Oct. 25 set to commemorate Filipino labor leader OCTOBER 25 will now be designated as Larry Itliong Day in California, following Gov. Jerry Brown’s signing of a bill that called for the annual proclamation honoring the late Filipino farm labor leader. Introduced by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) — the first and only Filipino-American elected to…
A SURVEY conducted by business media company Bloomberg revealed that first-time Philippine Sen. Grace Poe, 46, the adopted daughter of film star Fernando Poe Jr., is the preferred candidate to steer the economy of the Philippines. Of 23 analysts and bankers surveyed, 12 chose Poe as the best choice for the 2016 presidential elections. Interior…
AMIDST a statewide weary drought, California officials announced that residential water use had dropped 29 percent in May—the first real indication that the state might meet unprecedented conservation reductions imposed by Governor Jerry Brown. The cut in water usage also suggests the aggressive campaign to get residents to change their lifestyle—such as taking shorter showers,…
THIS week President Barack Obama announced a new rule that could potentially give millions of hardworking Americans a raise. On Tuesday, June 30, the White House began releasing the details of a long-awaited overtime rule aimed at lifting wages for up to five million people as soon as 2016, according to sources familiar with the…
FOLLOWING the introduction of a bipartisan bill that would award more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who fought for the United States during World War II, Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) announced his support for the legislation. “The bill will honor the selflessness of so many Filipinos who fought to ensure an American victory during…
PUT together a group of people dressed in their best business casual, chattering, the smell of food warming up, and in a family-like, professional setting—and you’ve just walked into a Fil-Am Masterminds meeting. An enthusiastic member greets you with a warm smile and a handshake, asking where you are from and whom you represent, and…
DURING its second Women Business Pioneers Symposium, the Asian Business Association of Los Angeles (ABALA) featured a panel of four female executives working across a broad range of industries to inspire other female entrepreneurs and professionals. “We see that there is a large number of business owners who are women, and we wanted to create…
Requires immunization of schoolchildren Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a controversial bill on Tuesday, June 30, requiring that schoolchildren be immunized, eliminating personal and religious belief exemptions. “The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases,” the governor wrote. “While it’s true that no medical intervention…
Although my theater and movie-making experience had been extensive and broad, aside from my far-reaching observations, first-hand knowledge, direct exposure, and showbiz orientation, I still found it quite peculiar (at the same time flattering) having been offered to direct a musical concert with a pre-conceived format with merely two principal performers and a pianist. After…
DURING its second Women Business Pioneers Symposium, the Asian Business Association of Los Angeles (ABALA) featured a panel of four female executives working across a broad range of industries to inspire other female entrepreneurs and professionals. “We see that there is a large number of business owners who are women, and we wanted to create…
PUT together a group of people dressed in their best business casual, chattering, the smell of food warming up, and in a family-like, professional setting—and you’ve just walked into a Fil-Am Masterminds meeting. An enthusiastic member greets you with a warm smile and a handshake, asking where you are from and whom you represent, and…
Susan Roces, the legendary Queen of Philippine Movies heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this month of July. Inday Susan – as called affectionately by her close relatives and friends – will turn 74 years old on Tuesday, July 28. She is the widow of the late King of Philippine Movies, Fernando…
CHEWING is the first step in digestion, but chewing our food only enough to swallow it down doesn’t count. If you’re rushing proper chewing—especially if it’s due to dental distress—you’re robbing yourself of some important benefits! Chewing helps retain energy and absorb nutrients Chewing our food does more than simply give us time to taste flavors. The more…
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I received my green card through my employer’s petition, but the priority date on my petition suddenly retrogressed (went backwards) before I was able to bring my family from the Philippines. In fact, in just a few short months, the priority date retrogressed from October 2014 all the way back to January…
WHAT happens when my green card expires? Lawful Permanent Resident status is not affected by the expiration of the Form I-551, or the “green card.” A person does not lose his or her status as a lawful permanent resident of the United States by the mere fact that their green card has expired. However, individuals…
The complexity of modern vehicles makes some projects a no-go for newbies, veteran Las Vegas, NV mechanic Al of EXCEL AUTO says. Don’t try to replace fuel or water pumps (because of their inaccessibility) or the shoes in drum brakes (because of their mechanical intricacy) unless you really know what you’re doing, and “forget about…
If you hate colonoscopy Good news for those who dread colonoscopy: Swallowing a pill instead of having a “tele” scope inserted through the anus. The standard procedure for colonoscopy is done with or without sedation, inserting a flexible tube the size of the little finger which has a fiber-optic lens, light, and a hole through…
This week, President Obama will propose giving millions of hardworking Americans a raise. On Tuesday, June 30, the White House began releasing the details of a long-awaited overtime rule aimed at lifting wages for up to five million people as soon as 2016, according to sources familiar with the plans. Obama will formally announce the…
New research shows that nearly four of every 10 kids and teenagers in the US were exposed to violence or abuse over the previous year. Phone surveys conducted by the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire in Durham found that “children are the most victimized segment of the population,” said…
“FILIPINO PIGS…with your faces in the trough.” This was how former American Apparel CEO and founder Dov Charney allegedly called some Filipino workers who were employed by American Apparel. This was revealed by court documents filed by the company against Charney as evidence of why he was fired last year. Charney reportedly even told his…
I CAN never quell a stir of fascination, dread and longing when the house lights dim and the curtains part. But the enjoyment of an opera can begin, not with the rise of the curtains but with the first bars of the overture. To understand and enjoy the opera is the recognition of certain irreconcilable…
THE Supreme Court has refused to limit states’ use of a controversial execution method that opponents have likened to being burned alive. The high court’s conservative majority said Monday, June 29 that lethal injection remains the “most humane method of execution.” During oral arguments in April, they had blamed opponents for exacerbating a shortage of…
WITH the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, religious conservatives are focusing on preserving their right to object the 5-4 decision made on Friday, June 26. Their concerns are for the thousands of faith-based charities, colleges, hospitals, and organizations that want to hire, fire, serve and set policy according to their religious beliefs regarding gay…
Working senior seeks to discharge $60K personal loans; Trustee wants explanation of how client used $180K “ Sometimes daughters get married to men who are able to convince daughters that they should give up their mothers because daughters are now adults. It’s not the mother who loses. It’s the daughter who loses the wisdom, love…
JUNE 12 marked the three year anniversary for President Obama’s program to shield young people often referred to as DREAMers from deportation. During these past three years, DACA has given countless opportunities to young people who once had no ability to secure a job, attend a university, or obtain a driver’s license legally in the…
ELAINE Allyn has worked as the Director of Educational Technology for Fallbrook Union Elementary School District in San Diego County for about 18 years. In early August 2011, Allyn’s boss, Ray Proctor, instructed her to wipe out the district’s entire electronic data imaging in the archive system and to wipe out all emails in the…
LEGAL Separation is an alternative to a dissolution or divorce. Although a legal separation can be maintained on the same grounds as a dissolution action i.e. irreconcilable differences, a judgment of legal separation does not terminate marital status. In other words, the parties cannot remarry. Most people pursue this alternative action due to religious or…
THIS is a common scenario. You’re in debt and you know that you need to do something about it because your financial situation continues to get worse month after month. You keep hoping that things will turn around for the better but things are not improving. As a matter of fact, they’re getting worse because…
Remembering President Cory’s era BENEATH her simple ways exist a determined heart, a fine mind and a commitment to the rights of her people. My years with her were times of colorful exposure that prepared me for anything. Each day brought unexpected twists: shouting matches behind the scenes among the biggies, intrigues among the lightweights,…
A Filipino from the Philippines, for the first time ever, has been selected to participate in a prestigious music program in Paris. John Paul “JP” del Mundo was among 61 who bested 4,000 applicants to partake in the Red Bull Music Academy for an edition to be held from Oct. 25 to Nov. 27. “I…
