I SINCERELY believe the entire country (particularly my home province of Leyte) should thank Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, as well as Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, members of the Philippine Military, the Philippine National Police and other cabinet heads and government workers for all of…
ALTHOUGH the volume of newly-filed applications for benefits is down at the USCIS, the processing times for some applications pending at the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) are longer than ever before. The USCIS holds a monopoly over all immigrants applying for green cards, citizenship and other applications, since the USCIS is the only…
1. BIBINGKA is a popular delicacy in the Philippines that is composed of ground rice, sugar, coconut cream, placed in banana leaves and cooked in an oven. The rice cake is then topped with a spread of butter, shredded coconut meat, and muscovado or brown sugar before serving. A favorite holiday food, bibingka is traditionally…
HAWAIIAN GARDENS – Community members, city officials, family members, students, and friends came together on Sunday, Dec. 1, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club. The bingo club, run by the the Moskowitz Foundation, celebrated the milestone by holding a day of fun, food, and festivities at the bingo club…
Members of Congress and various organizations have requested USCIS to consider designating the Philippines for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the devastation brought about by Typhoon Haiyan on November 8, 2013. At the time this article was written, USCIS was still considering the request but this would be a good time to familiarize ourselves…
IT WAS just under 400 years ago, when in the 1620s, a group of fresh-off-the-boat immigrants celebrated their first harvest in their new homeland. This group of migrant Pilgrims enjoyed a three-day feast, their group of 53 joined by about 90 Native Americans. In their home country, the Colonists had become accustomed to “days of…
AS Benjamin Franklin once said, there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. And no one, not even the great Manny Pacquiao, can escape these certainties. The gleam of Pacman’s victory over Brandon Rios quickly lost its sheen, after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued a freeze order on two of…
THANKSGIVING Day for most Americans is THE day for family to be together. It is an important family holiday, perhaps even more important to some, than Christmas day. Leading up to the holidays, he clamor for family reunification has become louder, especially for undocumented immigrants. During Pres. Barack Obama’s speech on immigration in San Francisco’s…
(Part 2) LAST week, we established the fact that back due income taxes can be discharged in bankruptcy, despite the popular belief that this was not possible. We said that there are six rules that must be complied with to discharge taxes. All of these rules must be followed. If you comply only with five…
TOUGH times may necessitate dipping into your retirement funds before retirement. Look at the tax impact of such a move. You may be shocked to find out what you are left with – as little as half or two-thirds of what you withdraw. Here are ten facts about early distributions. 1. Payments you receive from…
ON November 22, 2009 at about 5am, Michael and Shannon Asam were travelling with their young children, Brennan (14 yrs old), Blaine (11) and Kylie (9) on their way to Oregon to visit relatives for Thanksgiving. Michael Asam was driving a GMC Yukon pulling a utility trailer containing motorcycles and gasoline. Michael Asam reportedly hit…
QUESTION: About 3 years ago, I was deported outside the United States, and I feel it was not done properly and that I was improperly deported. What can I do? Answer: There are several things that may be done, but a Habeas Corpus is available in certain circumstances. Habeas corpus review can be used to…
Temporary Protected Status (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 them to return safely. If a particular country is designated for TPS, then citizens of that country could receive temporary relief from deportation/removal,…
LOS ANGELES – The Filipino American Service Group Inc. (FASGI), together with the newly-formed Fil-Am Emergency Disaster Communications Los Angeles (FEDComm LA), recently opened a radio facility that will provide free communication services to Filipinos in LA with relatives in areas hard-hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). With much of the telecommunication infrastructure in the…
I’VE said many times in my homilies that our Christian spirituality or piety is not just about receiving grace but also about sharing grace. It’s not just about the Church dispensing the Sacraments, it’s about encountering Christ in the Sacraments so that we may be transformed according to the values of the Gospel and become…
LOS ANGELES – Grace Grande, the embattled former mistress of a Philippine congressman, emerged victorious this week when the US courts announced a motion to drop the extradition charges against her. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Grande expressed her gratitude to those who supported her and vowed to continue the fight for freedom and…
LOS ANGELES – The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HiFiNC) held the 6th annual Polemount Parol Lighting at Filipino American Community Los Angeles (FACLA) Hall on November 25. The event started with a lantern parade outside the hall, led by Jorge Prado (one of the HiFiNC directors) and followed by the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by Sharon…
LOS ANGELES – Direct Relief, a leading medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Southern California, conducted its largest emergency supplies to people affected by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. The emergency relief medical items were delivered on a wide-bodied cargo aircraft flight arranged and donated by FedEx that arrived in Cebu on November 25. 250,000 persons are…
LOS ANGELES – Covered California highlighted the marketing efforts on promoting healthcare insurance through Asian-language advertising and discussed healthcare coverage enrollment on November 26 at the Covered California branch office in Los Angeles. Covered California began its marketing campaign in October with television and radio advertisements. Asian language advertising also became a trend, through billboards…
IT is very common for beneficiaries of family based petition to wait many years before their petition’s priority date becomes current. This is usually the case with US Citizen parent petitions to adult son or daughter. This is also common among petition’s between Siblings. What happens when the Petitioner dies? Are all those years of…
Like most people, you’ve worked hard and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But in life, at one time or another, all of us get into a situation where debt can be overwhelming. Money problems can easily overlap into other areas of our lives. Many people feel hopeless and powerless…
Recently, members of the world’s noblest profession suddenly came out and created a whole new world of their own in a carefree but still professional way at last Saturday’s Association of Filipino Teachers in America, Inc.’s (AFTA) grand Christmas Masquerade Ball held at the Loving Life Learning Center in Manhattan, New York City. Guests were…
Thanksgiving is when people take a step back and reflect on all of the wonderful things and events to be grateful for, and to give thanks to those people who played such a key role in helping us achieve them. At this Thanksgiving, I would like to once again give thanks to all of the…
FILIPINOS in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving Day (or Araw ng Pasasalamat) in their own special way, reflecting on the blessings they have received from the Lord as the year 2013 is about to end. The day also serves as the kick off and preparation for the holiday season. Those who recently arrived in the…
Recently, members of the world’s noblest profession suddenly came out and created a whole new world of their own in a carefree but still professional way at last Saturday’s Association of Filipino Teachers in America, Inc.’s (AFTA) grand Christmas Masquerade Ball held at the Loving Life Learning Center in Manhattan, New York City. Guests were…
WITH his explosive punches and dynamic movements, Manny Pacquiao has proven once again that when it comes to boxing, he is still one to beat. “I’m so happy,” Pacquiao said after winning against Brandon Rios in a 12-round bout for a welterweight boxing title in Macau. “This is still my time. My time is not…
THE Thanksgiving tradition of coming together as one family, praying together while holding hands in a circle of faith before enjoying a sumptuous holiday dinner can be a sad and difficult time for many people, who feel there is not much to be thankful for. Understandably so, especially for those who lost a loved one,…
SINCE 1938, US immigration regulations have provided for the automatic revocation of the approved visa petition upon the death of the Petitioner. However, immigration regulations since 2006 provided that automatic revocation provisions does not apply to a spousal immediate relative petition if the deceased petitioner and the alien widower had been married at least two…
IN THE coming New Year, we can expect some improvement in overall economic conditions in the US and throughout the World, however, there will continue to be turbulence and volatility as the World struggles to dig its way out of the financial morass that began in 2008. Most people have adjusted their spending habits and…
Great news brings joy and hope to the Filipino community as Nonito Donaire Jr. and Ariella Arida share their victories to fellow countrymen. These wins have greatly shown the Filipinos’ admirable spirit and competence in the global stage. Boxing Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. wins against Armenian Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in a…
