As an overseas Filipino who loves his homeland, I am puzzled, sad, and disenchanted to see our beloved Philippines hopelessly entrenched in a quagmire and culture of graft and corruption involving government officials, including top legislators who had plundered the nation’s meager coffers and practically go unpunished. Evidently, even the Supreme Court was not immune…
“But he himself is not corrupt, right?” That is a common refrain in conversations with Filipinos concerned about rising sleaze under President Benigno Aquino 3rd. Ironically, the same thing was once said about Ferdinand Marcos, a frugal Ilocano unlike his extravagant wife Imelda. After five years of Tuwid na Daan, many are disturbed, if not…
AN action under the DVPA (Domestic Violence Protection Act) seeking a restraining order often is necessary to protect parties from abuse or domestic violence perpetrated by the other spouse or significant other. At times, it is effective in preventing harm to one of the parties. At the same time, this process is sometimes…
THANKFULLY, the protest rallies of the Iglesia ni Cristo at EDSA have been called off. INC’s leaders have declared that they have reached an “agreement” with the government – without providing any details – while a Malaca ñang spokesman has insisted that “no special concessions” were given for the cessation of the rallies. That, of course,…
AFTER Pope Francis’s controversial statement allowing priests during the Year of Mercy to “absolve” sins committed by contrite women who have had abortions, the leader of the Catholic Church has now radically revised the process by which Catholics may annul their marriages to make it easier, faster and cheaper. This is especially significant for Filipinos…
I AM reluctant to write about fashion. It does not fascinate me; on the contrary, I find the subject repellent. But I did not choose the times I live in, nor do I choose what I am compelled to write. In reportage, I’m committed to speak about my own experience. I am not an authority…
ON Labor Day 2015, President Obama unveiled a new executive order that will require federal contractors to offer employees up to seven days of paid sick leave. Contrasting with Republican economic policies, Obama’s plan could benefit more than 300,000 federal US workers, who currently receive no paid leave, the White House said. “Right now, you…
Beauty from a Different Perspective “I see beauty in each culture. But it’s not just beauty on the outside that matters, you have to empower beauty from skin deep. It’s not just all about physical attributes, you have to be very discerning on the perspective of the functions as well.” This has become the primary…
Skeen Face and Body Centre came to life back in 2009 situated in a modest location of 20 square meters clinic in Las Piñas with only two-bed capacity and carrying three machines. It speaks of homey and intimate ambiance located in the heart of DBP Village. Perfectly suited for clients who want privacy with their…
THERE is a Catholic social service center in Pampanga, the province where I grew up in the Philippines, named Ephphatha, an Aramaic word that means “Be opened.” The word is found in this Sunday’s Gospel in the story of the deaf man that Jesus healed. I used to visit this center every time I would…
Have you ever received an email, a flier on your car, shopping catalogues in the mail, a promotional letter from your cable provider, or have seen television commercials, banner ads, or outdoor advertising? If you answered yes, then you have been a target of direct marketing. Direct marketing is a type of advertising campaign that…
SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they have cash flow problems. Companies have a lot of problems, often every day. Most of the time, companies get past their problems and move on, they continue to make money, pay their employees and the owners take home…
AS you may be aware, a foreign national who desires to enter the US must obtain either an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. An immigrant visa allows one to stay in the US on a permanent basis. On the other hand, a foreign national can stay in the US on a temporary basis (either for pleasure,…
DIVORCING couples may have established revocable living trust for estate planning pusposes during their marriage which was funded primarily with assets acquired by one spouse prior to the marriage. The issue is what is the characterization of those properties when the couple gets the divorce. Transmutation is the changing of the characterization of a property…
Q: I WORK at UX Corp, a big national processing plant. However, I am employed by ABC Agency, a subcontractor of UX Corp. ABC Agency pays my wages. We often work more than 8 hours per day at UX Corp but we are not paid overtime. When we complain to managers at UX Corp about…
MANY of my clients inquire about the differences between a dissolution of marriage and a judgment of nullity. A dissolution of marriage is when the Court grants a divorce—due to irreconcilable differences, the marriage broke down and the parties wish to end their marriage. On the other hand, a judgment of nullity is when the…
BEING in debt can be one of the most stressful situations you will ever face in life. It happens to everyone although you may feel like you’re the only person on the planet going through what you’re going through. But let me assure you that you are not alone in your struggle. The first step…
IRS audits have been dominated by examination of Schedule C for taxpayers who conduct their businesses as sole proprietors (instead of corporation or LLC). This includes professionals, technicians, and independent contractors who receive 1099s as subcontractors (instead of W2s as employees). Here are some issues that generate the most dollar assessments & therefore the most…
POPE Francis once again shook the Catholic community and the world, last Tuesday, Sept. 1 with his announcement that priests around the world will be authorized to forgive women who received an abortion but have already repented with a contrite heart. A CNN report, however, clarified that the Pope’s policy does not change church doctrine…
AT the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), work is love made visible as it charms, cajoles and caresses. There we find dreamers who do– those who don’t just entrust their hopes and wishes to the stars. Every day begins with learning more of the crafts that enables one to reach for those dreams; of…
A law firm filed a class-action lawsuit on Monday, Aug. 31, against restaurant chain Chipotle, claiming that its marketing is misleading because it continues to sell food made with GMOs despite announcing in April it would phase out such ingredients, FOX News reported. On Friday, Aug. 28, the plaintiff in the case, Colleen Gallagher from…
A NEW report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that three out of four Americans has a “heart age” that is older than their actual age. The findings, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Tuesday, Sept. 1, indicate that the average American man has a heart…
CALIFORNIA has agreed to reform its use of solitary confinement in prisons by ending unlimited isolation for certain inmates under conditions outlined in a landmark legal settlement. As part of the agreement, which was reached on Tuesday, Sept. 1, the practice of indefinite isolation to control violent prison gangs will come to an end and…
THE right to die in California on Tuesday, Sept. 1, moved one step forward when a state Assembly committee advanced a bill that would allow terminally-ill patients to take medication that would end their life. In a 10-3 vote, the Assembly Public Health and Developmental Services Committee propelled ABX2-15 to another committee, the Associated Press…
TWO Philippine nationals were among 244 foreign nationals arrested during a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) four-day sweep in Southern California. One of the men was 31 years old with convictions for battery and felony burglary, and was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 24. The other was a 39-year-old with convictions for…
TWO Philippine nationals were among 244 foreign nationals arrested during a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) four-day sweep in Southern California. One of the men was 31 years old with convictions for battery and felony burglary, and was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 24. The other was a 39-year-old with convictions for…
They proved that their age difference was not an issue, especially when people were saying that their relationship would not last. So just this week, Eat Bulaga! co-host and comedian Vic Sotto confirmed that he and girlfriend Pauleen Luna are now engaged. “Yes, we are,” he said during a press conference last September 2. “Hindi…
There have been many tragic situations where people were duped into applying for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled. Unscrupulous immigration consultants promise work permits, green cards, and other immigration benefits to people who are eager to work in the U.S. and send money back home. Only later do they find out they…
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican citizens (known as “Treaty Nationals” or “TNs”) can come to the United States temporarily, not to exceed one (1) year at a time, under a “TN Status” non-immigrant visa, to work/engage in activities at a professional level. TN Status can be extended for as…
Why does the National Visa Center (NVC) require you to submit an accurate Form I-864? We hear stories of the frustration experienced by those who have to re- submit the form many times thinking they are following instructions ‘to the letter” only to have it bounce back as ‘incorrect’. What is so difficult about filling…
