On fidelity

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. …

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Mike Adrao’s ‘Colony’ at Lopez Museum’s Complicated Exhibit

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…

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A well-contented and fulfilled life at 58

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…

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H-1B filing season is here

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….

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Listening to and learning from you

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…

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E-cigarettes: Harmful

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…

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Renew your PH passport 2 months before traveling

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…

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Enduring hormonal mischief

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…

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Reparation

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…

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Triple victory for Pinoys in the Superbowl

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 — …

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Benito M. Miranda, Commissioner

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,…

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2014: Year of the Wood Horse

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…

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The Elysium, Philippine Style

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…

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A Palm Springs weekend

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…

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CA tax changes for 2013 tax returns

MINIMUM Wage –Minimum wage increases to $9 per hour effective July 1, 2014. Medical and Dental Expense Deduction – Federal law made it tougher to deduct medical expenses by raising the floor from 7.5 percent to 10 percent. This means  that you can only deduct expenses that exceed 10 percent of your federal adjusted gross…

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Val Villarba & Mike Florendo: A tested partnership defying all odds

The highly rewarding field of Physical Therapy has generously accorded a huge opportunity for resourceful and collaborative advocacy whereby simultaneously promoting evidence-based practices and practical communicative relationship with patients. The sterling performances and compassionate services fairly provided to all patients indicatively establish a life-long relationship and solid partnership with people in the community. The mushrooming…

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Ouroboros

ACCORDING to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Arsenio Balisacan, despite the slew of disasters that hit the Philippines (Zamboanga siege, Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan), the country’s economy still grew by 6.5 percent in Q4 of 2013 — placing the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP)…

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Welcome, Year of The Horse

IT CAN be deemed as a love-hate relationship. Despite protests against China’s so-called “bullying” in the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, the Chinese influence is very much alive in Filipino culture — especially during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Local newscasts in the Philippines cover how Pinoys celebrate the lunar new…

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It takes a snake to tempt Eve

THE 2013 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption conducted by Social Weather Station tells us that the Bureau of Customs, the Land Transportation Office, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Public Works & Highways, the Philippine National Police and the House of Representatives had “net sincerity ratings” in fighting corruption, ranging from “very bad”…

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Fil-Am Seahawk Baldwin: Ready for his first Super Bowl

NEWARK – Doug Baldwin barreled into the collective consciousness of Filipinos with one single act: he entered the CenturyLink Field in Seattle proudly carrying the flag of the Philippines to raise awareness to the recent natural disaster that devastated most of eastern Visayas, a place which his beloved grandmother Pica used to call home. “My…

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Sam Durant’s: Pigs and Gold

Thursday, February 6 – Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Opening reception for the artist: Thursday, February 6, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. At the Eastern Star Gallery at The Archer School for Girls The Eastern Star Gallery, a unique art exhibition space located on the Brentwood campus of The Archer School for Girls, an independent middle…

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Treatment of non-filing spouse income in bankruptcy

CAN a spouse file for bankruptcy while the other does not? For instance, husband’s gross income is $3,000 monthly. Wife’s income is $8,000 monthly. Husband has $100,000 of credit card debt. Wife has $50,000 of credit card debt. Husband wants to file bankruptcy, either a Chapter 7 to discharge all of his $100,000 of credit…

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Characterization of gifts and bequest during marriage in divorce cases

GENERALLY, property acquired during the marriage are considered community property.  However, property acquired by “gift, bequest, devise, or descent” are the acquiring spouse’s separate property.  The issue becomes more complicated when a gift is given under the name of both spouses.  In that situation, the community property joint presumption kicks in which presumes an acquisition…

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