California Senate advances right-to-die measure
THE California Senate on Friday, Sept. 11, passed a contentious bill that would authorize terminally ill patients to legally end their lives. In a 23-14 vote, the legislative chamber cleared…
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Alliance launches new one-stop workplace assistance resource for Filipino community
A new one-stop hotline for Filipinos with concerns about their working conditions, rights and other related issues was unveiled on Tuesday, Sept. 8, during the announcement of an alliance between…
Study: Filipino ‘shortness’ not only genetic, reflects generations of malnutrition and stunting
IN 2014, a report by the Association of Southeast Nations ranked the Philippines the second shortest race in the region: the average Filipino male stood at 5 feet and 3.7…
Pacquiao demands Mayweather penalty
The People’s Champ is calling for a rematch FILIPINO boxer Manny Pacquiao, 36, called for punishment and a rematch on Friday, September 11 after his rival Floyd Mayweather was accused…
Getting to know the real Ai-Ai Delas Alas
If laughter is truly the best medicine then Ai-Ai Delas Alas could easily be an effectual stress-reliever by merely injecting a dose of her own brand of comedy which is,…
October 2015 ‘filing’ dates (New format and charts for 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…
US citizenship by birth abroad to unwed citizen father and alien mother
A person may acquire US citizenship either at birth or through naturalization. A person born in the US and subject to its jurisdiction acquires US citizenship at birth but, under…
PH gov’t to roll-out nationwide free WiFi service by 2016
A new plan from the Philippine government would offer free wireless Internet access to people across the country, but would limit annual data revenue prospects of the nation’s largest telecoms….
California Assembly approves right-to-die bill
The California Assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 9, advanced a controversial measure that would allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives. After a lengthy emotional and passionate debate, lawmakers…
KC Concepcion, Piolo Pascual now ‘more than civil’
TIME heals all wounds, they say. This is pretty much true for ex-lovers KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual, especially after their controversial breakup in 2011. For years, the two never…
Consular processing at the NVC
The growing threat of international terrorism, which apparently is without territorial boundaries, has prompted the Department of State (DOS) to tighten its rules of entry into the US. DOS is…
Are we masochistic or stupid?
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…
Is Aquino corrupt?
“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…
Will a domestic violence finding affect my claim for sole or joint custody of our children?
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…
The INC protest rallies, best and worst case scenarios
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…
Pope Francis makes marriage annulment easier, faster & cheaper for estranged couples
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…
The worship of style
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,…
Obama extends paid sick leave to over 300,000 federal employees
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…
About Dr. Gisela Trajano-Sarmiento
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…
About Skeen Face and Body Centre
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…
Ephphatha! Be opened!
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…
The power of direct marketing
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,…
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 have cash flow problems. Companies have a lot of problems, often every day….
E-2 treaty investor visa
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…
Does the creation of a revocable living trust, during the marriage, transmute separate property to community property?
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…
More protections for ‘temps’ and subcontracted employees
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…
Dissolution vs. nullity of marriage
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…
Are your debt problems causing you anxiety?
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…
Audit update: Schedule C income from business or profession
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…
Fil-Ams support Pope Francis’ announcement to forgive contrite women had an abortion
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…