Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: My family and I came to the US before 2007, to make a better life and future for our children, who then were still under 16 years of age. We overstayed and are now out of status. I’ve read about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which may allow my kids to…
Physicians are no exceptions to public scrutiny. Just like corporations, universities, colleges, hospitals, automobiles, appliances, goods and other products on the market today, physicians are all being scrutinized and rated by the public and consumers advocates. This is going on for centuries, albeit not in the same “organized and business-like” system as they are being…
10-year-old Fil-Am girl waiting for match SAN BRUNO—Not all people know that race and ethnicity is a major factor in finding a match for someone who badly needs it. According to Fion See of the Asian American Donor Program (AADP), there are only 37 percent of minorities registered as bone marrow donors in the National…
No matter how many times a reporter walks into Malacañang Palace, she/he will always feel a sense of awe and wonder. How could so much power be concentrated in one relatively small building? The Palace is the starting point for a lot of things, with its bottomless pit of news. It is the greatest fishing…
ONCE described as a medieval institution, the Catholic Church (under the leadership of Pope Francis I) is no longer sitting on its laurels. The high prelate is encouraging the Church, along with its followers, to evolve and adapt to the changing world. “The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules….
WHAT is the role of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in the quest for truth and justice in the ongoing investigations for the pork barrel scam? What mandate does it have to fulfill this mission? These are questions in mind of the general public, as the plot thickens in the continuing saga of the pork…
“ Most attorneys practicing Immigration Law offer “free initial consultations,” or charge a nominal fee for such service to prospective clients. People taking advantage of “free” consultations; however, often walk away with a “new case” but no idea as to what the attorney has agreed to do for them or how.” LIKE taking care of…
One of the biggest problems our country face is the issue on poverty. However through the dedication and efforts our fellow citizens and the kind gestures of many people across the globe, we continue to hold on to the dream of achieving a slum-free country. Many active movements and organizations in the country have shown…
ON 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIAL LAW LOS ANGELES – A month after their solidarity protest for the “Million People March,” a handful of Filipino activists again held a rally on Friday in front of the Philippine Consulate General to voice out their outrage against the ongoing ‘pork barrel’ scam in the Philippines. Led by community…
Aside from our inability, as a people, to sustain our anger, and our poor collective memory, we have one more trait that keeps us from exacting full retribution from public officials who have done us wrong. Awa. Pity. Compassion. That’s probably one of the qualities that make Filipinos so lovable. And why assorted hustlers, scam…
We previously discussed adjustment of status and grandfathering under INA 245(i). Under INA 245(i), an alien, (a) who is physically present in the U.S. and (b) who entered without inspection, who is in unlawful immigration status, who fails to maintain status or who has accepted unauthorized employment, may adjust status if: (1) the alien is…
Everyone I know has a dog. And each one of them believes that his/her dog is the most beautiful, intelligent pet in the world. In many ways, these people would rather talk to their dogs than their friends. Because I like dogs, I tend to be taken by enthusiasm. After all, dogs are irresistible. In…
Something magical happened when Filipino-American muralist Eliseo Silva placed the first brush strokes on the Filipino mural in Historic Filipinotown back in 1995. “I felt a spark inside me,” Silva said to Asian Journal. “It was like something supernatural was coming over me.” From coast to coast, the history of the Philippines and Filipino-Americans is alive…
IF the Department of Homeland Security has initiated Removal Proceedings against you, an Immigration Judge will preside over your case in Immigration Court and a government attorney will seek your removal from the US The series of immigration hearings, collectively known as “immigration proceedings” can take several years and can include four or more court…
Something magical happened when Filipino-American muralist Eliseo Silva placed the first brush strokes on the Filipino mural in Historic Filipinotown back in 1995. “I felt a spark inside me,” Silva said to Asian Journal. “It was like something supernatural was coming over me.” From coast to coast, the history of the Philippines and Filipino-Americans is…
THE first batch of plunder charges may have been filed against lawmakers and other officials allegedly involved in the P10-Billion Pork Barrel Scam in the Philippines, but Filipinos around the world are not letting up. “Tuloy ang laban” remains to be their battlecry, demanding for the swift, fair and impartial investigation, and conviction of those…
It was an era in history that older generations of Filipinos would rather forget. But lessons from this tumultuous period has taught us to commemorate the past — if only to recount the nightmare that was martial law, and to make sure that it never happens again. On September 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand Edralin…
In America, it doesn’t matter who you are, what your race is, what your religion is, you can succeed. You study, you work, you build up business and you live the promise of America. ADAM was the first man created by God, my God, the God of Moses and Israel, who sent His only and…
IF you paid someone to care for your child, spouse, or dependent, you may be able to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit on your federal income tax return. Here are 10 tips on claiming a credit for child and dependent care expenses. -The expense for child and dependent care must be provided for…
Q: I WORK at a service-oriented business here in California as an hourly employee. We are required to wear a uniform. We can only get the uniform from our employer and the employer deducts from our pay the cost of these uniforms. Is this deduction legal? How do I know that the deductions from my…
You could always apply for a change of status when you get to the US. For example if you come to the United States on H-4 status, you could always apply for an H-1B yourself or a myriad of other types of status where you are no longer the derivative beneficiary, but the primary applicant….
ONE of my great mentors in the seminary taught me and my peers not only to be holy but also to be prudent, not in the sense of acquiring a great deal of knowledge on theology but in having practical wisdom of dealing with personal matters and pastoral ministry. For example, whereas the general norm…
CERRITOS – Gaining momentum as a surprise winner in her first attempt to run as member of the ABC School Board winning by only 24 votes from her closest rival two years ago, Lynda Johnson started early to re-launch her campaign for re-election. Political bigwigs and supporters from the cities that comprise the ABC Unified…
LOS ANGELES—Coinciding with the Chinese Moon Festival, Walmart held a community celebration in on Chinatown to celebrate the opening of its Downtown LA Neighborhood Market on Thursday, September 19. The grand opening ceremony was held at 7:30am, and started with brief remarks from community leaders and store manager Kenny Tran. The program also included a…
The scope of the nursing profession has been focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities. Nurses make sure that patients attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. But for somebody like Fe Mones Saquibal, who has been a nurse for more than thirty years, she feels it is time to…
You already know that your home is in foreclosure. You’ve received the dreaded Notice of Default. You know that after 90 days, your lender could schedule a Trustee Sale for your property upon only 21 day’s notice. You don’t have a lot of time left. Your home with all its memories, hopes and dreams will…
The family court’s could grant initial restraining orders, protecting victims of domestic violence, for a period of up to 5 years under family code §6345(a). This includes personal conduct orders, stay-away orders, and residence exclusion orders. What happens if your initial restraining order is about to expire and you continue to have concerns that your…
New Plans Let Individuals, Small Businesses Pay for Retrofits via Their Utility Bills SAN FRANCISCO – Following recommendations from The Greenlining Institute and other stakeholders, the California Public Utilities Commission today approved a series of pilot programs to make energy efficiency retrofits available to low- and moderate-income Californians and small businesses. The new programs will…
LOS ANGELES—Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles and the Organization of Chinese American-Greater Los Angeles hosted “Affordable Healthcare & You”—a free educational forum for the community about the Affordable Healthcare Act. The forum began with a press conference, led by SIPA Executive Director Joel…
The scope of the nursing profession has been focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities. Nurses make sure that patients attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. But for somebody like Fe Mones Saquibal, who has been a nurse for more than thirty years, she feels it is time to…
