Quagmire brought about by the pork barrel scam ‘list’
THE “list” of more government officials (who are allegedly part of the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam) has created even more questions, confusion and doubt in the minds of the…
Is IRS offset of refund violation of bankruptcy stay?
CLIENT files a chapter 7 bankruptcy to discharge $100,000 of income taxes. He files his bankruptcy on March 30, 2014. On schedule B of his bankruptcy petition, he claims his…
Learning how to fly
RIDING the airplane for the first time is perhaps the greatest luxury to enjoy. It is the time when one is not yet well-acquainted with the moment; therefore, giving a…
Looking for treasures in growing old
“Few people know how to be old.” – Francois De La Rochedfoucald THEY say that youth is wasted on the young. This is untrue. Youth is wasted on the old, if…
SIPA to honor various leaders at annual benefit dinner
LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, May 22, six individuals from the City of Los Angeles will be honored by community group Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) for their work…
Greenlining Urges CA Public Utilities Commission: Don’t OK Comcast/Time Warner Deal
SAN FRANCISCO – In a protest being filed today with the California Public Utilities Commission, The Greenlining Institute urges the CPUC not to approve the proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable by…
Bawal mangopya: Pinoy biz in LA raided for piracy
WHAT is it about most people (and many Filipinos), who feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in acquiring things for free, which usually need to be paid for? Is…
Of miracles and scandals
FROM May 21 to 23, Metro Manila will be host to heads of state and business and civil society leaders from over 30 countries at the World Economic Forum (WEF)…
How IRS scores your income tax returns for audit Part 3
(Part 3 – Audit Scores) This is the last of three articles on how the IRS receives, validates, stores, and scores tax returns for audit. – How efiled and paper-filed…
When piece-rate pay deprives employees of wages due under the law
Q: I WORK for a company that pays us on a piece-rate basis for every task that we finish. A task may take several hours to complete. If we do…
10 common myths about the Labor Certification process
EMPLOYMENT-based immigration to the United States generally entails a three-step process: 1) Labor Certification (under the “PERM” program); 2) Immigrant Visa Petition approval; 3) Green Card issuance (or Consular Processing,…
Is your situation forcing you to file bankruptcy?
FACING serious debt problems can be depressing to a lot of people. It may seem like the end of the world. You may feel angry, depressed, guilty- or a combination…
The sterling world of nurses
You see them with a grateful heart as they walk on their hands and do somersaults with a patient’s extreme despair and suffering. They turn trauma into joy, and rage…
On emboldening our children
“LIFE can be messy,” I told my friend the other day as we were talking about the problems and challenges of people in families, parishes, and other communities. “It’s definitely…
Flores de Mayo/Santacruzan: The Queen of Filipino festivities
If there’s but a single Philippine festival touted as the ultimate in grandiosity, magnificent in its scope, profligate in its opulence, and glamorous in its style, easily, that would be…
Defining ‘Substantial’ for E-2 investment visa applicants
The E-2 Treaty Investment Visa is the visa of choice for many business owners setting up shop in the US. The visa is highly desired as there is no limit…
Consequences of failing to disclose material assets, income, facts and information in a divorce case
There is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law…
PCG participates at the 10th Santacruzan in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
LOS ANGELES – The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles attended the 10th Archdiocesan Filipino Marian Celebration of “Santacruzan” held on May 11 at the…
SCE and LA Fire Dept. highlight metallic balloon safety
LOS ANGELES – Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles County Fire Department held a metallic balloon safety demonstration on Friday, May 9, at the Southern California Flower Market…
ABA hosts kickoff event for Summer Seminar Series in LA
ON MAY 14, the Asian Business Association (ABA) hosted its kickoff event for the ABA Summer Seminar Series at the Miyako Hotel, in Los Angeles. This first event in the…
Filipino Dental Practitioners of California, Inc., for Announcement 40th Anniversary
The Filipino Dental Practitioners of California, Inc. is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. We request the pleasure of your company at our Inaugural Dinner Ball and Silent Auction Fundraiser scheduled for Saturday,…
The June 2014 Priority Dates: F-2A retrogresses to May 1, 2012!
The June 2014 Visa Bulletin indicates that the priority dates for the F-2A category (spouse\minor children of immigrant) will retrogress (move backwards) from September 8, 2013 to May 1, 2012….
The Barretto family feud reignites
BEFORE starting on the latest buzz about the continuing feud amongst the Barretto sisters Claudine, Marjorie and Gretchen; I would like to inform all my friends and colleagues that my…
Vegetables Versus Lymphoma
Since man roamed the earth, vegetables have been hailed as a great health food. And even before modern science came out with the medical data proving their value, parents, especially…
SOS: Mother Nature in critical condition
(Part 2) RELEASED last week, The National Climate Assessment presented the most comprehensive scientific evidences of global warming. The findings were ominous, because rising temperatures are affecting the food chain,…
H-4 status holders to be issued work authorization
ON May 6, 2014, the Obama Administration announced two new measures to attract and retain the highly-skilled workers the US requires to sustain the economic recovery. The first will allow…
San Isidro Pahiyas Festival: Of beauty and bounty
It is no doubt that thanksgiving celebrations in the Philippines are always in its grandest. In fact, Filipinos even go beyond ‘colorful and creative’ and a best example would be…
SCE reminds customers to conserve electricity during extended heat wave
Round-the-clock use of electricity puts strain on electrical grid ROSEMEAD, Calif.— With a week-long heat wave peaking between today and Friday and triple-digit temperatures in many areas, Southern California Edison…