Humanitarian Parole and Humanitarian Reinstatement explained
IN THE aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the profound human toll and humanitarian crisis in and around Leyte is only beginning to come into full view. From an immigration perspective, some…
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Social responsibility
WHILE the typhoon victims are fighting the elements and struggling to survive, netizens are engaging in a “word war” on a bevy of topics related to Typhoon Haiyan (aka Yolanda)…
Magkasama Tayo sa Kuwento ng Pagbangon: A Sagip Kapamilya Telethon
AMID the chaos and desperation in the Philippines in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan), Filipinos in North America had the opportunity to reach out and lend…
Immigration relief for Filipino nationals impacted by Typhoon Haiyan
GIVEN the devastation in the Philippines, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an article on November 15, 2013, to remind Filipino nationals impacted by typhoon Haiyan of possible immigration…
Worried about debt? Think of Jonah and the whale
THE Bible has a strange story about a man being swallowed up by a whale. This man is Jonah. God, my God, the God of Moses and Israel, who sent…
Can you be deported for filing false tax returns?
IN A landmark case, the Supreme Court has held that a conviction for willfully filing a false tax return is a deportable offense under our immigration laws. It reached the…
Are you a dual US and Philippine citizen?
“ A person born in the United States with one parent or with both parent(s) no longer Philippine citizen(s) at time of birth is not a Philippine citizen at birth.”…
Should employees be paid for night time hours spent at the work site?
Q: AS an onsite security guard, I am required to stay on the premises for 24 hours. My on-duty hours are from 6am to 6pm. I am off-duty and considered…
Fil-Am students close down Hollywood Blvd for Vets’ Day protest
HOLLYWOOD – In a youthful show of solidarity, as many as 800 Filipino-American students gathered in Hollywood on Monday to show support for their lolos and lolas on Veterans Day….
PCG-LA thanks Angelenos for overwhelming support to Yolanda victims
Appeals for add’l donations, body bags as rescue and relief efforts pick up pace LOS ANGELES – Overwhelmed with support flowing in from all over Los Angeles and other parts…
The strength of Filipinos, a worldwide admiration
ARCHBISHOP Socrates Villegas has written a prayer in behalf of Filipinos on the tragic devastations of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Here’s an excerpt of his prayer: Lord we are in great need….
Super Typhoon Haiyan: Nature’s wrath and its most devastating impact
Due to the massive devastation and destruction of unimaginable magnitude brought about by super typhoon Haiyan, the date November 8, 2013 will be etched in the history of the Philippines…
Get out of debt now before the new year starts
The decision to file bankruptcy is not an easy one but sometimes it’s the decision that could change your life for the better. When you are seriously in debt and…
Typhoon Haiyan: My heart and prayers go out to the Philippines and Filipinos
I HAVE been watching and reading news stories about the horrific devastation and destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. As I write this, the death toll is rising and the extent of…
Reducing canker sore pain and duration
The exact cause of canker sores is unknown. What we do know is that canker sores can be extremely bothersome! By better understanding some of the possible causes—and some treatment…
Filipino artists get nominated at Asian TV Awards 2013, Stars rally to help typhoon victims
WITH any kind of tragedy that comes to the Philippines, artists will always find ways to help—either by donating cash and in kind, volunteering or both—their fellow Filipinos. Just last…
Warning: Phthalates poison
Practically without exception, at least a dozen poisons (toxic chemicals) can be found in every home today, in the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and backyards. Among them are phthalates. Phthalates are…
Bay Area Fil-Ams band together to help PH typhoon victims
How, what and where to send donations SAN BRUNO— An outpour of donations and support for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that hit the Philippines last Nov. 8 are continuously…
Super Typhoon Haiyan: Nature’s wrath and its most devastating impact
Due to the massive devastation and destruction of unimaginable magnitude brought about by super typhoon Haiyan, the date November 8, 2013 will be etched in the history of the Philippines…
‘Til we meet again, Deputy Consul General Daniel Espiritu
Out for a night from our ink-stained asylum, a college of crankers and museum of misfits with huge egos and even larger insecurities, herds of highly-educated dinosaurs planned a deliciously…
Bangon, Pilipinas
MONDAY was met with a heavy heart, as the horrors of the tragedy that struck Central Visayas last Friday began to unfold. Whether firsthand experience at the site or at…
An open letter to Pres. Obama requesting for Temporary Protected Status for undocumented Pinoys
PHILIPPINE officials say more than 10,000 Filipinos are feared dead, and about 800,000 are displaced because of super typhoon Yolanda. Despite all the local and international help being extended to…
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, AS I read in your paper (Asian Journal – Nov. 8-14, 2013 issue) Greg Macabenta’s column, “A Closer Look at Corruption,” it’s a sad thing to note that…
Something’s gotta give
THE PR temperature has cooled down a bit since Sonny Coloma took over as presidential spokesman. His explanations about happenings in Malacañang, that are not as laborious and convoluted as…
Countdown to Christmas
The Philippines is one of Asia’s most populous countries and primarily a Christian nation where approximately a large percent of its citizens are devout Catholics. That being said, the Filipino…
How Fil-Ams can help Yolanda victims
LOS ANGELES – On Monday night, President Benigno S. Aquino III declared a state of national calamity in order to expedite the government’s rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in the…
Why the roast turned into fried chicken
Blame October’s lunar monsoons orbit last Wednesday. The much ballyhooed “Roast of the Decade” by no less than the meanest, cruelest, heartless and outrageous troika of Bobby Reyes, Bernardo Bernardo…
U.S. Citizens by Birth Abroad
We briefly discussed in the last article the current rules for acquiring U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to U.S. citizen (USC) parents. Today, we’ll see some examples that illustrate both…
Visa options small business owners (E-2, L-1, H-1B)
IN strolling through the shopping centers in our Office’s surrounding neighborhood, one cannot help but feel that the immigrant sprit of entrepreneurship is alive and well. Small IT start-ups, mom-and-pop…
No holds barred
THE outspoken senator strikes again. While Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was busy grilling Janet Lim-Napoles at the senate hearing on Thursday, her quips were also trending in social media. Leaving her…