PAETE, Laguna native, now Chicago-based Paul Balan recently exhibited Pinoy artistry when he was chosen to design the prestigious National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) Medal. This award is given to individuals or groups whose work has done great things in the field of history, literature, languages and philosophy. Now on its 49th year, established by…
A FILIPINA nurse, abducted and raped; a Filipino construction worker beheaded because of religion; what will it take to make kababayans—caught in middle of the ongoing Libyan Civil War—to heed the Philippine government’s call for evacuation? With a desire to rise from the slump, Filipinos choose to work abroad. Considering higher salary in exchange to…
YEARS back, I wrote about the legal victory and vindication of Filipina nurses who were wrongfully terminated by their employer hospital for allegedly speaking in Tagalog while on duty in the hospital. The decision favoring the nurses was grounded on the fact that these nurses spoke in Filipino during break time, and not when they…
MANY, including myself, wanted to hear the 2014 SONA as much to learn about the State of Noynoy Aquino as we did about the State of the Nation. Thus, in my hotel room in Honolulu (where I happen to be, en route to San Francisco), I waited late into the night for the online news…
I DON’T really want to talk about death but everyone dies whether we like it or not. Blame Adam for that. If Adam did not eat of the forbidden fruit in Paradise, then we would still have the superior body that never gets sick and never dies. But we are forever indebted to Jesus, the…
(Part 2) SHAREHOLDER loans accumulate over time and become red flags for IRS audits. Left unchecked, they grow to sums that are hard to repay. Let’s discuss some tips and developments. Here are Tips to Alleviate this Problem: Make some payments, even a small amount from time to time. This indicates the existence of a…
Q: I WAS recently forced to quit my job because of my abusive manager. Can I still sue for wrongful termination even if I was the one who left my employment? A: If the manager’s conduct created working conditions that were so oppressive that a reasonable person in the employee’s position is forced to resign,…
ON July 11, 2014, USCIS issued a policy memorandum on the adjudication of H-1B petitions for nursing occupations. Most registered nurse positions do not qualify for H-1B classification but the memorandum recognizes that, due to changes in the nursing industry, some nurse positions may now qualify for H-1B classification. Under INA 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), an H-1B nonimmigrant…
WHILE I have written this article especially for small business owners, everything I say here will also apply to everyone who is going through a financial crisis. So, whether you own a business or not, if you are having financial problems, keep reading. Is your business currently up to its neck in debt and you’re…
THERE is no correct or incorrect answer to that question—only an honest or dishonest one. Because you can’t deny its reality: it is about values, beliefs, love, money, integrity, generosity and pride. They are all there. It could be an enjoyable way to find out more about everybody’s participation in the beauty contest and confront…
Fiesta in America (FIA) launches the first ever international beauty and talent search this side of the eastern seaboard in connection with its 16th year of celebrating the grandiosity of diverse culture, trade exhibits, business to business networking plus world-class entertainment. Young male and female hopefuls of different ethnicities ranging from 18 to 25 years…
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the US is a privilege, and the status can be abandoned, even involuntarily. Abandonment of permanent residence (also known as the “green card”) occurs when the resident fails to maintain the status by not residing in the US. Many Lawful Permanent Residents returning to the US each month are…
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 issue is what is the characterization of those property when the couple gets the divorce. Transmutation is the changing of the characterization of a property…
WE’VE all been in situations where we’ve wished we had a toothbrush—but didn’t. Perhaps it was on a recent camping trip. Perhaps it was right after lunch, on a day when you were headed into an important business meeting. Regardless of when it was, you knew that a fresh, sparkling smile would bring the comfort and/or confidence you needed. Certain…
According to news reports, President Obama is considering executive action to let millions of undocumented immigrants obtain work permits and allow them to stay in the US “legally,” without threat or fear of removal/deportation. The announcement of a large-scale action will most likely take place in September 2014. Since the GOP-controlled Congress failed to pass…
AARP Community Ambassador General Tony Taguba to speak at upcoming FANHS and NaFFAA events in San Diego SAN DIEGO—AARP is proud to sponsor the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Conference on July 31 to August 2 and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Empowerment Conference on August 7 -10 in San Diego….
REEL and real life lovebirds Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, both GMA 7 Kapuso talents, are celebrating their birthdays this month. Marian is adding another year on August 12, while her boyfriend, Dingdong, is turning 34 on August 2. Marian was born in Madrid, Spain to father Francisco Javier Gracia Alonso, a Spaniard and her…
Is ballroom dancing good for everyone? For the majority of people who love to dance, ballroom dancing is one of the best exercises for cardiovascular fitness. Only those with medical or physical impairment that disable them to dance will not benefit from it. While walking on the treadmill or doing rowing exercises makes one feel…
THE rap artist Andrew E. gave people, at an early age, a picture of what Malate is in his song Banyo Queen—a place where one can have fun with an unacquaintance, then lose his or her money. All they needed was a little more awareness to learn that the song even suggests that Malate is…
ON Sunday, July 27, I lost my hero — my father, my pillar of strength. I am grateful for the opportunity to have visited the Philippines last June — that turned out to be the last time I would see, kiss and hug my Daddy alive. He died peacefully at 4 pm, after I said…
IN his past State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pres. Benigno Aquino III enjoyed endless applause. He has been commended by his political peers and foreign observers for his ingenuity in restoring the Filipinos’ faith in the government. It is not just an annual tradition. It is mandated by law for a Philippine president to…
ACCORDING to reports, Walgreens, the drug retail chain, was sued by its California employees for, among other things, failure to provide employees the required meal and rest breaks and for failing to pay employees for their spent at work undergoing security searches. The case is on behalf of Walgreens’ hourly managers or assistant store managers…
LAWFUL Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the US is a privilege, and the status can be abandoned, even involuntarily. Abandonment of permanent residence (also known as the “green card”) occurs when the resident fails to maintain the status by not residing in the US. Many Lawful Permanent Residents returning to the US each month are…
IF YOU are buried in debt, you may be feeling trapped at the moment with no way out. You realize you need help but don’t know where to go for help. You may even be embarrassed about your situation that you find it uncomfortable to turn to family and friends for help. So you try…
AS the US Congress continues to mire itself in a tiresome partisan war over every issue that crosses its path, States have begun to answer the call and do the right thing for their own citizens. In California, for example, Governor Brown signed legislation late last year to enhance school, workplace and civil protections for…
BEFORE his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 28, President Benigno Aquino III faces the most challenging time of his Presidency. The first two cases wanted to oust him from office for allegedly betraying the public trust and violating the 1987 Constitution over his administration’s implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). The…
HAVING a consistent population count for years, the Philippines should now expect a new census update. Recent reports say that the Philippines is bound to have at least 100 million people this year, and depending on one’s perspective, it may sound either good or bad. Based on the national census of population in 2010, the…
YouTube sensations David and Andrew Fung, known as The Fung Brothers, were special guests at a McDonald’s-sponsored education workshop held in San Francisco last July 12. The Fung Brothers talked about their experiences going to college and answered questions from students and parents alike, as well as mingled with their fans during the event which…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 20-year-old man died Sunday after lightning struck or rattled 13 people at a popular Los Angeles beach and a golfer on Catalina Island during summer thunderstorms that swept through Southern California, authorities said. The man was taken from Venice Beach and pronounced dead at ahospital Sunday afternoon, Los Angeles County coroner’s…
Interviews come in many ways. Some regard it as a battle, a delightful minuet. Others call it theater piece. That is why I am reluctant to write about fashion, showbiz, celebrities, which tend to elicit more entertainment, not information—a contempt shown, however, only by those who clearly would be considered as “newspeople.” People reportage is…
