An evening at the opera
I CAN never quell a stir of fascination, dread and longing when the house lights dim and the curtains part. But the enjoyment of an opera can begin, not with…
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Higher stakes
THE stakes in uncovering the truth behind the controversial pork barrel scam just got higher. On November 7, the stage is set at a Senate public hearing, for a face…
The changing persona of the Filipina ‘lola’
IN the past, the epitome of the Filipina lola has been painted as an old woman in a rocking chair, gray hair in a bun (pusod), wearing eye glasses, a…
The cat and the hot stove
MARK Twain is said to have quipped, “A cat who sits on a hot stove will never sit on a hot stove again. But he won’t sit on a cold…
Philippines’ oldest colonial churches
THE vibrant past of the Philippines is among the many great things it is known for. As one of the most-visited destinations, it is home to a great number of…
Fil-Am advocates continue to push for immigration reform
LOS ANGELES – As the partial shutdown of federal government ended on Thursday, Oct. 17, Filipino American advocates continued to push for immigration reform as if the stoppage never happened….
Napoles unit in Ritz Carlton, no longer for sale
LOS ANGELES – Jeane Napoles, daughter of the accused mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, is no longer selling her unit in the posh Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles….
U.S. Citizens by Birth
One may acquire U.S. citizenship either at birth or through naturalization. Birth in the U.S. is the common way of acquiring citizenship. Under INA 101(a)(38), the incorporated territories of Puerto…
An event to remember: The venerable Abbot Shi Yong Xin visits Los Angeles
Who said downtown Los Angeles gets crowded only when the Lakers are playing? Last week, the only game in the town was the Shaolin Temple Cultural Festival in this City. There…
Some crimes can prevent visa issuance or adjustment of status
A NON-CITIZEN in the US that has committed a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) may be inadmissible to the US This means the person will likely not be issued a…
Destruction
THE magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck central Philippines last Tuesday, October 15, has claimed 161 lives according to authorities. About 400 people were reported injured and some are still missing as…
Decorated Fil-Am military man is AARP’s new endorser
LOS ANGELES—The second Philippine-born US citizen to be promoted to the officer rank of General in the US Army, is the AARP’s newest endorser. Gen. Taguba, or Tony to his…
Never too old to rock: Queen Lola continues to inspire
WHEN is a woman too old to rock? When a Filipina becomes a lola, should she stop taking care of her self as she used to in her younger years…
Worried about debt, think of Daniel in the lions’ den
MANY debtors feel that their debt problems have placed them in a lions’ den because they feel that their debts will swallow them up alive. Every month every creditor must…
Family limited partnership vs. Family limited liability company for estate planning
ESTATE planning for sophisticated individuals with significant net worth should consider using family business entities, primarily for income, gift, and estate tax planning, and even tax saving through valuation discounts…
Murphy’s Law: The brighter side of life
OUR column usually focuses on serious (and sometimes boring) subjects of tax and finance. Let’s depart from that dull setting and explore the lighter world of Murphy’s Law: 1. If…
‘Caregivers and nannies’ in private households now entitled to overtime pay
ON Sept. 26, 2013, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that entitles personal attendants, which include caregivers and nannies working in private households, to overtime pay if they…
I never got notice of my Immigration Court hearing. Now what?
QUESTION: It seems years ago I supposedly received a notice to go to court, but never went because I never really received the notice. What can I do? Answer: An…
GoPs reach out to Asian American Community
ANAHEIM – Seeing the need for a more diverse political base, California Republican leaders earlier this month vowed to expand its party and place a concerted effort to reach out…
Unchaining the Word of God
“THE word of God is not chained,” St. Paul says in his letter to Timothy as he was suffering in prison, chained because of his passion for spreading the Gospel…
Marco Sison: A balladeer by heart
What sets Filipino singer Marco Sison apart from the rest of his contemporaries? What made him survive the stiff competition against new singers post his generation? What could have been…
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuse to sign?
There seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this…
Are you worried about your credit card debt?
With the proliferation of credit cards in our society, it’s not difficult for credit card debts to get out of hand. Once you’re caught in the credit card debt trap,…
Marco Sison: A balladeer by heart
What sets Filipino singer Marco Sison apart from the rest of his contemporaries? What made him survive the stiff competition against new singers post his generation? What could have been…
Feed your smile the vitamins and minerals it craves
NO doubt you’ve heard that vitamins and minerals are good for your overall health. But did you know that many of those same vitamins and minerals are very important to…
Saving a marriage by ‘legally backdating’ a divorce
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I divorced my first spouse in California, and then married an American citizen, who petitioned me for a green card, along with my child from my first…
The Megastar Sharon Cuneta on motherhood and ‘Madam Chairman’
IT took quite a long while before any network to convince Megastar Sharon Cuneta to do a teleserye. But after Kapatid TV5 finally got her to say ‘yes,’ she has…
Veggie, Omega 3, brain food
Veggies protect the stomach Those taking NSAID drugs like ibuprofen, and other anti-arthritis pain medications regularly can be victims of stomach irritation which could result in ulcers and bleeding complication….
Alone at last
THIS mild, sunny morning charmed me into happiness and I realized my cheer was partly because I was alone. I thought for an awful moment that perhaps I was essentially…
SSS execs hold outreach briefing in Consulate
LOS ANGELES – Top officials of the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) kicked off their US outreach mission with a community briefing at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles…