Frequently Asked Questions (Faq) #1 – Fbar filing requirements
New Foreign bank account rules were designed to combat money laundering, terrorism, and tax evasion. Unfortunately, folks like you and me get snared in the process. We get penalized if…
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The point of no return
So often, we meet with clients who come to our law firm just before a scheduled consulate interview abroad. The clients have either done their application on their own, or…
How to face debt problems before they get worse
The last few years have been financially difficult for a lot of people. When the real estate marked crashed a few years ago, millions of people found themselves with a…
POLL Result: Fil-Ams choose between Roxas-Poe or Roxas-Robredo
After two candidates have publicly signified their presidential bids for 2016, the next question people are so curious to know is who UNA’s Jejomar Binay and LP’s Mar Roxas will…
Hope at FASGI is indescribable
Temple and Beverly Blvd. is a cross street that fully represents of Historic Filipinotown’s ambiance: traffic that congeals into puddings of irritability, food aroma that alone can elevate your cholesterol…
Surge in car loans pushes auto debt above $1 trillion
First-time high in consumer auto debt, little change in mortgage debt A surge in Sweden in new loans for cars and trucks hit a 10-year high in the second quarter…
US jobless claims rise, four-week average lowest since 2000
THE number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the overall trend continued to point to a strengthening labor market. Initial claims for state…
LA County to build new jail for mentally ill
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to divert at least 1,000 low-level, mentally-ill inmates out of jails and into a new facility focused on mental…
US flag raised at embassy in Cuba after 54 years
For the first time in more than 54 years, the American flag on Friday, Aug. 14, was raised over the restored US Embassy in Havana, Cuba, marking the end of…
Frustration after MH370 mystery and possible clue
Families express frustration, disbelief after plane part found on island Air, land and sea searches were launched around an island in the Indian Ocean last week following the discovery of…
Maxene Magalona conscientiously keeps dad’s legacy ablaze
The saying that “an apple won’t fall far from its tree” holds true in Maxene Magalona’s case. Born Maxene Sofia Maria Arroyo Magalona on November 23, 1986 in Manila to…
How can INA section 245(i) benefit you?
Certain aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1…
Alden Richards and the unexpected popularity of the AlDub love team
Nobody saw it coming, as many would think a short skit on an afternoon show is passé, something that has been done many times before. But even GMA 7 actor…
The September 2015 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…
Unexplained cardiac arrest
Five in 10,000 people around the world develop unexplained cardiac arrest and rarely does any of them survive. This condition is hereditary, happens to any race, but is more common…
A roundup of this year’s health and wellness trends
“The greatest wealth is health,” wrote ancient Roman poet Virgil. The formula of a well-balanced diet, managing stress levels, getting more than eight hours of sleep and exercising at least…
How the Filipino idea of ‘kapwa’ can help fight chronic diseases
ON July 22, 2015 the largest Zumba class was assembled in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 12,975 participants all dressed in yellow came together to dance and set the Guinness…
5 Philippine ‘superfoods’ to incorporate in your diet
In the United States, kale, avocados, spinach and flaxseeds have all been hailed “superfoods” for their nutritional density and benefits: they contain generous doses of Vitamin A, healthy fat, Vitamin…
Survival and success in the face of government insensitivity
In the wake of super typhoon Yolanda, President Benigno S. Aquino III could have been talking to the Otic family of Tacloban when he bluntly told a local businessman, “Buhay…
Are you a Fil-Am voting for a Republican presidential nominee in 2016? This is for you!
It is GAME ON! Following the first Republican Party debate last Thursday, August 6, many kababayans who lean Republican have been energized to see the crowded slate of candidates they…
Has humor gone too far?
The vulgarity in entertainment THOUGH the few good TV shows back home in the Philippines are applauded, it is dismaying that these small islands of quality are almost lost in…
Adobe boosts paid parental leave for new parents
Adobe Systems Inc., a tech firm based in San Jose, California, has followed in the footsteps of Netflix and Microsoft by announcing it will provide new parents with additional paid…
CDC study: schools starts too early for teens to get enough sleep
American teenagers start their school days too early, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Early school start times are preventing many…
LA makes another push for 2024 Olympic bid
Los Angeles is close to reaching an agreement with the US Olympic Committee (USOC) to be America’s candidate for the 2024 Summer Games. Pledging to host the event at a…
Hillary Clinton proposes $350-B plan to end college debt
Americans now shoulder $1.2 trillion in student loan debt, a rate that has tripled over the past decade, according to studies. Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton aims to end that…
Gov. Brown signs bills on pro-immigration issues
New CA legislation protects and humanizes undocumented immigrants Continuing his push for change on immigration issues, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a trio of measures on Monday, August 10 that will…
Garcetti honors new Fil-Am Board of Public Works Commissioner
LOS ANGELES – A historic occasion for the Filipino-American and Asian Pacific Islander community was celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 11, when Joel Jacinto, executive director of non-profit organization Search to Involve…
Celebrating 87 Years of Art and Philanthropy
Oldest Camera Club in Asia Captures an Intimate Philippines With a spirit sculpted singularlyby sunlight and shade As a melting pot of cultures, the Philippines undergoes cycles of transformation as…
It’s time to get Belofied!
Time flies by so quickly when you love what you do. It has been 25 years since I started my very first clinic, all with the goal of helping people…
Garcetti honors new Fil-Am Board of Public Works Commissioner
LOS ANGELES – A historic occasion for the Filipino-American and Asian Pacific Islander community was celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 11, when Joel Jacinto, executive director of non-profit organization Search to Involve…