Constants and variables
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…
Read More
Why is Malacañang lukewarm to conducting lifestyle checks on public officials?
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…
How IRS audits attorneys
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…
Higher overtime rates may apply for some employees
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…
All about US immigration for physicians
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…
Warning: Ignoring your debts is not a good idea
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…
212(c) relief available for those ordered deported for crimes; BIA sets new rules
“ 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…
Prayer, as a way of witnessing
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…
Mike Alvarez, a discerning case of phenomenally intellectual supremacy
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…
Former undersheriff and current Gardena Mayor Tanaka running for LA Sheriff
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…
CA State Senate passes bill to raise minimum wage to $13/hour
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…
FVR gives new direction to the FVF and to all Filipinos around the world
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…
Local Filipinos join over 1,000 students, nonprofits, government and religious leaders
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…
Bad luck in this year’s H-1B lottery: Now what?
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….
Time to make history in San Mateo County by electing the first Fil-Am judge, Ray Buenaventura
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…
Don’t wait for the government to remind you about your rights, benefits, and deadlines
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,…
Three-time Box Office King John Lloyd Cruz heads list of June birthday celebrants
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….
Our self-healing power
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….
California Statewide Direct Primary Election takes place June 3
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…
Arbitration agreements: Are they good for employees?
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?…
US Marine Corps veteran granted aid and attendance pension
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…
Don’t wipe out all your savings to pay debts
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…
Reinstatement of F-1 student status
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…
How to spot an IRS fraud audit
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?…
Greener pastures
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…
Time is running out for our Filipino WWII vets
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…
Closed bankruptcy case may be reopened to litigate dischargeability issue
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…
Joining the bandwagon is not a sin
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…
The serious side of comedy
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,…
Fil-Am appointed as LA Board of Transportation commissioner
LOS ANGELES – Only weeks since the recent appointments of Joel Jacinto and George Villanueva to separate commissions in the local government of Los Angeles, another Filipino-American was named by…