• 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,…
Will this change with the new Duterte controversies? AFTER previous denials of his intent to join the race to Malacañang, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has finally declared his candidacy for the presidency His supporters who’ve been waiting for this moment rejoiced, saying “the eagle has landed” and pinning hopes that Duterte is the leader…
“THE people of the Philippines are not ready for my kind of style,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned in September when he turned down ardent calls by his supporters for him to run for the presidency. In a sudden twist of fate, Duterte made his presidential bid official on Friday, Nov. 27, as he…
Yards and yards of written papers spilled into violent paragraphs. There were pitiless accusations and vehement invectives that tried to open the eyes of those who do not want to see, unplug the ears of those who do not want to listen and ignite the thoughts of those who do not want to think. It…
THE White House announced changes to a visa waiver program aimed at securely screening migrants from 38 nations not required to get visas before traveling to the US. In light of the deadly Paris terror attacks in November that left 130 dead, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now gather more information from travelers…
Faces up to 12 years in prison JOSEPH Scott Pemberton, the US Marine Private First Class charged with murder for the death of Filipina transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in October 2014, was found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in the Philippines, where he will remain in prison. Pfc. Pemberton, who was on a break after…
“ Chapter 13 does not exclude or kill the loan modification process. In fact, Chapter 13 enhances debtor’s chances of successfully resolving her claim of fraud with the bank. Under the worst situation, client can file an adversary proceeding in Chapter 13 to ask the bankruptcy court to rule on her claim of fraud against…
RAYMOND Adame was a machine mechanic for Alcoa Fastening Systems and has worked there for more than 30 years. He was seriously injured at work and had to take a medical leave of absence for about 2.5 years. When he was cleared to go back to work, he had lifting restrictions due to the injury…
A LOT of people who consult with me about their debt problems are going through the worst time of their lives. Unlike other problems in life that sometimes just go away on their own, debt problems will only get worse unless you do something about them. While dealing with debt and coming up with a…
CONSIDER the common divorce scenario where the divorce judgment provides primary custody of the children to one spouse while the other spouse only gets visitation. The parties begin to file separate tax returns. What are the tax consequences of the non custodial parents with regards to claiming the children in his or her return? A…
BY Approval Notice dated October 30, 2015, the USCIS granted Form I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver to a Filipino crewman, who is married to a US citizen spouse. Roman P. Mosqueda, a Super Lawyer in Southern California for 2014, 2015, and 2016 in business immigration, filed Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, of the US…
More than Christmas, Thanksgiving Day is perhaps the holiday that compels many families to come home and spend time with their folks. There is no pressure about giving gifts — just a pure bonding moment over food and family memories. During this special Thanksgiving weekend, let me share with you some of my favorite quotes…
