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…
Rising number of deaths, over 100,000 families affected Typhoon Koppu is sweeping slowly across the northern part of the Philippines, destroying provinces and forcing thousands to flee from their homes. At least 100,000 families have been affected. The tropical cyclone, known as typhoon Lando in the Philippines, is over 500-kilometers in diameter. As of Wednesday evening, Oct….
ON October 2, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally announced the upcoming implementation of a parole program that will help reunite certain family members of Filipino WWII Veterans. Given the great sacrifices that Filipino WWII Veterans have endured, the program is significant in assisting them and their families deal with the hardships that…
Abandoned wife files chapter 7 to discharge collection lawsuits for $20K Client no. 1 IS it even legally possible that your social security benefits can be garnished? If creditors can get your social security income when you retire, how can you have peace of mind when you retire? To be sure, not every kind of creditor…
DIVORCES do not have to get costly and lengthy. Divorce can carry its own set of stresses that couples do not need. An alternative to a costly and lengthy divorce is mediation. Mediation provides an option to divorcing families or families embroiled in a custody dispute to have these issues mediated and resolved as quickly…
IT is illegal to harass a worker because of that person’s race or sex. Racial harassment may be verbal or physical conduct targeting the worker’s race, skin color, or national origin. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or offensive remarks about a person’s sex. Both types of harassment are illegal, particularly…
IF you fail to file on time or pay on time, penalties kick in. Here are 10 reasonable causes to abate (forgive) penalties for late filing or late paying: 1. Tax returns were mailed on time. A return used to be considered filed on time if it is postmarked on or before the due date. …
ARE you being harassed by your creditors day and night due to unpaid bills? If you are, you know that this is a pretty unpleasant experience. You may feel scared, angry or embarrassed about your situation. The prospect of debt relief through bankruptcy may sound appealing to you but you are not quite sure if…
SORRY, supporters of Rodrigo Duterte, but the man you think would be the best president the Philippines could ever have at this time will perhaps just be the best President the Philippines would never have. The tough Davao City Mayor did not file his certificate of candidacy (COC), and has reportedly decided to seek re-election…
Think of a spa and the immediate perception is an air of pretense and privilege that only a select few can indulge in, given the exorbitant prices. However, if you live in Los Angeles, Korean spas have sprouted up, contributing to the idea that pampering oneself and affordability are not mutually exclusive. Though the options…
A new AMC martial arts drama series starring Asian American actors Daniel Wu (“Tai Chi Zero,” 2012) and Aramis Knight (“The Dark Knight Rises,” 2012) is set to hit screens this November. “Into the Badlands” is a six-part series set centuries into the future in a feudal society called the Badlands. Seven rival Barons have…
Emerging from their ink-stained asylum, LA-based media trooped to the Philippine Consulate General on Thursday, Oct. 8 for a briefing with Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia Jr. regarding the 2016 national elections and the overseas absentee voting, (OAV), the ongoing developments in the West Philippine Sea and his visions for the community….
ONE day I asked a friend, “Can you live an anonymous life?” He said, “Yes, I can.” A part of me did not believe him because I know that everyone is tainted with pride and self-glory. Most people want to be on the top, to be popular, and to be recognized. We live in a…
California faces storms, drenching rain EL NIÑO is coming. The tropical storm phenomenon–caused by warming ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific–has been expected for a while, but now climate scientists are saying El Niño is on track to become “one of the most powerful [storms] on record.” The National Weather Service predicts stronger, wetter rains…
A RECENTLY posted video purportedly showing four hostages who were kidnapped in September by armed militants in the southern Philippines is still being verified but appears to be authentic, a Philippine military spokesman said Wednesday, Oct. 14. “A technical team is validating it,” Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. said of the clip that was posted Twitter,…
What’s new and what’s next ON October 7, 2015 USCIS released draft policy guidance regarding the “extreme hardship” threshold that Waiver of Inadmissibility applicants must reach. The draft guidance is now in its comments period, which closes on November 23, after which time USCIS will formalize its new policy. The new policy will clarify and…
The clamor for a healthier lifestyle has transformed society into more conscious, more intelligent, and more discriminating consumers of food and food ingredients. Truth in food labeling is a law that is strictly implemented, especially in the United States. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on this subject. Why are some meats…
THERE is no doubt that being in the entertainment industry has its advantages. A star’s popularity makes him or her a household name, and name recall is one of the ways of winning an election. A lot of artists have successfully ventured into politics like former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Manila…
EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date…
THE spouse of a US citizen will be granted permanent resident status after the US citizen files a petition for the spouse. If the spouses have not yet been married for at least two years at the time the petition was filed, the spouse shall be only granted conditional resident status by the USCIS. The…
Presidential candidate Manuel A. Roxas II spent P257 million on television ads from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 to push up his ratings in the presidential preference polls undertaken by PulseAsia from Sept. 8 to 14, and by the Social Weather Stations from Sept. 2 to 5 as well. Given the basic flaw of such…
A Las Vegas-based non-profit organization that partnered with Manny Pacquiao’s foundation sent eight tons of humanitarian aid to the Philippines in late September for children in need. Another Joy Foundation, which partnered with Emmanuel and Jinkee’s Heart Foundation in February, delivered 10,000 toys, one million vitamin pills, 10,000 books, 2,000 slippers and a number of…
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…
