Spring has sprung. It is upon us in a scent that grows deeper, dizzying, improbable. It is too heady, too provocative to be diminished. Seeping through open windows, under doors, as you slip out of a doorway or slide out of a car. There it is—a scent that dominates the air, your bed clothes. It’s…
Making a commitment and sticking to it takes a lot of hard work. The beginning of the year is generally the time when millions of Americans commit themselves to being healthy by losing weight, exercising more and eating fewer calories. Losing weight is a daunting challenge. Weight loss experts say that people who have support…
Drug trafficking crimes are aggravated felonies. There are two distinct aggravated felonies under INA 101(a)(43)(B), illicit trafficking in drugs and drug trafficking. In Matter of Sanchez-Cornejo, 24 I&N Dec. 273 (BIA 2010), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) defined illicit trafficking as a conviction involving the unlawful trading or dealing of any controlled substance. Drug…
MARCH 27 has been delegated as the Community Call to Action Day by a coalition of Filipino-American groups, who have been advocating for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Philippines since November 2013, after the extensive devastation brought to the country by Typhoon Haiyan. The designation of TPS for the Philippines will benefit hundreds of…
NEW development! “US Secretary of State John Kerry has already made his review and recommendation regarding the request for TPS designation of the Philippines, and that recommendation has been sent to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS,)” TPS primary proponent Atty. Arnedo Valera enthusiastically reported to me, after he got another call on March…
REPUBLIC Act No. 10175, known as the Philippine Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, is caught in a time warp. Its provisions on cybercrime offenses in Chapter 11 are copied from current cybercrime laws of the United States (United States Code), but its provisions on online libel (Section 4(c)(4) and Section 6) date back to 1932,…
THERE are two different approaches to prepare for an audit: shoe-box and organized approach. Let’s discuss each method so you can determine which one is best for your next audit. Why you should be organized – In my four decades years of defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies, this methodical approach…
Waiting at work for security checks may be compensable JESSE Busk and Laurie Castro are former employees of Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc., a company which provides warehouse space and staffing to Amazon.com. They sued their employer in a class action, alleging that Integrity required them and other employees to pass through security screenings at the end…
DO you dream of simplifying your life, reducing your stress and regaining control of your financial future? Everyone dreams of living a debt-free life and yet we know that today, so many people are drowning in debt that they don’t even sleep well at night. If you are one of these people, perhaps you are…
CERRITOS – On March 19, the Cerritos City Council held the annual reorganization meeting and mayoral transition, which signified the end of a councilmember’s one-year term as City Mayor and ushered in the beginning of another councilmember’s stint as the city’s chief executive. In Cerritos, the residents elect five city councilmembers to four-year terms. Then,…
LOS ANGELES – Philippine Consulate General Officials attended the fundraising concert to benefit the victims of Typhoon Haiyan organized by the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown in collaboration with APO GLA and UP APO Foundation on March 15, 2014 at Incarnation Community Center Gym, Glendale, California. The concert features the REO Brothers, Raymart, RJ, Ralph…
I am one of those who freely and ungrudgingly take great interest in my friends’ pleasure, in what they relish and what they become anxious about in the world of Western mass culture (and borrowings). We reveal ourselves (like any westerner), with our grasp of the latest fashion and catch phrases, or the hottest dances….
“ We can’t always stay up in the mountain, we’ve got to come down from the mountain where our people are. We’ve got to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit the imprisoned and liberate the oppressed. For in these acts of heroic love, goodness, and generosity are found the…
Beauty pageants have constantly been part of our bourgeoning lifestyle and significant social changes greatly influencing the social status of our community. Despite the advent of hi-tech discoveries, beauty pageants still find an unabated place and distinct relevance in the modernized world. The cultural relevance of pageants had remained steadfastly after the many years since…
Employees of an international company that are transferred into the US temporarily to work for the company’s parent, branch, affiliate or subsidiary enter the US on an L-1 Intra-company Transferee visa. This classification of visa is issued to employees that are at the managerial or executive level (L-1A) or have specialized knowledge (L-1B) and are…
The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC) will hold its 42nd Anniversary and Installation of 2014-2015 Officers with a dinner-dance on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront (1800 Old Bayshore Highway) in Burlingame, CA. Officers to be installed include Dr. Carmencita Abarquez-Agcaoili, president; Dr. Peter Bretan, president-elect; Dr. Leila…
DURING medieval times, people believed they could cure a toothache by driving a nail into an oak tree. Silly, right? Today’s misconceptions are different. There are still some crazy ideas out there about teeth—ideas that have very little to do with the facts. Have you ever fallen for one or more of these modern misconceptions?…
Many people may be guilty of attempted “alien smuggling” and not even realize it. They may also be totally unaware of the harsh or drastic consequences to themselves and the rest of their family if they are caught. A person could be committing alien smuggling by claiming that a grandchild or “given” child (whom they…
Fil-Am and American Idol Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez has been chosen again to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley rematch on April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jessica confirmed this when she recently arrived in the Philippines. She also shared that…
SAN FRANCISCO -Thursday, March 27 has been designated as the Community Call to Action Day urging members of the Filipino community in the United States to call the US State Department (202-647-6575) and urge US Secretary of State John Kerry to recommend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Philippines to the US Department of Homeland…
Cebuano inventor Pete Delantar paved the way for a greener export industry PASAY CITY, Philippines (March 13, 2014) – Filipino craftsmanship and ingenuity takes center stage once again at the 59th edition of Manila FAME, a biannual design and lifestyle event happening at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on March 14 to 17, 2014….
Poi necklace wins Special Citation for Eco-Design PASAY CITY, Philippines (March 17, 2014) – Rising fashion design house Floreia received a special distinction from the prestigious Katha Awards at the 59th Manila FAME held from March 14-17, 2014. Floreia’s poi necklace (designed by Marivic Licardo) won this year’s Special Citation for Eco-Design for products that emulate…
“THE sea is the space where, since primordial times, humanity has carried out the greatest range of economic activities, which ensured the survival of those who engaged in them. It was by sea that links among peoples were established, cultures were founded, and affinities were created. All told, the sea was the essential element for…
SINCE its mysterious disappearance (after taking off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing) Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has been reported on ceaselessly by the media, inviting all kinds of speculations and theories as to what really happened on March 8, 2014. Because of what happened in 9/11, it is understandable why theories of terrorism…
THE debate over the United States economy and dearth of high-tech workers has spotlighted the H-1B professional working visa in the press. Nonetheless, Congress has been slow to respond in the face of economic problems throughout the World and the FY 2014 H-1B quota was reached within just a couple of weeks of April 1,…
The Philippines has 7,107 islands, many yet undiscovered. When people say, nothing worth having comes easy, it holds true even with the best places on earth. So here are some off-the-beaten-path destinations for your next summer getaway that are worth seeing (and guaranteed to blow your mind): 1. Biri Rock Formations Location: Northern Samar, Visayas…
LOS ANGELES – Spring is here and so the discussion at the Public Forum (Talakayan sa FACLA) was so heated, contending parties discussed the issue of the Ukraine-US Crisis with gusto. Dr. Marc Caratao explained “that the Ukraine Crisis takes away US focus away from China and its aggressions in the Philippines. It’s the same…
LOS ANGELES – California State Parks and other local and state officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP) – a 32-acre open-space revitalization project – on Saturday, March 15, adjacent to the Chinatown district in Downtown Los Angeles. Known as the “Central Park West of Los Angeles,” Los Angeles State…
LOS ANGELES – On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, HSBC Bank, USA launched the Made For Trade initiative — an endeavor that looks to bring together leaders in business, government, industry, and the academe in a national discussion about the role of global trade in today’s economy. Made For Trade examines the contribution of the…
AS MARCH 31 DEADLINE NEARS LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles-based community advocacy group – together with various community service organizations across California – will hold about 125 outreach events throughout the State to encourage enrollment among Asian communities before the March 31 deadline to sign up for health coverage. During a press conference…
