The ‘Pope Francis Effect’ hits Kababayans in America
POPE Francis arrived in the United States on Tuesday, Sept. 22 for a six-day visit, exciting kababayans who wished they were in Manila when the Pontiff visited the Philippines last…
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Maestro Dexter Grey’s dexterity upon the magnificent sounding pianoforte
IT seems only last night when the Maestro gave an exhibition. Inside the Griffith Hall at the Beverly Hills Country Club, there was compelled admiration and awe from the elite…
California GOP loosens immigration stance
THE California Republican Party voted on Sunday, Sept. 20 to soften its stance on immigration, responding to harsh rhetoric from current GOP presidential candidates. Republicans have been struggling to find…
Fil-Am teen pleads not guilty in killing of 8-year-old girl
A FILIPINO-American teenager who was charged as an adult in the murder of an 8-year-old girl earlier this year in Santa Cruz, California, pleaded not guilty on Monday, Sept. 21….
Coloma denies NY Times report stating PH requested $300 million in military aid
AMID ongoing territorial quarrels about the South China Sea, the Aquino administration requested $300 million in military aid from the United States, according to a report by the New York…
Shouting match at the Palace, a warning from the generals
Malacañang sources have revealed that a nasty shouting match transpired between President B.S. Aquino 3rd and Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad after the Supreme Court ordered the Ombudsman to have…
Chapter 11 business re-organization
Signs of a company headed toward failure and important ways to fix the problems SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they…
Nullity of marriage
A JUDGMENT of nullity is when the Court deems a voidable marriage or a void marriage as never having taken place for reasons such as a defect in age, unsound…
File your green card application now!
EDWARD, a 45 year-old married man from Manila came to the United States in 1999. His mom and dad are U.S. citizens and filed a petition for him in December…
Policy on ‘Sanctuary Cities’
LAST September 11, 2015, the incumbent mayors of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Long Beach, and Oakland issued a joint letter addressed to California Senators and Representatives entitled “Opposition…
Are you correctly reimbursed by your employer for business expenses?
Q: I TRAVEL several times a month as part of my job duties using my own car. I also make several business-related calls on my personal cell phone. My work…
IRS announces ‘fresh start’ initiative for payment plans
(Part 2 of 2) THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Offer in Compromise (OIC) –…
The ‘secret’ fear that comes with being in debt
I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common fear everyone shares when they’re in drowning in debt. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult…
Rosemarie Bell Mejia on what success means
THE alpha lunch, the stage setting for our first gathering at the Kapistahan, which lasted two hours, was no big deal. “This is good,” she said. I felt an instant…
Where GOP candidates stand on foreign policy, Planned Parenthood & the economy
IMMIGRATION was a hot topic during the Republican debate on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, but the top 11 contenders for the GOP…
Study: Air pollution kills 3.3 million worldwide
AIR pollution is killing 3.3 million people a year worldwide, according to a new study. Scientists in Germany, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Harvard University calculated the most detailed estimates yet…
Lawmakers push initiative to end California death penalty
A BALLOT proposal that could completely abolish California’s death penalty is already on life support. The initiative would strike death as a possible punishment from the state’s Penal Code, substituting…
Fil-Am nominated to head Defense Health Agency
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has nominated a Filipina for a high-ranking promotion in the United States Navy. Rear Admiral Raquel C. Bono, who was promoted in September 2014, was nominated by…
Filipino youth sworn in as US citizens on Citizenship Day
Garcetti joins in celebrating the US Constitution and young new citizens SEPTEMBER 17 marks an important day in American history–the Constitution of the United States was officially signed by delegates…
Pope Francis: A courageous ambassador of faith and advocate for the poor and the weak
THIS coming Tuesday, Sept. 22, Pope Francis will start his journey to the United States of America. He will be arriving in Washington DC from Cuba at 4pm and will…
Grandparents…the (almost) forgotten linkage to the past
A secular holiday specially dedicated to grandparents is celebrated in the United States and being adapted by all countries worldwide. Grandparents, too, like mothers and fathers, were legitimately given their…
Again, the making of a myth: Erap’s last hurrah
Senator Grace P. Llamanzares’ speech the other day “offering” herself as our next President was unexpectedly quite impressive. Her oratory would be the final nail on Manuel Roxas II political…
Who will you now vote for: Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, or Jejomar Binay?
After all the anticipation, suspense, and cliffhangers of teleseryes that mirror her personal narrative, Senator Grace Poe has finally made it official: She is running for President. This makes the…
A LAW EACH DAY(Keeps Trouble Away)
There is no more doubt that the present administration under Aquino III is the No. 1 enemy of the masses. It is a government against the Filipino people instead of…
Discover the wonders of the Philippines through Street View
360˚ street-level panoramic views of Greater Manila, major cities and popular heritage sites, now available on Google Maps Manila, Wednesday, 16 September 2015: Today, with the support of the Department of…
Vina Morales finds love anew with French boyfriend
Sultry singer/actress Vina Morales’ heart is a-flutter these days because after seven years, she finally has found a new love. The Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita star share a photo…
October 2015 visa bulletin allows early filing of adjustment applications and work authorizations
STARTING in October 2015, the Department of State (DOS) and the USCIS will utilize a new format for priority dates. (I posted those priority dates already on my website).There will…
USCIS now allows early filing of green card applications
ON September 9, 2015, the government announced that it will now allow individuals who have been waiting for their priority dates to be current both in the family based and…
Mayweather concludes boxing career with 49-0 unbeaten record
After 19 illustrious years in the ring, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. has ended his boxing career. His win on Saturday, Sept. 12 over former two-time champion Andre Berto–with a 12-round…
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…