ROSEMEAD, Calif., June 2, 2014 — Beginning June 1, changes in the maximum-allowable income to qualify for the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs could mean more Southern California Edison (SCE) customers are eligible for a discount on their electric bill. The income limits for CARE and…
ACCORDING to official data released on May 29, a succession of natural disasters (The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013) has slowed down growth of the Philippine economy in the first quarter — uprooting it from its position as best performing economy in Asia. With gross domestic product (January-March) at 5.7…
THERE are some pronouncements from the Aquino administration that are sometimes so incongruous with each other. One concrete example is in the way it is handling the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam. “Daang matuwid” (Straight path) has been the campaign slogan of President Benigno Aquino III. It is the battle cry of his fight against…
IRS agents are equipped with a guide that provides audit techniques to issues unique to attorneys. IRS instructs its agents to probe into the following areas: – Unreported income, deferral of income. – Advanced client costs. – Bartering. – Constructive receipts. – Personal service corporations. – Worker Reclassification – were employees misclassified as independent contractors?…
ACCORDING to recent reports, Sarah Chookey worked as a commissioned sales employee in the automotive department of Sears in its branch in Thousand Oaks, CA. Apart from commissions, Ms. Chookey was also paid a base pay rate (an hourly rate). When Ms. Chookey worked overtime, her overtime pay was based only on her base pay…
DUE to demand stemming from aging demographics, the number of foreign-trained physicians practicing in the US continues to grow. According to the American Medical Association, International Medical Graduates (IMGs) comprise approximately one-third the US physician population. The Philippines is second, only to India, in the ranking of country of origin of IMG physicians. In order…
YOUR debt problems may be undeniable. You know they are there and they will not go away until you do something about them. Perhaps at some point, you took the first step towards a resolution but failed to follow through. This week, I received a frantic call from a woman who found out that her…
“ Immigrants in these circumstances would be well-advised to consult with an attorney specializing in Immigration & Nationality law to explore their options and determine what course of action is best suited to allow them to benefit from the case.” IN accordance with the US Supreme Court’s 2011 decision in Judulang v. Holder, the BIA issued…
WHEN I see people praying ardently in church, I would remember Edith Stein (also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) — a German Jewish philosopher, who converted to the Roman Catholic Church and became a Discalced Carmelite. Once before her conversion, she was passing by a magnificent cathedral in Germany. Intrigued by its…
If one would measure a man’s intellect mainly based from Sir Francis Bacon’s popular quotation: “Reading maketh a full man, Conference a ready man, and Writing an exact man,” easily his barometer would lose tract to completely size up an overly knowledgeable and renaissance guy like Mike Alvarez for aside from being an exceptionally proficient…
LOS ANGELES – For most of the candidates hoping to become the next Sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the final straw which pushed them to run for office was Sheriff Lee Baca’s retirement in January 2014. However, former undersheriff Paul Tanaka is not like most candidates. Even before Baca announced his…
SB 935 (Leno) would give CA highest minimum wage in the nation by 2017 LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, May 29, California State Senate voted 21-12 to raise the state’s minimum wage to at least $13 per hour by 2017. The bill would also require the minimum wage to be automatically adjusted for inflation annually…
LOS ANGELES – Former President of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) delighted the audience with his half-hour speech directed to the young and the young at heart, who came to the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall on Memorial Day weekend. He was met at the doorsteps of the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall by Executive Director…
To sign agreement to work together for peace and social justice LOS ANGELES– Members of the Filipino community joined a diverse gathering of local nonprofit directors, student organizations and religious leaders addressed local issues of social justice and religious peace at the Carson Event Center on May 22 in light of April’s Nigeria schoolgirl kidnapping,…
Within the first week of the opening of the April 1, 2014 H-1B filing season, USCIS received a sufficient number of H-1B cap-subject petitions to overwhelm the annual H-1B quota—172,500. For the first time in H-1B numerical cap history, losers outnumbered the winners in the annual lottery. Because the cap is currently set at 85,000…
THIS coming June 3, 2014, the Filipinos in San Mateo County will have a chance to make history by electing one of their own as a Judge in San Mateo County. Recent census numbers indicate that Filipinos is one of the largest Asian groups in California with a population of over 1.5 million. Daly City…
Recently, a woman consulted with me about her brother’s immigration situation. Years ago, their father petitioned both of them while their father was still an immigrant. The father later naturalized, resulting in their petitions being “automatically converted” from single adult child of immigrant (F –2B) to single adult child of US citizen (F – 1)….
JOHN Lloyd Cruz, one of the most successful movie actors in the Philippines today, will celebrate his 30th birthday on Friday, June 24, which is also the Feast of St. John the Baptist. John Lloyd is a three-time Box Office King in the years 2008, 2009 and 2012. Other June birthday celebrants are: June 2 …
In spite of all the powerful inventions of man, including the super computers and other state-of-the-art electronic devices, they have not come close to matching the amazing super human body. Even the production of these man-made machines cannot compare with the wonderful miracle of creation itself, from fertilization in the womb to the actual birth…
June 3 is an important date for Californians as voters will go to their polling places to vote in the Statewide Direct Primary Election. Registered voters will be able to vote for top California posts such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, US Representative, State Assembly Member, as…
Q: WHILE applying for work at a company, I was asked to sign an “Arbitration Agreement.” I was told it’s part of the application. What exactly is an arbitration agreement? Is it good for me? A: Arbitration is a procedure to resolve disputes without filing a complaint in court. The disputing parties refer the case…
A WHITE Caucasian US Marine Corps veteran was granted disability pension benefits with Aid and Attendance effective February 1, 2014, by Rating Decision dated April 28, 2014, of the Department of Veterans Affairs, St. Paul, MN Pension Management Center. He is a veteran of the Vietnam Era, who served in the Marine Corps from September…
LIKE most people, you’ve worked hard and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But in life, at one time or another, we all find ourselves in a situation where debt can be overwhelming. Many people feel hopeless and powerless over their debt problems. Debt problems can easily spill over into…
UNDER INA 101(a)(15)(F)(i), an alien student may temporarily enter the US to pursue a course of study at an established and approved college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, other academic institution, or language training program. 22 CFR 41.61(b)(1) authorizes the issuance of an F-1 nonimmigrant visa to an alien student if the…
IT STARTED with a letter from the IRS. Your tax return has been selected for examination. You suspect that something is wrong. Is it possible that the agent suspects fraud? Is it probable that you have been referred to CID (Criminal Investigation Division)? If so, you need help. In a hurry! It would be foolish…
Four weathermen from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) have decided to move on to greener pastures. Currently, PAGASA has 13 expert weather forecasters left. Three of them have pending offers to work in the Middle East. While there are available personnel to fill the vacated posts, it will take years for…
MEMORIAL Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer for many of us in America. It is the time of the year when families start their summer travels, backyard barbecue cook-out, and many other fun adventures. My interview with one Filipino veteran on Balitang America on May 26 (Memorial Day) reminded me of the reason…
ONCE a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is filed, the clerk of court sends out a notice of case commencement to all creditors listed in the mailing list of the petition. The notice includes deadlines to object to dischargeability of debts. If a creditor fails to timely file an objection to dischargeability, or fails to timely file…
Sometimes, going against the grain makes us look rational, cool, superior even. However, when we veer away from the mainstream, is it because we sincerely cannot appreciate the “usual”? Or are we just afraid to jump on the bandwagon and therefore appear inferior? They say that Boracay is too mainstream. True, perhaps. Evidenced by the…
Though the few good TV shows back home are applauded, it is dismaying that these small islands of quality are almost lost in the sea of mediocrity and outright vulgarity, which characterize some current television fare. The best humor, when it is not simply playful, says something witty about the issue it confronts. The solution…
