A heckler’s open letter to Obama, on the deportation of the undocumented
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…
Available immigration reliefs and TPS for Filipinos impacted by typhoon ‘Yolanda’
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…
Income tax refund is property of bankruptcy estate unless exempt
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…
I’m in deportation proceedings: Now what?
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…
Being absent from work due to medical condition: Are employees protected?
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…
On living joyfully
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…
Fil-Am groups appeal for TPS for undocumented Pinoys
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…
Fil-Brit Hollywood actress spearheads fundraiser in Malibu
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…
Private groups, LAFD share ‘smart’ safety measures for the holidays
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…
Facing the reality of debt problems is never easy
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…
How important is it to have a living trust?
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…
Viagra in chewing gum and other medical gems
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…
Jared Martin: Building a name; propelling to fame
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…
Jared Martin: Building a name; propelling to fame
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…
Meet the new Kulinarya champions: Chefs Neil Syham and Sheryn Jo Peneza
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…
The connection between gum disease and dementia
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…
The December 2013 Priority Dates
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…
Boxing champ Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao heads December birthday celebrants
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…
Viagra in chewing gum and other medical gems
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…
Covered CA highlights outreach efforts to Asian communities
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…
Toyota of Glendale Launches Fund Raising Drive for Typhoon Haiyan Victims
A $25,000 DONATION TO THE SALVATION ARMY IS TARGETED Glendale, CA: Toyota of Glendale, a longtime supporter of Filipino community events and causes, announced last week the launch of its…
How to deflect intellectual swan dive
The pursuit of intelligence is tough. I am humbled by Sir Francis Bacon, who made the ultimate sacrifice — he died while in a quest for knowledge, he is a…
Rehabilitation czar
AFTER almost a month of rescue and relief operations, uncertainty still looms in the Visayas region due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Since last week, multinational forces dispatched…
Manny Pacquiao: An icon should also be a role model
YES, the supporters of Manny Pacquiao are right — the freezing of some of his bank accounts couldn’t have come at a worse time, just days after the Pambansang Kamao…
‘The Convergent Approach’ to chaos
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…
Long-delayed adjudications of green card and citizenship applications: What can be done?
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…
Christmas special: Top 10 traditional Filipino food
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…
Community comes together at Bingo Club’s 25th anniversary
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….
Temporary Protected Status
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…