Saying goodbye to my father, my pillar of strength
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…
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Realization
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…
Wage insecurity on security checks: Should employees be paid while at employer’s security line?
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…
US residents in the Philippines: How to not abandon US resident status
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…
Do you need to get out of the debt trap?
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…
States take up immigration reform as us congress wallows in its own mire
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…
A referendum on PNoy’s presidency before his SONA
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…
One too many
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…
Fung Brothers special guests at McDonald’s Education Workshop
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…
Man dies after lightning strike affects 14 in Southern California
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…
The other side of news reporting
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,…
Sunday night at the ER
All of LA County’s sufferings come through the doors of the emergency room. Accidents, shootings, heart attacks, beatings, rapes, suicides—just as gory and heart stopping when I was covering the…
Client raids retirement account to pay Business debts, then seeks bankruptcy relief
In life, for those who already have experience and some wisdom, there is such a thing as getting the right advice at the right time. In fact, the right advice…
Claudine Barretto: Battered wife or best actress?
THE drama in Claudine Barretto’s life continues—and lately it has become more controversial. A week after people thought the actress and her estranged husband actor Raymart Santiago have decided…
Becoming all flame!
“BY and large the world is a good place,” claims Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, author of Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity. “But among all those…
US needs a ‘rational’ immigration policy – Biden
DETROIT—Vice President Joe Biden told protesters Thursday he shared their concern about the deportations of immigrants who have entered the US illegally. Biden was interrupted by protesters shouting, “Stop deporting…
US economy, though sluggish, may now be sturdier
WASHINGTON—Out of a seemingly hollow recovery from the Great Recession, a more durable if still slow-growing U.S. economy has emerged. That conclusion, one held by a growing number of economists,…
US economy, though sluggish, may now be sturdier
WASHINGTON—Out of a seemingly hollow recovery from the Great Recession, a more durable if still slow-growing U.S. economy has emerged. That conclusion, one held by a growing number of economists,…
If you don’t claim your visa, your case could be shred
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: Years ago, I was petitioned by my US citizen father. The priority date is current, but our family has not received any papers in connection with processing…
The Dirty Harry rationale
THE battle lines have been drawn. On one side, high caliber apologists have been harnessed to justify the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of Noynoy Aquino and Butch Abad, in the…
Noli Me Tangere: A must see
WHEN I emceed the Peoples’ Ball, celebrating Philippine Independence with more than 1000 kababayans in Washington DC last June, I had the privilege of being serenaded by amazaing vocal talents…
Jarring reminder
THE Philippines joins the international community in extending its sympathies to the families of the passengers on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine on Thursday, July 17….
It’s raining and we won’t stop 2.0
THIS article, a continuation of last week’s, was originally intended for outdoor activities during the rainy season in the Philippines. However, with the present condition, it would be nonsensical and…
Team PH wins Jr. & Sr. championship titles at WCOPA
LOS ANGELES – The Philippines yet again won big at the world’s stage by snatching a grandslam win by taking home the top two awards at the World Championships of…
Once upon a press club
There was once a press club in the heart of a city where everyone lived in harmony with each other and their surroundings. Photographers and writers: they were affable and comrades among…
“Unitas: Muslim and Christian artists in one exhibit”
Eid’l Fitr marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims all around the world. It is an event that brings together brothers and sisters ofIslam with a chance to celebrate their faith together. The end offasting brings…
Avoiding an affidavit of support (Form I – 864) by working 40 quarters
Family based petitions and some employment-based petitions (where a relative owns a 5% interest in the petitioning company) require the petitioner to submit an affidavit of support (Form I –…
Professional and business owners both seek bankruptcy protection
THE PHYSICIAN Members of the professions are normally doing well financially in the United States because they are highly paid for their skills. However, even with high gross incomes, wrong…
Debunking the Myth of Being a “Salaried” Employee
Q: I AM a salaried employee receiving exactly twice the minimum wage per hour. I have a heavy workload and I supervise a few employees but I can’t hire or…
Filing bankruptcy to avoid being stuck in debt forever
WHEN debts spiral out of control, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery tool in stemming the tide and getting you back on the right track. Without the “fresh start”…