“IT is difficult to overstate the profoundly negative impact that corruption has on society. The abuse of entrusted power for private gain does violence to our values, our prosperity, and even our security, “ said US Secretary of State John Kerry on this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day. In his address, Kerry also urged his fellow…
LAST week, I wrote about undocumented college student Ju Hong, who heckled President Barack Obama while he was making a speech on immigration reform in San Francisco. Hong also wrote the President to tell him he did not mean to disrespect him, but was just compelled to ask ask him to exercise his executive power…
NOTWITHSTANDING blustery weather conditions in the Nation’s capital that have forced the closure of many governmental offices, the US Supreme Court will hear oral argument December 10, 2013 in Mayorkis v. De Osorio, et. al., involving the retention of visa priority dates for most derivative beneficiaries of family-based petitions who have “aged out.” The high…
WHERE do you find the most celebrated Christmas spirit? Only in the Philippines! Christmas is the most awaited and lavish of all the Philippine holidays. The Southeast Asian country, whose prominent religion is Christianity, begins celebrating the Christmas season as early as September where towering ornamented trees, animated holiday lights and parols of different designs…
LOS ANGELES – Members of the Wat Thai Los Angeles, the Venerable Abbot of the Thai Temple in North Hollywood and Hon. Consul General Jesda Katavetin of Thailand, called on Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega to present a check donation for Typhoon Haiyan Relief thru the American Red Cross for $ 20,506.00….
CD13 Pinoy stakeholders welcome proposal LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles City Councilmembers Mitch O’Farrell (Council District 13) and Felipe Fuentes (Council District 7) recently introduced a motion in the city council, which seeks to establish an affordable housing policy for Los Angeles. The two councilmembers said in the motion that the city needs to create…
New Report: Affordability, Reliability, 9-1-1 Access at Risk; FCC to Address Crucial Decisions BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — The accelerating shift to digital telephone networks could put communities of color at risk by ending basic standards like affordable service and 9-1-1 access, The Greenlining Institute argues in a new report released this morning. “Everything from 9-1-1 emergency…
GLENDALE—Porto’s Bakery contributed $10,000 to American Red Cross for typhoon aid efforts in the Philippines on Friday, December 6, in Glendale, CA. All bakery branch locations (Glendale, Burbank and Downey) held the three-day typhoon fundraising drive from December 2 to 4. 20 percent of sales of regular-sized cheese rolls were donated to American Red Cross….
They are back! The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, UPCC, or simply Korus, the official choir of the University of the Philippines is back to Sacramento after sixteen years. But they made such a great impression to us that we will never forget when they last visited. It was about this time in 1996,…
What does it truly take to be a hero? It is said that the legend of a hero does not conclude with the great exploit he had done. Both in myths and in real life, the great exploits represent only the beginning — the start of his mission. He goes through the period, completely by…
MANY individuals entering the United States on a visitor’s visa wonder whether they can adjust status on the basis of a petition from an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child). This is an area of immigration law that is a source of significant confusion, which we will demystify in this article. As many B-1/B-2 visa…
MOST were amused and entertained, but there were others who were also disdained by the fiery exchanges made between Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile in their respective privilege speeches. The exchange of invectives and personal attacks has been called “unparliamentary” by Sen. “Serge” Osmeña III, saying that the senate “does…
LAST week, I wrote about how a young undocumented college student heckled President Barack Obama, as he was making a speech about immigration reform in San Francisco. Along with other immigrant advocates, Ju Hong was among those invited by the White House to hear the President’s message. Hong wrote an open letter to Pres.Obama, published…
BY News Release on November 15, 2013, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the US Department of Homeland Security reminded “Filipino nationals that they may be eligible for certain immigration relief measures if requested.” But the reminder refers only to Filipino nationals impacted by Typhoon Haiyan (named “Yolanda” by Philippine authorities) because “USCIS…
LET’S say that you decide to file for Chapter 7 relief this month to discharge $100,000 of hospital bills and credit card debt. You anticipate that you will have an income tax refund claim of $10,000. What is the bankruptcy treatment of this refund? If your Chapter 7 case is filed before you file your…
QUESTION: I have been served with a Notice to Appear and been put into Removal Proceedings. What do I do? Answer: The Removal Proceedings begins with issuance of a Notice to Appear and there are very specific requirements that must be included in Notice to Appear. If they are not included, you can try to…
Q: I WAS diagnosed with a medical condition which requires me to miss some days of work. I had told my boss about my condition and I submit a doctor’s note every time I am absent. Recently, my boss told me that I was in violation of the company’s attendance policy, which may cause me…
I HAD a marvelous Thanksgiving holiday with my family in the Bay Area. The day after a lovely Thanksgiving dinner, we spent time shopping, chatting, and eating more home made food. In the evening, we all decided to go to Union Square in San Francisco to wait for Macy’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. As we…
Urge Aquino to send formal request to Obama LOS ANGELES – Filipino Migrant Center (FMC), Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA) joined forces outside the United States Federal Building in Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 4, to appeal for the granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for…
To benefit Typhoon Haiyan victims LOS ANGELES – Filipino-British Hollywood actress and humanitarian Cassandra Hepburn, a native of Leyte, is inviting the Filipino community in Los Angeles to come and support a fundraising event on December 15 in Malibu, which will benefit the typhoon victims in her home province. Hepburn, who was born to an…
LOS ANGELES – With the holiday season now officially in full swing, people can’t help but feel excited for the season. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and some private companies held a press conference on Wednesday to remind Angelenos about the importance of taking smart safety measures during the holidays. Fire safety LAFD Public…
Most of my clients know that they should pay attention to their finances, especially debt problems that won’t just go away. They know they need to get help and that if they don’t do anything about their situation, things are bound to get worse. They could be facing foreclosure, have an imminent wage garnishment or…
Thinking about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared. If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not…
Wrigley, the internationally famous chewing gum company in the USA, was granted the patent (#6,531,114) March 2003 (good thru 2011), for a chewing gum that contains Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra), the wonder drug for erectile dysfunction in men. The company said the gum “would be easier on the stomach and faster acting” than the currently available…
Singers are born, not made! The old cliché has been proven over and again and critics with that impeccable ear for music believe that the Philippines is a country where the world’s best musically inclined people are born. The nascence of the vocally gifted world-class artists in a country where music blends with smiles has…
Singers are born, not made! The old cliché has been proven over and again and critics with that impeccable ear for music believe that the Philippines is a country where the world’s best musically inclined people are born. The nascence of the vocally gifted world-class artists in a country where music blends with smiles has…
San Francisco had a taste of Philippine culinary prowess during the culmination of the 4th Annual Kulinarya, A Filipino Culinary Showdown. On Saturday, November 23, 2013, the Kulinarya Championship Round was held at the Cityview of the Metreon in downtown San Francisco. A total of six Filipino American chefs from different cities in the United…
NEARLY all of us experience?bleeding gums at some point in our lives. But don’t assume it’s no big deal. Gum disease can have serious consequences including?pain, chronic bleeding and tooth loss. It has also been linked to a number of total body health conditions?including Alzheimer’s. Skipping the floss can increase dementia risk A recent study…
The December 2013 priority dates indicate that the F-2A priority date still remains at September 8, 2013, which is almost the same as being “current.” It is?phenomenal news for spouses and minor children of green cardholders (Category F – 2A). That means that spouses and minor children of green cardholders would be eligible to file…
FOR the merry month of December, world boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays. Pacman will be turning 35 years old on Tuesday, December 17. Other personalities celebrating their special day this month are: December 4 – Former Miss RP-USA winner Sara…
