The rise of Leni Robredo in the vice presidential race
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…
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E-politics
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…
Once upon a street sweeper
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…
Community leaders explore ways to expand access to public higher education
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….
Four illustrious Influential Women of the Tri-state Area to be tendered with a ceremonious award and dinner revelry
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…
CA Gov. Jerry Brown heads list of personalities celebrating their birthday this April
Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown Jr., born on April 7, 1938; heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays for the month of April. Brown is currently the 39th…
Law offices don’t need to be like Starbucks: Offices on every corner
EVERYONE is familiar with Starbucks coffee houses, which are located on virtually every street in every city. In some cases, there may be four Starbucks coffee shops on each of…
What to do with loose baby teeth
WE’VE all been through it, right? Can you remember when your baby teeth were falling out? Did one of your parents yank them out for you? Or, were you one…
Changing employers while the adjustment of status application is pending
UNDER the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21), an applicant for adjustment of status can change his or her employer or job without the employer filing a new…
A call to action: Implementation of AB199 and WWII in the PH in the history curriculum framework in California
Since 2014 Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) has been working with the California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to implement AB199, a legislation passed in 2011 (Sponsored by…
Questions they never ask of Mrs. Llamanzares
Doomsday scenario at Ateneo While terrorist attacks in Brussels and Lahore occupied the world headlines, and suspected ISIS-trained jihadists were reported to have set up camp in Muslim Mindanao, a…
Debunking diet myths
In today’s health-oriented world, the four major players — diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol abuse – are in the spotlight. Diet weighs heavily on this equation and has also been…
Basics of family estate planning
THERE are two important aspects that should be taken into consideration in your estate planning: 1. Asset reduction which reduces your estate and the amount of estate taxes that must…
Will the real Grace Poe-Llamanzares please stand up?
RUDY Rosal lived in the squatters’ area across the creek from our house in Paranaque when I hired him as a driver. But he had lofty dreams for himself and…
Balitang America poll: Duterte surges among Fil-Ams
Roxas second, Poe third AFTER the March 20 Philippine presidential debate in Cebu, The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” asked its viewers in an online poll: “If the Philippine…
Who will take care of gentle angels called caregivers?
In private homes, we learn yet of another world—of quiet angels with gentle hearts. Back home, they used to be teachers, bank tellers, office workers, engineers, or registered nurses who…
CA prepares to raise minimum wage to $15
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday, March 28, announced a deal reached with state legislators and labor leaders that would raise the minimum hourly wage to $15. The move would…
Watch out for current fair market value of residence and tax refunds in chapter 7
I HAVE two chapter 7 cases right now where the trustees are aggressively pursuing debtor houses. Trustees are tasked with the responsibility of getting whatever non-exempt asset they can get…
Working ‘off-the-clock’ can be proved and should be paid
Supreme Court upholds pay for employees’ work despite lack of records IN some industries, employees perform work-related activities before they clock in. Some do it after they clock out. These are…
Average itemized deductions
FOR those of you who itemize, the table below should be of interest. For those of you who play the odds (you know what I mean), this table should be…
Bankruptcy: Why blaming yourself will not help
BEING in debt can be pretty depressing. I understand how you feel. When you’re drowning in debt, you may feel that your situation is hopeful and you have no motivation…
Easter seeds of faith to live by
HAPPY EASTER! Where ever you may be in your journey of life — mourning in your Good Friday or rejoicing in anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promise in resurrection…
PACCAL proclaims 2016 Women’s History Month awardees
The primordial thread that links the feminine essence of every woman to nurturing and caring had been deeply rooted since the dawning of creation. According to Diane Mariechild: “A woman…
It’s spring once again
Today, we stop and breathe because there it is, the scent of hope, love and lust — spring. It is land’s perpetual gift of sudden grace. It is upon us…
APIDC hosts statewide conference on Americans with Disabilities Act
PASADENA, Calif. — Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC), a non-profit volunteer-run organization that assists with bridging the services and cultural barriers faced by the Asian and…
9 linked to Brussels bombings arrested
Evidence of link to Paris attacks mounting SEVEN people have been arrested in a series of raids in connection with the bombings at Brussels Airport and subway station earlier this…
NY lawmakers to vote April 1 on min. wage hike
NEW York lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Friday, April 1 on a proposal that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. If approved, New York would…
A time to reflect on faith and belief
Holy Week or Lenten season is the time when Christians, Catholic and other religious denominations remember Christ’s passion (his suffering and death) and resurrection. Ash Wednesday (forty days before Easter Sunday)…
An Easter Sunday message
AN explosion of new life and hope happened on that Easter morning when Jesus resurrected from the dead after three days in the tomb. It was an explosion that brought…
Client’s ‘friend’ uses her identity to borrow $80K credit cards
Creditor puts lien on client’s house for $16K identity theft credit card TWO clients with issues relating to known and unknown persons who used their names and social security information…