Wi Spa: an urban sanctuary in the heart of LA
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…
Read More
New martial arts drama series starring Asian Americans to premiere in November
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…
The consummate art of diplomacy at the Philippine Consulate
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….
On self-absorption
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…
Stronger El Niño coming to the West
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…
PH militants post video of four hostages kidnapped in September
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…
Extreme hardship waiver guidance to be revised by USCIS
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 The draft guidance is…
All about foods
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…
Showbiz personalities running in the 2016 Philippine elections
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…
The November 2015 priority dates
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…
Separated before conditional resident status expires
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…
Roxas II spends P257 million on TV ads to boost ratings
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…
Las Vegas non-profit donates aid to PH through partnership with Pacquiao foundation
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,…
Do you need to be living in separate residences to be considered ‘Separated’ from your spouse under the California family law?
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…
Philippine politics, the movie
WE probably won’t live long enough to see it, but there could yet be a feature film on Philippine politics, in the tradition that has apparently been established by the…
Kababayans react to law allowing physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients
CALIFORNIA has joined Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that legalizes assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Beginning January 1, doctors can…
An old love story
Once upon a time, when life has been short on happily ever afters, they counted on love. But it is said that love is a spell so exquisite that everything…
Australia looking to send refugees to PH
WITH asylum seekers from remote Pacific islands attempting to reach Australia illegally by boat, the country has engaged in talks with the Philippines for their possible relocation, Australia’s immigration minister…
Automatic voter registration in California approved
Set of bills to change voting processes, improve turnout WITH record-low turnouts in one of the most populous states in the nation, California is making it even easier for people…
Asian Business Association honors leaders in business community
Hundreds of professionals, business owners and community leaders gathered on Tuesday, Oct. 6 for the Asian Business Association’s (ABA) 39th Annual Awards Banquet. Held at the Globe Theater at Universal…
Business owners seek bankruptcy relief
“ You owe it to yourself and your family to put yourself in firm financial footing now for future prosperity by getting rid of accumulated debt now.” Client 1: Garment…
Are you paid lower wages because of your gender?
Q: I AM a single mom and I have worked for this company for several years. Recently, while talking with another newly hired male co-worker whose responsibilities are similar to…
10 tips for tax deadline jitters
IF you have not filed your income tax returns by the end of March, chances are you do not expect a refund, your tax records are a mess, or you…
President Obama’s ‘modernizing and streamlining our legal immigration system for the 21st century’
AS part of President Obama’s continuing executive actions on immigration, the White House issued last July 2015 a report called “Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st…
Don’t let your debt problems drain your family’s savings
I HEAR this all the time. People who are in debt are barely making it by living paycheck to paycheck so how can they even think about saving for the…
Do you support the law that allows a terminally ill patient to have the option of physician-assisted suicide?
WHAT would you do if you are very sick, suffering from excruciating pain because of an illness that has no cure? What would you do if your days are numbered…
Hollymont Castle’s celestial welcome for UST Medicine Class of ‘67
HOLLYWOOD – The human splendor of medicine and its myriad of varied arenas call for a clear mind, a kind heart and a dedication not only to science but also…
On bearing fruits
(For my article this week, I’m presenting a weekday homily I gave to our seminarians at St. John’s which can give you some insight on how we prepare seminarians to…
Brown signs into law bill aimed at eliminating racial profiling
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday, Oct. 3, signed into law a measure aimed at eliminating racial and identity profiling in law enforcement. AB953 enacts the Racial and Identity Profiling…