IN many professions, bonus is a material part of a professional’s compensation. It is often a challenge characterizing bonuses in the context of a divorce case especially if the bonus has not yet been received by the employee spouse as of the date of separation. Marriage of Finby involved a wife who worked as a…
AN offer in compromise (OIC) allows you to settle assessments for tax, penalties, and interests at less than the assessed amounts. You can apply for an OIC if there is doubt as to liability or as to collectibility. The bases of an OIC are discussed in our other newsletters. Let me give you 12 tips…
CREDIT cards can be convenient and handy especially in times of financial emergencies but when the accumulated debt gets out of control, it can lead to long-term financial stress. Some people seem to be OK just making minimum payments for a while but unless they stop borrowing, they get to a point where the payments…
SOLID fans who adore not only the Pambansang Kamao in Manny Pacquiao but everything else about him will surely not like this question. But this is exactly what the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have to determine and rule on after a certain Ferdinand Sevilla of Makati City, filed a petition case against Pacquiao, arguing…
CARSON, California—Every fight promotion takes on its character and you discover that there is more to the “who did what to whom.” What makes the fight world so intriguing is that lives involved are not usually as brimming with possibilities. From the few routine contenders that attain their moments, most fall short, in time becomes…
“DO I want to be fully seen by Jesus? Do I want to be known by him?” Henry Nouwen asks in his book, Discernment. These questions are intriguing because they imply a great amount of vulnerability, nakedness, and humility on our part as human beings. Indeed, if we honestly look at ourselves, do we really…
It appears that the eldest children tend to be the smartest among their siblings. A new study from the University of Leipzig in Germany found that each successive child after first-borns possessed a lower IQ. Researchers aren’t certain why eldest brothers and sisters seem to be brighter, but they say it may be because they…
EARLIER this year, Fil-Am Assemblyman Rob Bonta introduced a bill that would roll out new guidelines to collect disaggregated demographic data about California’s diverse Asian Pacific Islander (API) population. The measure, AB176, aimed to address disparities in health and education. “The API community is not a monolith. We are not the same in every single…
GOP leaders in the House of Representatives backed away from a tentative plan to vote on raising the debt limit with a package of conservative reforms, leaving them without a clear path forward before the Nov. 3 deadline, when the limit must be lifted. The conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) had authored a proposal that…
OCTOBER marks Filipino American History Month, celebrating and recognizing Filipino-American heritage and the growing culture in the United States. Starting in 1991, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) has observed Filipino American History Month. A resolution to formally recognize the month was passed in Congress in 2009, 2010, and 2011, but was never made…
VICE President Joe Biden has announced that he will not run for president in the 2016 election. “Unfortunately, I believe we’re out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination,” he said on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Biden made the announcement at the White House Rose Garden, putting to rest months…
REMITTANCE FIRM SURVEY REVEALS MOST Filipino workers living in the United States are overqualified for the jobs they do, according to respondents of a survey conducted by international money transfer firm Transfast. In a survey of 400 Philippine natives who live in the United States and remit money back home, more than 80 percent said…
COINCIDING with the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott, a celebration of Filipino American History Month at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, Oct. 23, included the honoring of Johnny Itliong, the son of Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong. In an emotional address inside the City Hall Council Chamber, Itliong, who is…
(Part 1 of 2) In the company of an all-nurse practitioner, I was persuaded to break out of my shell to embrace new culture, enjoy life like never before, and acquire an invaluable experience in a well-planned European tour. So together with my wife, Venny, her college friend from PWU Jessette Loredo and her colleague…
COINCIDING with the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott, a celebration of Filipino American History Month at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, Oct. 23, included the honoring of Johnny Itliong, the son of Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong. In an emotional address inside the City Hall Council Chamber, Itliong, who is…
LAST week yours truly wrote about some of the showbiz personalities running in next year’s Philippine elections. Since the deadline to submit Certificates of Candidacies (COC) was last Friday, October 16; there were other stars who showed up at the Commission of Election (COMELEC) to file for their candidacies since my last column came out….
INJURIES always seem to happen when we least expect them. Picture yourself at an outdoor gathering, having fun, when suddenly a crying child runs up to you, knocked-out tooth in hand. Would you know what to do? Dental first aid saves teeth Knocking out or fracturing a tooth is especially distressing—just thinking about it can…
IF a person commits certain immigration violations (such as fraud, or overstaying in the US for over six months and then departing, etc.), the person may not be eligible to receive a green card, unless the person applies for, and is granted, a “waiver of inadmissibility” on a Form I – 601. To be eligible…
UNDER current immigration laws, there is a bar to admissibility to the United States for foreign nationals who are “unlawfully present” in the United States. An unlawfully present foreign national is a person who was inspected at the border and admitted into the United States but who remained in the United States beyond the date…
Is water from refilling stations safe? It all depends on the station that you choose. A recent report shows that seven out of ten (441 out of 630) refilling stations in two key cities in Metro Manila are in violation of the guidelines of the Department of Health for safety and water quality. Majority of…
Dr. Jose Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, placed a high value on civic involvement wherever he was, whether it be the Philippines or travelling around the world. He wanted the Philippines to be more involved in shaping its destiny and wanted the people to have more control of their government – ideals similar…
The American Cancer Society on Tuesday, Oct. 20, announced new guidelines for mammograms, recommending that women with an average risk of breast cancer begin getting mammograms annually at age 45. The organization, which has long taken an aggressive approach to screening for the condition, also recommended that once women reach the age of 55, mammograms…
A Filipino-Chinese model and children’s health advocate from Nueva Vizcaya was crowned Miss World Philippines 2015 during a pageant held at the Solaire Resort Casino in Paranaque City on Sunday, Oct. 18. Hillarie Danielle Ang Parungao, 24, beat 25 other candidates to represent the Philippines in the Miss World 2015 competition to be held on…
ON my recent visit to the Philippines, I found myself sharing a case of beer with the vice-mayor of a small provincial town, along with some of his ward leaders. The insights that they provided on grassroots politics could be of interest to social media pundits who may be of the impression that their postings…
IT is very heartwarming to see and hear how very engaged kababayans in America have increasingly been when it comes to what is going on in the Philippines. Despite the distance away from the Motherland, most of us — especially those who still have family living there — still care about what is going on…
AFTER the five-day filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), from October 12-16, the Commission on Election (Comelec) reportedly received 130 applications from Filipino presidential aspirants. As granted by the law, these applications were accepted. However, not all these aspirants will make it to the ballot as the Comelec winnow the grain from the chaff. When…
AMAZON has filed a lawsuit against more than 1,000 individuals who have allegedly posted bogus reviews of products online. The online retail giant is targeting account holders on Fiverr.com, which offers false review services starting at $5, most of which are five-star reviews. It is demanding that the defendants cease selling Amazon reviews, reveal who…
THE Philippines is not the easiest country to pay taxes in, according to a study conducted by international audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Out of 189 economies reviewed in the report called “Paying Taxes 2015” for ease of paying business taxes, the Philippines ranked 127. In the country, it takes 193 hours for a business to…
DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Hillary Clinton urged US regulators from the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to examine the high costs of certain generic drugs, combating anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry. Clinton’s requests to the FDA and the FTC on Monday, Oct. 19, were prompted by what she called the “egregious…
Abandoning promise to end Middle East wars he inherited FACING increasing pressure both at home and abroad, President Barack Obama has made his decision regarding the state of American troops in Afghanistan. Obama on Thursday, Oct. 15, pledged to keep US troops in the region throughout the end of his presidential term, halting initial plans…
