It is called the pompous sickness — the spell which hushes the household, with its desert-like stillness felt through its innermost chambers. One in a world unto herself, her own theater. A severe fit of indisposition, under the name of a fall from dignity, amounting to a deposition that made me a prisoner of myself…
Nearly 120 youth on Saturday, Aug. 15, showcased their knowledge of Filipino dance, music, language, history and lifestyle during Filipino Cultural School’s (FCS) summer school graduation ceremony. At St. Bernard Parish Hall in Bellflower, California, youth from ages 5 through 18 took the stage and sung Filipino songs “Tanging Yaman,” “Ako Ay May Lobo,” “Kay…
Over the weekend, firefighter crews continued battling against wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes in the West and forced hundreds to evacuate. Calmer weather on Sunday, August 16 helped firefighters tighten their grip on the blazes, but dry, hot temperatures and low humidity is expected in the days ahead. Temperatures will be five to…
THE worsening drought in California will cause the state’s economy to lose as much as $2.74 billion and nearly 21,000 total jobs this year–and ripple effects of the 4-year-old drought will likely continue through at least 2017, according to a study released August 18. The report, authored by the University of California, Davis Center for…
Plaintiffs who argue the May 2nd boxing match between Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a fraud will get a chance to settle their cases before a federal judge in California. The long-awaited match, dubbed the “Fight of the Century” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, received 4.4 million viewers…
For the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, 18 Million Rising, an Asian American digital activist group, launched a new Indiegogo campaign to create a translation matching app designed to increase voter participation in next year’s presidential elections. The mobile app, called VoterVOX, is described as “one part civic tech, one part grassroots organizing,…
It’s busy in the seminary these days as we, faculty and staff, prepare for the new academic year. It’s also an intense and exciting time because we have 30 new seminarians. This means that the seminary priests will take in more students for spiritual direction and formation advice besides teaching classes. Indeed, seminary formation is…
Get rid of your debts now and get a head start to live up to 120! CLIENT no. 1 Client is 65. She presents her financial problem thus. Both she and her husband were gainfully employed for the last 20 years. They are both professionals. Husband was making $100K a year with a cushy job…
Mayra Casas worked as a sales clerk for Victoria’s Secret in one of the company’s California stores. Casas claimed that she, and other employees, were required by the company to “call-in” two hours before their scheduled shift to see if work was available. If there was no work for them, they should not show up….
New Foreign bank account rules were designed to combat money laundering, terrorism, and tax evasion. Unfortunately, folks like you and me get snared in the process. We get penalized if we don’t follow the new rules. I have written a series of simplified articles on this subject to help you understand the new rules and…
So often, we meet with clients who come to our law firm just before a scheduled consulate interview abroad. The clients have either done their application on their own, or maybe a friend or “document preparer” has helped them, and they believe their case is straightforward and simple. They are all set to go, their…
The last few years have been financially difficult for a lot of people. When the real estate marked crashed a few years ago, millions of people found themselves with a mortgage they could not afford. A lot of people simply walked away from their homes out of desperation in some cases, they were forced out…
After two candidates have publicly signified their presidential bids for 2016, the next question people are so curious to know is who UNA’s Jejomar Binay and LP’s Mar Roxas will pick for Vice President. In the past week, talks about Binay running with Bongbong Marcos energized both the Marcos loyalists and the Binay supporters. After…
Temple and Beverly Blvd. is a cross street that fully represents of Historic Filipinotown’s ambiance: traffic that congeals into puddings of irritability, food aroma that alone can elevate your cholesterol level and people filling streets and sidewalks, as they set out each day to their daily grind — they are simple and happy with a…
First-time high in consumer auto debt, little change in mortgage debt A surge in Sweden in new loans for cars and trucks hit a 10-year high in the second quarter of the year, pushing total auto debt above $1 trillion for the first time, according to new government data released on Thursday, August 13. Americans…
THE number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the overall trend continued to point to a strengthening labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 274,000 claims for the week ending August 8, the Labor Department said on Thursday, August 13. Claims…
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to divert at least 1,000 low-level, mentally-ill inmates out of jails and into a new facility focused on mental health treatment. Supervisors also voted on Tuesday, Aug 11, to move forward with construction of the Consolidated Correctional Treatment Facility a new jail downtown that…
For the first time in more than 54 years, the American flag on Friday, Aug. 14, was raised over the restored US Embassy in Havana, Cuba, marking the end of cold diplomatic relations between the two countries. “We are gathered here because our leaders made a courageous decision to stop being prisoners of history,” said…
Families express frustration, disbelief after plane part found on island Air, land and sea searches were launched around an island in the Indian Ocean last week following the discovery of an airplane fragment on the shore, which officials deemed to be a “major lead” in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. The plane…
The saying that “an apple won’t fall far from its tree” holds true in Maxene Magalona’s case. Born Maxene Sofia Maria Arroyo Magalona on November 23, 1986 in Manila to Pia Arroyo and Francis Durango Magalona, Maxx (as friends address her), has an impressive lineage of distinctly recognized and creative assemblage of personalities in her…
Certain aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1 visa/ jumpship) Accepting unauthorized employment Entering the US without inspection (No I-94 or crossing the border without a visa) Remaining in the US past the…
Nobody saw it coming, as many would think a short skit on an afternoon show is passé, something that has been done many times before. But even GMA 7 actor Alden Richards was taken aback by the popularity of the AlDub love team. Now trending on social media sites and one of the reasons why…
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…
Five in 10,000 people around the world develop unexplained cardiac arrest and rarely does any of them survive. This condition is hereditary, happens to any race, but is more common among those with Asian ancestry, particularly among Japanese and Southeast Asians. Ten times more common among men, this mysterious killer is called Brugada Syndrome. Not…
“The greatest wealth is health,” wrote ancient Roman poet Virgil. The formula of a well-balanced diet, managing stress levels, getting more than eight hours of sleep and exercising at least 30 minutes a day has long been thought of as the key of health. Additionally, “wellness” has been a buzzword to encompass a more holistic…
ON July 22, 2015 the largest Zumba class was assembled in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 12,975 participants all dressed in yellow came together to dance and set the Guinness World Record, breaking the previous record set in 2014 with 8,232 attendees in the same city. You can read more about this on the Guinness…
In the United States, kale, avocados, spinach and flaxseeds have all been hailed “superfoods” for their nutritional density and benefits: they contain generous doses of Vitamin A, healthy fat, Vitamin K and omega-3s, respectively. Although many superfoods typically come at a slightly steeper price tag, the Philippines is home to a number of these vitamin-…
In the wake of super typhoon Yolanda, President Benigno S. Aquino III could have been talking to the Otic family of Tacloban when he bluntly told a local businessman, “Buhay ka pa naman, hindi ba?” (You’re still alive, aren’t you?”) when the latter complained about fearing for his life because of looters. DILG Secretary Mar…
It is GAME ON! Following the first Republican Party debate last Thursday, August 6, many kababayans who lean Republican have been energized to see the crowded slate of candidates they can choose from to be the next President of the United States. As the polls show as of press time, real estate mogul and reality…
The vulgarity in entertainment THOUGH the few good TV shows back home in the Philippines are applauded, it is dismaying that these small islands of quality are almost lost in the sea of mediocrity and outright vulgarity, which characterize some current television fare. The best humor, when it is not simply playful, says something witty…
