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…
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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…
Title II threatens minority populations, small businesses
Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines to reclassify Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as public utilities and to regulate the Internet under outdated Title II…
Where has Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares’ sense of honor and shame gone?
THIS question has to be asked in light of Mrs. Llamanzares’s completely crass effort to promote herself as a possible presidential candidate, despite the clear language of the Constitution that…
IRS won’t take checks over $100 million starting in 2016
RULES for taxpayers who owe more than $100 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have changed: in 2016, the agency will no longer accept checks with amounts greater than…
Abu Sayyaf abducts 7 construction workers
MUSLIM extremist group Abu Sayyaf abducted seven construction workers early Monday, Sept. 14, on a government road project on the island of Basilan, the military said, according to Agence France-Presse…
High winds and cooler temperatures in Southern California
THIS week, satellite images showed a low-pressure storm system approaching Southern California from the north, bringing with it cooler temperatures and periods of rain. The late summer storm system, combined…
Poll: CA voters’ views widely diverge on healthcare for immigrants
IN recent years, California has adopted a series of laws to help immigrants and undocumented populations with better opportunities, including obtaining driver’s licenses and education for youth. Polls generally show…
South LA experiences a plague of violence, deadly killings
Community calls on politicians and leaders to take action FROM police officers to community leaders to elected officials, hundreds packed the pews of Hamilton United Methodist Church on Sunday, September…
Senate-approved plan would promote legal services for low-income Californians
CALIFORNIA lawmakers approved and sent to Governor Jerry Brown a plan to help low-income residents have greater access to legal services. The bill, known as Senate Bill 134, would allow…
PH, South Korea sign accord on protecting classified military info
THE Philippines and South Korea on Monday, Sept. 14, signed a five-year accord that regulates and safeguard exchanges of classified military data regarding regional security. The accord, signed by Philippine…
Change to Visa Bulletin advances adjustment filing eligibility
A TREMENDOUSLY beneficial change to the Visa Bulletin was announced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and Department of State (DOS) on Sept. 9, 2015. The change…
Business with $2.1M judgment against it seeks Chapter 11 relief
Senior with $24K debt seeks Chapter 7 relief; Senior protects house with Chapter 13 Chapter 11 CLIENT presents himself as an importer & nationwide distributor of electronic items with gross annual…
Can employer legally fire employee for exceeding pregnancy leave?
Q: I work for a large company and recently took a leave of absence due to pregnancy disability. My pregnancy was high-risk and I used up all of my 4…
New rules for I-485 application-submission dates affect families and employees
THE news from USCIS: In an important departure from the current rules regarding when someone can apply for a Green Card, USCIS has announced that starting October 1, 2015, I-485,…