A lawsuit by the city of Los Angeles claims Wells Fargo Bank employees opened unauthorized accounts for customers, sticking them with bogus fees and damaging their credit to meet rigid sales quotas. The civil complaint filed Monday, May 4 in state court was by City Attorney Mike Feuer, who says the largest California-based bank encouraged…
IT was as big, as rich, as romantic as any Broadway extravaganza—full of dazzling orchestral verve. A superior conductor nicknamed, Bob, shook Alex Theater and made it tremble as hundreds of concertgoers listened with rapture from the veritable geyser of Broadway’s most wonderful themes. Duets, ensemble and melodies were so spontaneous, effervescent as they played…
MY siblings, nieces, nephews and I are all excited to gather together this weekend in Danville, California—not for Pacquio vs Mayweather boxing fight, but for something much more special and sacred for the family. We’re celebrating the First Communion of my little nephew, Gavin! It’s a special day for Gavin, his parents, sisters and the…
MANNY Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather on Friday, May 1, verified before an energetic crowd and credentialed media at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas that they did not exceed a weight of 147 pounds. At the MGM Garden Arena, Pacquiao stood on a scale and confirmed a weight of 145 pounds, while Mayweather came…
Why it’s important to get enough vitamin D ACCORDING to a study from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, spending enough time in the sun could protect against pancreatic cancer. Researchers found that rates of the cancer were highest in countries with the least amount of sunlight, due to a lack of…
MORE than the money and title, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s most precious prize from the biggest fight of his career is uniting Filipinos who are supporting him as he dukes it out with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday, May 2. Whenever Pacman steps into the boxing ring, Filipinos around the world are glued to their television…
Client seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $250K credit card debts after waiting six years Client No. 1 THIS is my single mom’s week. Client is 48. She is a registered nurse and has annual gross income of $70K. She has two teenagers. One has started college in a community college. The other is about to…
IF you have been arrested because of a crime and that you are going to get a plea bargain, that is the time that you have to get a Immigration Lawyer to work with the criminal defense attorney in order to best protect you and in order for the Immigration Lawyer to determine what is…
Q: I AM a registered nurse in the Philippines but I have not yet obtained a license in California. However, I am working as a ‘private nurse’ to a bed-ridden patient in Los Angeles. My duties are mainly nursing duties – tube feedings, inserting catheter, tracheal suctioning, observing and recording vital signs, administering therapies prescribed…
1. DO not estimate income from interest, dividend, independent contractor or LLC. Banks, stock brokerage companies and LLCs send exact amounts to IRS via form 1099s and K-1s. Estimates generate mismatch – the main source of correspondence audits. 2. Do not estimate mortgage interest because lenders send exact amounts per form 1098 to IRS. TIP:…
AS a Bankruptcy Attorney, I have counseled thousands of individuals with all types of debt problems. I often encourage people by telling them that it is not too late to get a fresh financial start and that the law is on their side. Bankruptcy is not the end of everything you’ve worked hard for. It…
THE minimum wage issue both in the federal and state governments has been long debated, and multiple legislations have been written and changed as different economic, labor and political groups attempt to raise the wage. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is seeking passage of a ballot measure in November 2016 that would raise California’s minimum…
A POLL from Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP) surveyed millennials 18-29 years old found that nearly half are not confident in the fairness of the American justice system, but despite stereotypes, more young people are involved in politics than people think. Though 79 percent of young Americans admit to not being as politically “engaged or…
“Nursing as an art: and if it is to be made an art it requires an exclusive devotion as hard as the preparation of any painter’s or sculptor’s work…for what is having to do with dead canvas or a dead marble compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God’s spirit?…
Immigration scam awareness is on the rise. You cannot Google the word “notario” without finding dozens of resources and articles about immigration fraud. It is all too common for people to come to our office who have been the innocent victims of malicious offenses committed against them. Undocumented residents are targeted and taken advantage of…
On June 26, 2013, the US Supreme Court struck down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional in the landmark case US. V. Windsor. The BIA shortly thereafter issued a decision in Matter of Zeleniak holding that DOMA is no longer an impediment in recognizing same-sex couples under the immigration and…
California Gov. Jerry Brown announced legislation on Tuesday, April 28 that would increase water wasting fines and authorize local government agencies to levy such penalties. In a meeting with 14 California mayors, Brown said wholesale and retail water agencies, as well as city and county governments, would be allowed to issue penalties of up to…
Often, many immigrants have kept pushing back their decision to apply for US citizenship. Many of them have also failed to keep track of the validity of their permanent resident cards such that when they are now ready to apply for naturalization, they discover that their permanent resident cards have either expired or are about…
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I was petitioned by my parent as “single”, but while waiting for my petition, I got secretly married. After getting my green card as “single,” I returned to the Philippines, and married my spouse a second time, so as to cover up the first marriage. I was also convicted of some crimes…
OUR bodies are ecosystems where a change in one area affects other areas. This connection is becoming clearer as scientists continue examining the links between oral health and cardiovascular health. Recent studies suggest that taking care of your gums through great oral hygiene could cut your risk of a heart attack or stroke! Important links between gum health and…
The one and only Philippine Superstar Nora Aunor will celebrate her 62nd birthday on Thursday, May 21. Also known as Ate Guy and/or La Aunor, Nora was born in Iriga, Camarines Sur, where she was grand champion of the Darigold Jamboree Singing Contest. She later joined Tawag ng Tanghalan to represent her province and was…
Though it may not be the biggest Las Vegas Valley event of the year, the much-anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will have thousands viewing from the audience, and even more watching around the world. In anticipation for Saturday’s mega-fight, Las Vegas police have gone as far as Pasadena, Calif. and…
Sex is usually associated with individuals who are younger than age 50 and the convention says sex belongs to the younger persons. At least that’s what many people think. But scientifically and realistically, that impression is a myth. Most of us are actually sexier than society presumes. All that is healthy and no longer a…
In time for Saturday’s mega-fight, Ryan Moore, the Filipino-American director of “Manny,” is encouraging viewers to watch the documentary to get to know Manny Pacquiao — beyond what they see inside the ring. “What our film is trying to put out is that if you’re having a potluck or barbecue, be sure to play [“Manny”…
Manny Pacquiao is not just a prized fighter, he is the Pambansang Kamao (the nation’s fist). His heart is open for all of us. The boxing arena has all the great literary themes: money, power, romance. They get played out in the careers of the these elite marquee fighters, perhaps a little bigger, a little…
A final press conference with fighters of the century Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. unfolded on Wednesday, April 29, in Las Vegas, bringing the two face-to-face once again before their Saturday showdown at the MGM Grand. “It’s time to fight now,” said Mayweather, who carried a serious demeanor at the event. “You guys came…
Taking care of one’s skin goes beyond vanity, and no one is a champion of that belief more than Dr. Tess Mauricio. Dr. Tess is a Filipina dermatologist who immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at the age of 12 and struggled like anyone new to a foreign land. But with talent and…
When Manny Pacquiao fights Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2, he’ll be flashing a multicolored mouthguard with the colors of the Philippine flag. “[Manny] wanted me to make something that would represent the country, as he told me he’s fighting for the Filipinos,” said Dr. Ed de la Vega, a Las…
After nearly six years, the historical showdown between two of the world’s biggest boxing sensations is fast approaching. Come Saturday, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will finally come face-to-face in the ring once and for all. The road to the heavily demanded match was not an easy…
“IT is a miracle.” Many Filipinos and supporters around the world heaved a sigh of relief after the Indonesian government decided to postpone the execution of convicted overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso. Veloso was given a last-minute reprieve from her scheduled execution by a firing squad by Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo. Prasetyo…
