IN April 2010, towards the end of the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, I wrote a biting piece entitled, “May Angal???” I wrote it out of sheer frustration over the abuses of the Arroyo administration that we, as citizens, could only helplessly protest. Here’s how that piece read: “If you grew up in the streets…
Donald Trump once again shook the nation with yet another plan to purportedly keep America safe following the San Bernardino massacre that killed 14 people and injured 21 others. The Republican presidential frontrunner wants a total shutdown of all Muslims entering America — whether they are immigrants or tourists. While Trump’s fans cheered when he…
RECENT climatic and environmental events warn that the world is doomed for disastrous consequences. The Philippines—who is among the countries that bear the brunt of this phenomenon—seeks adaptive measures that would strengthen livelihoods, food security and ecosystems. In his trip to Paris, France last week, Pres. Benigno Aquino III called for significant actions to address…
Some love or hate it, others write or repeat it. But the obsession with gossip seems here to stay. From what we read about the unholy and unchanging trinity of the subject, the reporter and reader have stoked the human appetite for gossip, dating back to the salad days of the silver screen magazines to…
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 marked the beginning of an important year in the Catholic Church–the beginning of the Year of Mercy, a special holy year for Catholics. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday morning, officially launching the yearlong celebration of mercy, compassion and forgiveness for Catholics around the world. Francis…
CALIFORNIA Governor Jerry Brown is calling for action on the part of the federal government, pushing for stronger gun laws and vigilance against potential terrorist threats. Speaking from the convention center in Paris on Monday, Dec. 7, where he is attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Brown told CNN, “People are concerned. And I…
Controversial remarks condemned Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday, Dec. 7, called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States, following a Dec. 2 mass shooting in San Bernardino committed by a radicalized Muslim couple. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country…
House passes bill to restrict visa-free travel PRESIDENT Barack Obama somberly addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday, Dec. 6, outlining his administration’s strategy for fighting the war on terror, namely, terrorist groups like the Islamic State. “Tonight, I want to talk with you about this tragedy, the broader threat of terrorism, and…
CLIENT is 53. She has two sons who are just entering college. She divorced ten years ago. Ex-husband does not pay spousal or child support but left her with the community property residence. The house has a small equity. Not much. In plain language, ex-husband, left her with two kids to raise all by herself,…
IN February 2011, Michael Rodman signed up on Safeway.com to buy his groceries online and have them delivered to his home for an additional delivery fee and fuel surcharge. After reading Safeway’s online FAQs and terms and conditions, Rodman believed that prices on items he selected online would be coming from a specific brick-and-mortar close…
AS you may be aware, an alien seeking permanent residency status in the US must be “admissible” to the US. Admissibility means the ability of an alien to receive a visa to enter the US or adjust status while in the US to obtain a permanent resident status under the US relevant laws and regulations….
• AMOUNT of exclusion. When you have gain from the sale of your home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income. The exclusion amount is $500,000 for taxpayers filing a joint return. • Ownership test. To claim the exclusion, you must have owned the home for at…
WHEN people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their debts and avoid contact with creditors. They think that by doing this, somehow the creditors will simply give up and go away. Then one day the problem blows up in their face. They…
FOURTEEN people were killed and 21 others wounded when a couple opened fire in San Bernardino, California last Wednesday, Dec. 2. FBI Director James Comey said they uncovered “indications of radicalization” and possible “inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.” Comey said the FBI does not have any clue that these killers are part of an organized…
IT is not just the celebrity allure. It’s the cut above all. It’s the public acclaim, the attention, the limelight. Every time you turn around, someone’s winning an award for something. There are many reasons why the nation seems caught in an obsessive pursuit of recognition. There seems to be no field of human endeavor…
WE don’t often think of Church as contemplative. We think of it more as an active and engaging Church that deals with setting goals and planning ways to transform the world with the spirit of the Gospel. Yet, being a contemplative Church is a vital element of a true Church. In fact, it is a…
I am glad I was in Century Plaza Hotel when Rody Duterte made the speech peppered with cursing and cusswords. To the audience, mostly the marginalized sectors of society he spoke their language – even the p.i. word that riled polite society the day after. (As writers in “polite” newspapers we are not allowed to…
After San Bernardino attacks, lack of action in Congress REPUBLICANS in Congress announced on Thursday, Dec. 3 that they would not take immediate action to bring up new gun control legislation, in the wake of the recent shooting attacks in San Bernardino, California. Newly-elected House Speaker Paul Ryan said that there are “still too many…
HERE 10 tips if you owe but cannot immediately pay the IRS: • Pay What You Can: Pay promptly to stop additional penalties and interest from accruing. If you are unable to pay, consider getting a loan to pay the bill in full rather than make installment payments to the IRS. • Additional Time to…
AS the Chair of the California State Assembly Health Committee, I believe that affordable, accessible, and high quality health care coverage is a right, not a privilege. Having true access to a doctor when you need one can improve, extend, and even save one’s life. California’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act brought us closer than ever to…
Toxic chemicals commonly used in almost all homes could cause various diseases, including cancers. At least a dozen of chemical agents are found in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, and the garage of practically every household today. Sixteen studies done since the 1990s published recently in the journal Pediatrics state that “pesticides use in homes…
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted five years ago, thousands of Nevadans have gained access to the affordable health care they need and deserve. The health and wellbeing of Nevadans has always been one of my top priorities, which is why I proudly championed the passage of this landmark legislation. I am so…
FOR both children and adults with special needs, dental care can be challenging. In some cases, limited coordination can make brushing and flossing tricky. In other cases there may be less access to professional care. Some patients may experience high anxiety levels too. Medications that lead to dry mouth can also contribute to dental care challenges. But…
ORDINARILY, when a person commits fraud or makes a misrepresentation in connection with applying for an immigration benefit, the person is required to file a fraud waiver (Form I – 601). However, in some cases, even when a person does make a misrepresentation, a fraud waiver may not necessarily be required. In one of our…
VICTIMS of domestic violence or certain crimes are granted immigration benefits so they can remain in the United States to reside and work here. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 was enacted by Congress to allow immigrant victims of domestic violence to file a self-petition to become lawful permanent residents (LPR) without having…
There is no question that one way to attract people to vote for a particular candidate, is to have a big star to endorse him. In next year’s Philippine election, candidates have started to bring in some star power to their campaign. Of course, there are those who are already in show business—like Batangas Gov….
Why aren’t enough movies like Heneral Luna being made? Because, as this book is titled, they’re “Stories Rarely Told.” Reader C. Soriano must have been so affected by Sat. late night TV to email: “I wonder if you also were watching ANC’s ‘Meet the ‘Presidentiables’.’ Grace Poe was asked if she thought Mar Roxas was…
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder and chief executive, announced Tuesday, Dec. 1, that he and his wife will give away 99 percent of their shares in the company—which are currently worth over $45 billion—during their lifetimes to charitable causes. In an open letter to his new daughter, Max, whose birth last week was only made public…
THERE are situations in both Divorce and Child Support cases where the Summons and Petition resulted to a default against one party for failing to respond on time. In certain situations, the defaulted party failed to respond on time because he or she did not even know that he or she was served with a…
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has been excoriated for his handling of the festering conflict with China over the Spratlys. From losing trading revenues to being pulverized in a shooting war, Aquino’s “belligerence” has been severely criticized, but the pundits have not offered any constructive and realistic suggestions on how we should handle the situation,…
