino backyard BBQ to benefit No Kid Hungry
LOS ANGELES—Spend an evening feasting with friends and supporting a great charity with Chef Alvin Cailan and Michael Hung at their Filipino Backyard BBQ in support of No Kid Hungry,…
Meeting world-renowned fashion designer, Francis Libiran
I had the pleasure of meeting this fashion guru at the Golden Globe Awards two years ago. He and Business Manager Arsi Baltazar were there. And I-being-me, I wouldn’t pass…
Church and state, church and God
“WE worry a great deal about the problem of church and state. Now, what about church and God? Sometimes there seems to be a greater separation between the church and…
What is a conservatorships?
MY last article discussed the reasons why everyone should have a power of attorney for assets as well as a power of attorney for healthcare. But what if a loved…
Seniors seek relief from $80K and $28K credit cards
CLIENTS are young seniors at 60. Husband has a stable middle management job that pays $5K a month. Wife is not employed. They don’t own a house. They rent for…
Child custody — ’Best Interest Rule’
MANY fathers and mothers have their own ideas of child custody and the standard to which Courts use in determining custody of children. Automatically, most parents believe that the children…
How to apply for Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Program
STARTING June 8, certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans (“FWV”) and who are beneficiaries of approved I-130 petitions can apply for parole with the USCIS so they…
Permanent residency through marriage to US citizen spouse
ONE traditional way of obtaining permanent residency for most immigrants is through a petition by a US citizen spouse. As a spouse of a US Citizen, an alien is considered…
Equal pay for equal work: The fight continues
Q: I HAVE been working at this company for 4 years and in my industry for 15 years. I just found out that a newly-hired male co-worker who is doing…
Tax tips for students working at summer jobs
HERE are 10 tips for students with summer jobs: 1. Fill out Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate). This form is used by employers to determine the amount of tax…