The holidays may be over, but their cumulative health and physical effects, among others, will linger a while. Medically speaking, it is actually a time for “damage control” for those of us who have over-indulged during the festivities. The post-celebration “damage control” is just as a healthy pre-emptive measure, more so for those who really…
Everybody loves watching movies. Aside from being a worthwhile form of entertainment, it’s also the most relaxing activity one can experience in the comforts of their own home or in a theater and anywhere where hi-tech gadgets are available. A venue for art imitating life and reality portrayed in various art forms, watching movies is…
“WE learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” – Michelle Obama Welcome to 2014! And it’s time to get everything in order. So whether you are transitioning or…
LOS ANGELES—The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a coalition of 31 national organizations, recently elected a new executive committee that will spearhead its efforts in achieving greater policy presence and impact for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Hawaiian (AANHPI) communities. And leading this new executive committee is Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance…
Cap-and-Trade Funds, Health and Safety Net Spending Are Major Concerns, Greenlining Institute Says SACRAMENTO – Gov. Brown’s upcoming budget – the first in many years in which the state has not faced large deficits – will get close scrutiny from advocates for underserved communities, policy experts at The Greenlining Institute said today. “We’ve seen years…
WE get a treat of three parables in this Sunday’s Mass. The first and second parables are preparatory to the third one, a much longer parable. The first one is about a shepherd who has one hundred sheep. Upon realizing that one is missing, he leaves the ninety nine sheep to search for the lost…
It is said that Silicon Valley likes to think of itself as morally exceptional: the saints of American Capitalists are there. They are actually regarded as successors to the big money magnates of the gilded age. It is home to many of the world’s largest technology corporations, which have become famous in recent years for…
WE still have to hear the last word about the Culture of Impunity that is said to pervade our government and the bureaucracy, and there I was, the other day, being told about our government’s Culture of Incompetence. I don’t usually allow a non-Filipino to say unflattering things about the Philippines or the Philippine government…
“ Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a designation granted by DHS permitting individuals from a country, or portion of a country, the ability to remain in the US temporarily while significant adverse conditions in their home country, such as natural calamity or armed conflict, would not permit safe return.” ON December 16, the government of the…
AS we celebrate the New Year, let’s remember the famous words of Dag Hammarskjold, the Swedish diplomat and second Secretary-General of the United Nations, “For all that has been, thank you. For all that is to come, yes!” These words imply two great attitudes: gratitude and openness to God’s will. We’re thankful to God for…
President Aquino is correct that Typhoon Haiyan demonstrates that our efforts to prevent future similar damage should focus on fundamental reforms and “build back better.” However, the price President Aquino has put on the damage is approximately 600 billion pesos or $13 billion. The problem confronting the Philippines, however, is that the nations most capable…
As we start a new chapter in our lives, both as individuals and as a community, allow me to share with you these beautiful quotes that I hope will help you start the year right. Cheers to a new beginning! God bless us all. “The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its…
We have seen in a previous article the consequence of illegally re-entering the U.S. after having been removed. Illegal re-entry must never be an option. Such drastic action is driven by desperation and lack of information. Removal and its resulting ban on re-entry for certain periods do not necessarily inspire hopes of ever returning to…
Forget the resolutions list; instead, set intentions, commit, embrace the fullness of life and continue to grow into the person you want to be. Make 2014 brighter and better and welcome the New Year with a new outlook in life. Try something new. You have been meaning to learn Chinese. How exciting would it be…
THIS Wednesday the whole Christian world celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the day 2013 years ago when the son of God, the one the one true God, Yahweh, became a human being, through the Blessed Virgin Mary. The son of God, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem, in a…
ALMOST everyone is concerned with saving money on their taxes, but most people worry only about income taxes and ignore planning to avoid estate taxes, which can consume up to 46% of a family’s taxable estate before it can be passed on to the children. With proper estate tax planning, you could avoid probate and…
QUESTION: I have been deported several years ago and different immigration lawyers tell me that there is nothing that can be done. My kids are growing up without me and my wife can only afford to see me once every two or three months. I am in despair and I have lost hope of ever…
Q: AS an employee for a service provider company, I am paid an hourly rate and an additional piece rate if I respond to customer calls after hours. I often work more than 8 hours per day and on weekends. I am paid overtime based only on my hourly rate. Since I’m also receiving a…
ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an option for you or are other options available? As we face the New Year 2014, this is a good time to look at your finances…
ALTHOUGH nearly two weeks has passed since the Philippines formally requested that that US extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Filipinos residing in the US due to devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, there has been no response from the Whitehouse. Political leaders and immigration advocates have been urging the Obama Administration to act since Haiyan struck…
LOS ANGELES – A local Filipino-American public servant was recently appointed by Californa Gov. Jerry Brown to the Califor- nia Volunteers Board of Commissioners. Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem Mark Pulido’s appointment to the board of commissioners was announced on Friday, December 20. Pulido, 44, has a significantly extensive experience in public service. He was a…
AS 2013 comes to a close, Asian Journal would like to look back into the most significant events that have ensued in this Year of the Snake. 2013 had its share of highs and lows, with immigration reform still on top of mind. The recent request made by the Philippine government for Temporary Protected Status…
NOT even the festive and joyful spirit of the holidays could stop kababayans from sharing their sentiments, in response to the CCTV video that has become viral online. Such video showed how Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay, Jr. and his troop treated the security guards in Dasmariñas Village, who prevented them from exiting through the…
Whenever a person applies for an immigration benefit, it is up to that person to prove his or her eligibility. What many people don’t know or realize is that the standard of proof could be critical in establishing eligibility. If the wrong standard of proof is applied by the USCIS, then a case that should…
OF ALL the universal themes in life, “family” is one that is closest to our hearts. It one of the “favorite things” that we can talk about and one that can either bring a great deal of joy or anguish to anyone of us. On holidays like Christmas and New Year, we long to be…
MICHELLE Robinson Obama, the First Lady of the United States, heads the list of January birthday celebrants. She will be celebrating her lucky 50th birthday on Friday, January 17, with her husband, President Barack Obama and their daughters Malia and Natasha. Mrs. Obama is the First Lady of the United States after former First Lady…
In a previous article, I wrote about the possibility of Filipinos obtaining Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as a result of the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda. TPS is available for people who are already in the US, but conditions in their home country (such as armed conflict, hurricanes, earthquakes, or typhoons), make it difficult for…
Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat! I hope you are having a great time creating wonderful moments and memories with the people that matter most in your life, despite the hardship and challenges of our present time. Indeed, 2013 has gone by so fast, and as we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded once again that…
THE Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world, beginning from December 16 (the start of the Simbang Gabi) until the first Sunday after New Year’s Day, also known as Three Kings’ Day. During these times, it is easy to get caught in the hoopla of advertisements on making this holiday more grand and…
LOS ANGELES—Immigrant groups urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last Dec. 19 to take swift action and grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to the Philippines before Christmas. The immigrant groups, who attended a press briefing in front of the LA Federal Building, represented Relief to Recovery—a national public campaign advocating for the granting of…
