Homeland Security launches employer pilot program
THE US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program on Thursday, March 3, assessing a new process for employers who seek to hire…
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Trump receives backlash from other Republicans
AFTER Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump claimed victory in seven of 11 states on Super Tuesday, several prominent public figures and news publications expressed that they do not believe Trump…
Families of San Bernardino victims side with FBI
THE battle between Silicon Valley-based tech industry giant Apple and federal law enforcement over access to encrypted cell phone data has continued, with privacy concerns against an investigation over national…
Gov. Brown approves health care package that secures federal funding for Medi-Cal
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday, March 1, signed into law three bills designed to avoid a $1.1-billion cutoff in federal funding for Medi-Cal, which provides health insurance coverage to…
Virata and technocrats ran the martial law economy
A statement issued by the Ateneo de Manila staff pontificated: “The Marcos regime’s economics of debt-driven growth was disastrous for the Philippines. The regime was not interested in inclusive development,…
Direk Wenn Deramas cried with finality: “Cut…! Pack-up!” then, rested
LIFE is a reverie for the judicious but simply a game for hoodwinks… an entertaining tryout for the affluent but a catastrophe for the underprivileged…and a never-ending encounter with uncertainty…
Estate planning done right
In our Filipino community, there seems to be a reluctance to engage in comprehensive estate planning through the execution of living trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. Instead, many families…
Super Tuesday results show Clinton, Trump as frontrunners
Tuesday, March 1 was a big day on the road to November’s presidential elections. Unofficially nicknamed “Super Tuesday,” it is when a dozen states (and one US territory) held nominating contests…
TV and movie director Wenn Deramas passes away at 49
GONE too soon—that is how many people in Philippine showbiz have described how they feel about the passing of box-office director Wenn Deramas last Monday, Feb. 29 due to cardiac…
The NVC is not your ‘attorney’, for free legal advice
MANY people, desiring to save money, try to handle their immigration matters on their own, rather than hiring an attorney. They may have a relative in the Philippines being processed…
The English language exception in US citizenship applications
A LEGAL permanent resident is eligible to apply for citizenship if he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five (5) years and meets all the eligibility…
With Aquino gov’t the most inept, Marcos regime looks like the ‘golden age’
Yes, “golden age” was the phrase used by a New York Times article on the EDSA I celebration, with the second paragraph reading, in the man-on-the street-quote style of American…
LASA, Fil-Am chefs experiment with Filipino flavors at Unit 120 in Chinatown
Driving through Los Angeles’ Chinatown, Far East Plaza on Broadway is one of those complexes that is easy to gloss over. But with curiosity awakened and judgments of its outdated…
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) #1 – FBAR filing requirements
NEW Foreign bank account rules were aimed to fight terrorism financing, tax evasion, fraud, and money laundering. Sorry to say, but folks like me and you get snared in the…
The nomination race to the White House must go beyond Super Tuesday
WHO won on “Super Tuesday”? As I write this on March 1, primaries and caucuses were held in a dozen states (and one US territory) to select a presidential candidate…
Pessimistic
FOR a country infamous for its “dirty politics,” conducting a peaceful and clean conduct of elections will be a challenge for the Philippine government. While the country’s polls have been…
Oscar winner wears piña by Oliver Tolentino
Fil-Am Oscar winner Ronnie del Carmen, who co-directed and co-wrote “Inside Out,” wore a piña tuxedo by Hollywood Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb….
Oscar Night: Asian American onstage presence, reactions to racist joke
‘Inside Out’ Filipino director takes home prize Amid the glitz and glamor of the much-awaited Academy Awards, the 88th annual awards show was criticized after the show’s host, comedian Chris…
The thrill of crime reporting
“No one is spared from crime, however, at the center of the hurricane of crime, is a brotherhood of hard men, who fight for whatever justice is possible in this…
Apple, FBI testify at congressional hearing about hacking iPhone of San Bernardino shooter
TECH giant Apple and the FBI faced off Tuesday, March 1, in front of the House Judiciary Committee, arguing whether the agency should have the right to compel technology companies…
Missing German found off PH coast
THE body of a missing German adventurer was found inside an abandoned yacht off the coast of Barobo in Suigao del Sur. Two Filipino fishermen over the weekend discovered the…
More rain for California expected in March
HEAVY showers were expected in drought-stricken California this past February, but it ended up being the second hottest with an average low temperature of 65.9 degrees. “Everyone’s been asking, ‘Where’s…
New poll: Clinton and Sanders both top Trump
ACCORDING to a new CNN/ORC International poll, Donald Trump is not leading among US voters after all. The poll, which sampled at least 1,000 telephone interviews with American adults between…
Why is Aquino so afraid of Marcos?
Aquino’s afflictions Undying hatred of the “Marcos past,” unreasoning fear of a “Marcos-friendly future,” and total rejection of any suggestion from any source that Filipinos had begun to rethink the…
Family Businesses In The Year Of The Fire Red Monkey
I have decided to prioritize this timely article related to the Year of the Fire Red Monkey hoping our dear readers can use the information as a good reference point…
Business owner files chapter 7 as losses mount
Young client seeks chapter 7 relief for $$70K credit card debt Business owner files chapter 7 as losses mount CLIENTS are spouses who own and run a business together….
Can a lay-off be used as excuse to fire a ‘complaining’ employee?
(Nurse fired for reporting safety issues awarded $1 million verdict) Q: I WORK in a company where a supervisor bullies employees into working long hours without extra pay, threatening to fire…
12 ways to avoid an IRS audit
1. DO not boast about how you got away with undeclared income or manufactured deductions. Ever heard of whistleblowers? They earn rewards of 15% to 30% of your assessments. If…
Why bankruptcy may not be as bad as you think
SLEEPLESS nights. Stressed out. Worried about the future. Always broke. This is what most people are going through when they are considering bankruptcy in order to get out of debt. …
Post-script to the first Philippine presidential debate
WHAT was billed as a debate among the candidates in the May presidential elections turned out to be a race against the clock for each speaker and an occasional exchange…