In a report last year by the US Census Bureau, the poverty rate dropped significantly to 14.5 percent, the first drop since 2006. The Latino population was the only ethnic group with a significant 2.1 percentage drop, from 25.6 percent to 23.5 percent. It was a heartening change all around, with the number of Latinos…
22,000 people rocked the SMART-Araneta Coliseum as they wildly supported their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheer Dance Competition teams, last September 14. In order, the National University (NU) Pep Squad, the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe took home the first…
A Filipina teacher in San Bernardino, Calif., was put on administrative leave after one of her students accused her of using the “N” word in class. Bernadette Yuson, a math teacher at Cajon High School, was rearranging the seats in the classroom on Sept. 3, when an African American student asked why she was moving…
TODAY, Citizenship Day, we recognize and honor the millions of Americans who are naturalized US citizens, immigrants who hail from all corners of the globe but who have proudly taken the oath of US citizenship. The path to the oath is one that can be long and challenging – there are many requirements to become…
A Filipina teacher in San Bernardino, Calif., was put on administrative leave after one of her students accused her of using the “N” word in class. Bernadette Yuson, a math teacher at Cajon High School, was rearranging the seats in the classroom on Sept. 3, when an African American student asked why she was moving…
ON Saturday, Sept. 13, Pres. Benigno Aquino III embarked on a four-country swing in Europe and will have final stop in the US. Aside from cementing diplomatic relationships with the European countries, Aquino is expected to address issues related to security and protection of human rights. From Sept. 20-24, the President will be in the…
EVEN as America is still hurting from almost decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are again faced with another threat that has been calling for more aggressive military action from the US government — the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Why is there a sense of urgency in destroying this group now?…
SENATOR and would-be presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano hurled this question at 2016 front-runner, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, in connection with the current Senate probe of the Makati City Hall Building II. It’s a trick question, really, like asking, “Have you stopped beating your wife lately?” It’s also obviously intended to cut Binay’s lead in the…
When a business owner dies or becomes permanently disabled, the business itself may die or be permanently disabled on the same day – not because something wrong was done – but because nothing was done! ACCORDING to a Forbes article, when Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-Hee suffered a heart attack in May, investors began to…
The date of separation is one of the most litigated issues in a divorce case. Its determination can have a significant economic consequence in the outcome of the case. The reason being, a spouse’s “earnings and accumulations” after separation are his or her separate property. A spouse’s “earnings and accumulations” while living separate and apart…
FOR such a monumental thing to be accomplished in seconds defies logic. In fact, it was almost insulting, but there it was. It happened in less time than it took her to draw a breath. Anybody can become a widow. There were no special qualifications. It did not require planning to become a wife or…
LOS ANGELES – Apple iPhone and iPad tech junkies, rejoice—the latest operating system, iOS 8, is available for download Wednesday. The brighter, faster OS will work for the iPhones 4S or newer, the iPad 2 or newer, the iPad Air, the Mini, and the iPod Touch 5. With the release of state-of-the-art gadgets like the…
A JUDGE has extended the term of the grand jury in the ongoing Ferguson, Mo. case to January 2015. The jury is considering whether the white police officer, Darren Wilson, should be charged in the fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown on August 9. “The case is still being presented to the grand jury…
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, are pleased to announce the selection of Patrick Flores’ curatorial proposal titled Tie A String Around the World as the official Philippine participation at the 56th Venice Art Biennale 2015….
GLENDALE – After failing to make it in 2013, a Filipina is once again running for a seat in the Glendale City Council in the upcoming April 2015 city elections. Edith Fuentes, 64, pointed out that in the 108-year history of Glendale, there has never been a single Asian or Filipino American elected into the…
With the launch of the iPhone 6 and new products, Apple has faced much scrutiny and media attention. Now the tech company faces protests, as two dozen of its employees were believed to have been unfairly fired from a supplier in the Philippines. NXP, a Dutch-based company that supplies parts for Apple, fired 24 union…
LOS ANGELES — Commuters will start paying more to board the Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses and railways this week. The MTA reportedly raised its fares Monday for the first time in four years from $1.50 to $1.75 for one-way tickets and from $75 to $100 for monthly passes. Another major change is two hours of…
With the ongoing violence on Americans by terrorist groups, the United States government has been taking serious measures to help fight the war on terrorism. The Dept. of Justice, the White House, and other government agencies launched a program on Monday to reach out to communities with the goal to stop radicalized young people nationwide…
LOS ANGELES — Commuters will start paying more to board the Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses and railways this week. The MTA reportedly raised its fares Monday for the first time in four years from $1.50 to $1.75 for one-way tickets and from $75 to $100 for monthly passes. Another major change is two hours of…
HAVE you ever thought if anyone has found the true cross on which Jesus was nailed and died? History says that in the 4th Century, St. Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. And legend has it that while her workers were razing…
ON Friday, Sept. 12, President Benigno Aquino III rallied his allies to seek continuous support and trust in their unified goal of a “Tuwid na Daan (Straight Path)” policy. In an “agenda-setting with dialogue partners” at the Malacañang Palace with “fellow reformists,” Aquino slammed critics for politicking this early. The administration, in turn, persists on…
PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act aims to give health care coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, but community advocates say many are still left out, especially because of their immigration status. This is especially true for California, home to the most number of Filipinos living in America. This is what one California lawmaker is…
CLIENT is 48 yrs old and operates a construction business. He also dabbles in fixer uppers to make money. His wife is an accountant and makes $5,000 a month. Business has not been good apparently. Their residence has equity of $200,000. He owes $150,000 of credit card debt which he used for business. Client has…
AT Wilner & O’Reilly, we have come across many heart-warming success stories that give strength to the need for Immigration Reform. Since 2012, there have been some extensive changes in US immigration laws. Many have benefitted, but more needs to be done. Lately, President Obama has toured the country proclaiming that he will exercise executive…
IF YOU paid someone to care for your child, spouse, or dependent, you may be able to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit on your federal income tax return. Here are 10 tips on claiming a credit for child and dependent care expenses. • The expense for child and dependent care must be provided…
TERMINATIONS can be difficult situations, particularly where employees see the firing as unfair. Knowing one’s rights upon the end of an employment relationship may help employees weather this challenging time. The following provides some helpful guidelines: First: Make sure that the employment relationship has ended and there is no misunderstanding about this. Employment can end…
ALIENS who wish to visit the US temporarily for business may be issued B-1 business visitor visas. Under 22 CFR 41.31(b)(1), the term “business” refers to conventions, conferences, consultations and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature but it does not include local employment or labor for hire. The problem with B-1 visas is…
A PROSPECTIVE client was consulting with me the other day about credit card debts that have been piling up. He looked shocked and confused as we sorted through all the credit card statements on my desk and added up how much he owed. $65,000! That’s how much the statements said he owed! How could this…
SAN FRANCISCO – With the Pacific at their shoes, people roam, dream and venture in San Francisco’s dazzling waterfront, winding streets and hills halfway through the skies. They scale the hilly streets at dawn to welcome the sunrise and wait for the cable bells to ring jubilantly. They see the city with a cable pole…
Meeting low-key law practitioner Arvin Gomez Amatorio for the first time would make one think twice if this guardian of the law is for real. Obviously, aside from being youthful-looking he’s sans the usual aggressiveness and brag-ish air common among the majority in his league. Dashingly donned in a pair of dark worsted linen suit…
