I saw a movie the other night that reminded me of the Philippines. Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, is set in the year 2154. It’s about a man-made space station in which the very wealthy live. Gleaming buildings, lush parks, manicured lawns, beautiful homes and even more beautiful people populate the enclave. The…
IF you are still hoping immigration reform will pass this 2014, you may be in for a big disappointment. In a 180-degree turn from his more optimistic tone in January, House Speaker John Boehner now says that is not likely to happen this year, all because of President Barack Obama. Speaker Boehner said his colleagues…
SEVERAL developments in immigration occurred this week, beginning with the possibility of raising the cost of acquiring US citizenship, if immigration reform pushes through. The current cost of filing for naturalization (or US citizenship) is $680. But according to a report from the Associated Press (AP), immigration reform could push the cost to spike up…
LET’S review a few rules on federal, state, and local taxes: 1. California State Income Taxes in box 24 of your W2 are deductible. So are quarterly estimates paid by self-employed and subcontractor taxpayers. TIP: Time the payment of your estimates in the year with the higher income and higher tax. 2. Real Estate Taxes…
Courts look at several factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The most important factor is the employer’s right to control the worker’s manner and means of performing the job. KEEPING labor costs down by taking unlawful shortcuts does not pay. One of these illegal shortcuts is to classify…
One of these great new benefits is the expansion of ‘Parole in Place’ to include the families of United States military veterans. ‘Parole in Place’has traditionally allowed the immediate relatives of active military to be paroled into the United States. WHILE we have had high hopes for change to our immigration system under the…
EVERY day, I meet with a lot of people who are sick and tired of being in a financial mess but they are unwilling to pay the price of being debt-free. What do I mean by this? In this week’s article, I will tell you exactly what needs to change in order for you to…
LOS ANGELES – Consul General Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega pays farewell to US Department of State, Office of Foreign Mission Assistant Regional Director Richard McCurry. Consul General De La Vega will be assuming her new position at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila as Senior Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Policy. The…
Lovell Sevilla needs a marrow donor. In 23 years of her service to the community, she may have affected your family in a positive way and today she needs your help. The daughter of an army officer, Lovell traveled the world but came back to the US and graduated from UCLA. She chose a career…
LOS ANGELES – A team from the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Social Work (led in part by Filipino-American Professor Annalisa Enrile) recently returned to the US from a relief mission and from training sessions in the Philippines, where they provided aid to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) survivors. According to Enrile, the school has…
Some things never change. A presscon with Manny Pacquiao is a field day that has the same ingredients — whether here at Beverly Hills Hotel or any other venue. A mild stampede of heaps of sports photographers, yelping and jostling in jubilation, which epitomizes the mix of the old and the new in sports media….
IT’S not everyday that we have a strong faith and prayer life. It’s not all the time that we’re passionate about living or we’re happy with our selves. There are times when we’re not filled with zest or motivation to continue the path that we’ve chosen. When these feelings come, we must never get discouraged. …
Lopez Museum opens its latest exhibit, “Complicated”, on February 20, in partnership with Tin-aw Art Gallery. Contemporary artist Mike Adrao’s charcoal on paper works collectively titled “Colony” consist of intricately ornamented, larger-than-life anthropomorphic pillars and delicately drawn insects bearing patterns that were researched from the Lopez Library collection. Adrao, together with artist Leslie de Chavez…
One of the most difficult parts of meeting a deadline is when the writer decides to cover somebody who’s not only too familiar, but having had spent and shared life with. There’s always that abysmal constraint in exulting with the use of heartwarming words to the extent of almost over-praising her or trying to down-size…
The Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) requires an alien obtaining a green card through a marriage less than two years old to come back at the end of that two years with the petitioning spouse and show that they are still married or, if the marriage was terminated, to show that the marriage…
Overview A key element under consideration by Congress as it debates a comprehensive immigration reform bill is whether a “pathway to citizenship” for the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US should be included. However, according to recent Homeland Security data, many immigrants that are already in the US lawfully and eligible to Naturalize,…
Homeowners like the idea of getting rid of the second trust deed on their residence in a bankruptcy. The second trust deed could be a home equity loan or home improvement loan taken when the value of the house was high. In Chapter 13, junior trust deeds such as these can be cancelled or avoided…
3200 West Temple Street – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “You have spawned a unique form of cultural activism not witnessed by the world in a long, long time.” Reme-Antonia Grefalda, Our Own Voice FILIPINOTOWN: VOICES FROM LOS ANGELES has literally become the talk of not just Filipinos in Los Angeles, but of people up and down…
STARTING April 1, 2014, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will begin accepting cap-subject filings in the H-1B classification. The April 1, 2014 filings are for employment beginning in the upcoming fiscal year—October 1, 2014. As in recent years, it is expected that the cap will be exhausted within the first week of filing….
A CRITICAL component of personalized patient care is cultivating the art of listening. One of the most important reasons we use social media is to be sure it’s easy for you to connect with us—whenever and wherever you want. We’re always anxious to know your thoughts about how we can best serve you. Your feedback…
MANY were shocked when the news broke out that dancer/actor and TV host Vhong Navarro was beaten up by a group of men in a condo in Fort Bonifacio, Makati. It became more real when Vhong’s black and blue image splashed all over the papers and online. Through initial reports and the rumor mill, it…
The world is always fascinated by new discovery and novelty. One such item is the electronic cigarettes. Since medical science has shown that there are around 4000 (not 400) toxic agents in cigarettes and proven beyond reasonable doubt that cigarette smoking ravages the human body, maims, and kills, researchers and resourceful venture capitalists tried to…
SAN FRANCISCO—Is your Philippine passport still valid? If the answer is no, don’t wait until you have travel plans. Apply for your passport renewal at the earliest opportunity. Check if your passport is expiring in six months, as it is a standard requirement among immigration checkpoints worldwide that passports must be valid for at least…
It is the new perspective coming into view in every woman’s major life passage: a mid-life agitation, literal and poignant. First, the gushing, like the reddening of a dying tree as it blazes out in the funeral autumn with a flowing canopy, and now reduced to basics, forced to lie fallow — in an emptiness watered…
IN one of his most remarkable songs, popular singer/songwriter Elton John said that sorry seems to be the hardest word. This is true for most people. A sincere apology is the most effective solution to defuse personal tensions, even in resolving international problems. Pressure mounts on the Philippine government to issue a formal apology over…
YES, the National Football League championship game last Sunday, February 2, made us all want to snooze as early as the first quarter. The Seattle Seahawks, after all, “butchered” the Denver Broncos, 43-8! But thankfully, some side stories made Superbowl 48 especially memorable for us, Filipinos who watched the game! First and second headliners — …
COMMISSION ON AGING, TORRANCE, CA Benito M. Miranda has been a dedicated champion for the Filipino American community since his college days at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He was the first Asian voted as President of the student body at the time. To date, he has held positions in the FilAm community such as,…
Bright red lanterns, Chinese songs, lucky charms, lucky colors, assorted fruits and tikoy – these are just some of the elements that will give you a festive mood. The Chinese New Year, or as locals call it Lunar New Year, is usually celebrated on January 31. The festival usually starts with the new moon and…
I saw a movie the other night that reminded me of the Philippines. “Elysium,” starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, is set in the year 2154. It’s about a man-made space station in which the very wealthy live. Gleaming buildings, lush parks, manicured lawns, beautiful homes and even more beautiful people populate the enclave. The…
This year-round oasis is a timeless, limitless haven that spells an unparalleled sense of escape, adventure, recreation, and relaxation at your own unique way of playing. It is where you can discard every worry and welcome a breather from the fast pace of everyday life, with conscious or unconscious expectations. Here, a kind of wealth…
