Are you wondering why the vice presidential campaign of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is making significant headway despite his being the son of a former authoritarian President? This phenomenon, according to University of the Philippines (UP) professor Popoy de Vera, has an explanation. He said 70 percent of the voters are 34 years old and…
THE U Visa is a non-immigrant visa intended for certain people who have been victims of one or more of specific crimes or similar activities punishable under federal, state, or local criminal laws and who are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. These crimes include rape,…
ZELMA Brawner worked for Bank of America (BOA) for about 28 years, occupying the positions of “Dedicated Service Director” later renamed “Treasury Services Consultant,” and “Treasury Services Senior Advisor” for the last 13 years of her tenure. Brawner claimed that throughout her work as a “director,” “consultant” and “advisor,” her employer classified her and about…
HERE are the top 10 things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit: 1. EITC not only reduces the federal tax you owe, but could result in a refund. 2. The amount of your EITC is based on the amount of your earned income and whether or not there are…
IRS problems have a way of ruining all aspects of your life. They can take a toll on you financially, emotionally and physically. When you owe the IRS, you’re always wondering if today might be the day when the IRS shows up at work, your home or your business; or if today might be the…
FAMILY Code 760 provides that all property acquired by the spouse during the marriage is community property. That means each spouse has a half interest on any assets that are acquired during the marriage, with certain exceptions, since it is generally characterized as community property. On the same token, Family Code 771(a) provides that earnings…
It’s well into the second month of the year — how many individuals have ditched their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy and shed some pounds? But if you’ve stuck to your word or are looking for another way to stay active, there’s a new app for that. Nikko Mendoza, a 30-year-old Filipino from Fairfield,…
Why President Obama should quickly nominate an Asian American to the US Supreme Court PRESIDENT Obama, as a result of the unexpected death of US Supreme Court Justice Antonio Scalia, has an opportunity to appoint the first Asian American to the US Supreme Court in its more than 225 year history. As the late Justice Scalia…
THE recent BusinessWorld (BW)-Social Weather Station (SWS) presidential preference survey, conducted from February 5 to 7, tells us that Vice President Jejomar Binay is ahead of the pack with a 29 percent rating. While this is lower than the 31 percent that he got in the January 8-10 BW-SWS reading, one could conjecture that Binay’s…
IN the Asian Journal’s Midweek edition on Wednesday, Feb. 17, I shared the advice of Atty. Lou Tancinco, The Filipino Channel’s Pinoy Panawagan Legal Counsel, on why eligible kababayans should apply for naturalization to be US citizens. Tancinco outlined the benefits: family unity, avoiding separation, vivic engagement, federal employment, ease of travel. This topic has…
I STILL remember an incident when a parishioner confronted me after Mass to tell me how delighted she was to see me change. “Father, you’ve grown so much, you’ve changed,” she told me. Upon hearing her words, two things flashed in my mind: something that was wrong with me needed to change, and something that…
WHILE the fate of President Barack Obama’s executive actions on programs to expand deferred action for undocumented immigrants has yet to be decided by the US Supreme Court, individuals eligible for the programs are encouraged to continue preparing for their implementation. “We believe that these programs are perfectly legal and will be of help, and…
LOS ANGELES — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, Feb. 17, met with the Filipino community at the end of his working visit to the United States. More than 800 members of Filipino community groups from the southwestern United States gathered inside the Hilton LAX ballroom on Wednesday evening, where Aquino spent more than an…
THE dimly lit posh entertainment venue was almost full to the rafters when I inched my way after a burly, stern doorman stamped my right wrist with an indelible admission insignia. Slithering in rectilinear locomotion like a snake hunting for its prey, my blinded sight prevented me to execute spontaneous steps for fear I might…
Successor to Scalia PRESIDENT Obama, as a result of the unexpected death of US Supreme Court Justice Antonio Scalia, has an opportunity to appoint the first Asian American to the US Supreme Court in its more than 225 year history. As the late Justice Scalia has frequently stated, the court needs more diversity. In America’s…
With the Nevada Democratic Caucus approaching on February 20 and big issues at stake in 2016, I know that we Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters will make our voices heard. The number of AAPIs eligible to vote in Nevada has grown by 55 percent over 2000 to 2010 to 134,000 - a critical 7.3…
It’s that time again, the time every four years when candidates start paying attention to different constituencies and the media assesses the relative value. Asian American Pacific Islander voters matter in Nevada, and we can be the difference in a close election. As a veteran of a few Nevada campaigns, I’ve had people ask me…
IS wine really good for our health? Yes, most particularly red wine, because it contains very potent antioxidants. But the benefits will, of course, depend on other considerations and factors. We do not recommend any alcoholic beverages to pregnant women, persons who are alcoholics or have history of addiction, those with liver, gastrointestinal or other…
IT’S almost a week after Valentine’s Day but we’re still hoping that people will continue to be in love and stay in love. I’m sure many people celebrated the day, and we’re curious how our favorite celebrities spent their Valentine’s. Some got flowers—while others declared how much love they are feeling for their special someone….
ELIGIBILITY for benefits under Section 3 of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is based on a mathematical formula, where you subtract from the child’s age the length of time it took USCIS to process and approve the petition. You take the date the petition is filed, and the date it was approved. How long…
THE overseas Chinese or hua-chiao is a term commonly used for the Chinese in Southeast Asia. In a broad sense, overseas Chinese refers to all Chinese who have left their home in China to live and work abroad. The Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, particularly those who arrived between the 18th century and mid-20th century…
CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his US citizen father. His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available. Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a…
1. YOU are required to file a California tax return if your gross income exceeds: a. Single – $16,256 (no dependent). b. Head of household – $27,489 (with one dependent). c. Married filing jointly – $32,514 (no dependent). Taxpayers with dependents or who are aged 65 or over have higher filing thresholds. You turned 65…
MANY kababayans in America, even those among my own circle of family and friends, take their sweet time before taking the first step toward naturalization to become U.S. citizens. This, despite the pains and struggles of obtaining their Permanent Resident card (green card) so they can legally live and work in the U.S. Some have…
PRESIDENT Barack Obama welcomed leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, Feb. 15, to discuss terrorism, maritime security, trade, and climate change. “Economic growth that is inclusive, creating opportunity for all; mutual security and the peaceful resolution of disputes; human dignity, including respect for human rights, and development that is sustainable…
Bruno Mars takes home 3 Grammys The 58th annual Grammy Awards, recognizing and celebrating outstanding achievements in the music industry, was a big night for artists including Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and Bruno Mars. At the Premiere Grammy Awards Ceremony, most of the 83 awards in various categories were handed out. Only eight awards were…
Perhaps the heart is not just a sort of Valentine, or only the beating thing in a chest that sustains life. It is also the well, spring of all faith, hope and love—all the musings on the human heart’s meanings and metaphors, even humor, that jump starts the imagination about its significance as the most…
SUPREME Court Justice Antonin Scalia, known for his fiery, sharp rhetoric and ultra-conservative views, died in his sleep, as confirmed by the US Marshals Service and the Supreme Court. He was 79. Scalia died in his guest room at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in Texas while on a hunting trip, according to a statement by…
A FILIPINO man who admitted to conducting surveillance for a law enforcement task force in the Philippines linked to the disappearance of a number of opposition politicians was deported to the Philippines last week by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a news release from the agency. Regor Cadag Aguilar, 42, was escorted…
AFTER a day of discussions on economic issues and trade, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) switched gears on Tuesday, Feb. 16, by working toward reaching a common stance on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. “The United States and ASEAN are reaffirming our strong commitment to a regional order where international rules…
