LAST week, we talked about the destruction of the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah by burning sulfur that rained from the heavens. If you go to Israel today, it is said that these two cities were located at the south western tip of the Dead Sea which is now a limestone and salt hill because…
THE IRS issued new guidance requiring individuals with an interest in a “specified foreign financial asset” to attach a disclosure statement to their income tax return for any year in which the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds $50,000. Use new form Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) starting in 2011. Q….
THE good news is that tax relief has been enacted for homeowners doing Short Sales. The Federal Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 HR 3648 and Federal Bailout Legislation HR1424 extended until December 31,2013 tax relief for recourse debt forgiveness on principal residence indebtedness is excluded from taxable income. Qualified principal residence indebtedness is acquisition…
“ Congress created the EB-5 immigrant visa category in 1990 for immigrants seeking to enter to engage in a commercial enterprise that will benefit the US economy and create at least 10 full-time jobs.” QUESTION: I have heard that you can only get the Green Card if you invest $1,000,000. However, I only have $500,000….
ALL workers are protected by California’s laws regulating wages and working conditions. The protection applies undocumented workers who are entitled to the following rights: – The prevailing minimum wage (currently $8.00 per hour) – Overtime pay for working more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week – Meal breaks and rest breaks…
LOS ANGELES – Filipino-American comedian Edwin San Juan said he believes he’s been caught in the middle of a political feud between opponents of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s department is embroiled in controversy, after the 44-year-old comedian’s performance at the Sheriff’s Day Luncheon on Wednesday. Some of the estimated…
LOS ANGELES – On July 24, Filipinos in Los Angeles trooped to the Chinese Consulate offices in Shatto Place in Koreatown to protest the China’s aggression in the heated West Philippine Sea/South China Sea territorial dispute. Led by US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), Filipino Angelenos clad in yellow shirts and carrying anti-China placards marched…
Mitsubishi responds with stern statement LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, July 18, energy giant Southern California Edison (SCE) filed a formal notice of dispute against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, seeking to hold the Japanese company responsible in the manufacturing defects that were found in replacement steam generators (RSGs) at the…
GOD knows those of us who work so hard and who patiently fulfill our responsibilities and obligations. God knows our fidelity to him and our persistence to live and believe despite our struggles, pains, dilemmas, heartaches and disappointments. God knows our generosity, kindness, and compassion to others. He knows our true motives. And so, despite…
After attending countless events at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, it came as a surprise that its Grand Ballroom was “dressed” so differently last Sunday, July 21st when Philippine Fiesta in America (now simply dubbed Fiesta in America) treated various Filipino-American Artists to a once-in-a-lifetime grand bash. The group honored distinct talents of home-grown as well…
Beginning August 2013, the visa availability for F2A category of family based petitions will be current. Historically, the wait for this category was 3-4 years. The F2A category consists of spouses and single children under 21 years old of permanent residents. This means a permanent resident can now petition their spouse and simultaneously file an…
After attending countless events at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, it came as a surprise that its Grand Ballroom was “dressed” so differently last Sunday, July 21st when Philippine Fiesta in America (now simply dubbed Fiesta in America) treated various Filipino-American Artists to a once-in-a-lifetime grand bash. The group honored distinct talents of home-grown as well…
ROSEMEAD, Calif., July 25, 2013 — Southern California Edison (SCE) is advising customers to be aware of a telephone scam that demands immediate payment for allegedly past due electricity bills. Imposters have been calling SCE customers telling them they must make immediate payment on past due bills or have their electric service disconnected. The callers…
His Excellency, the President of the United States Barack Obama heads the list of the roster of prominent personalities who will celebrating their birthdays this August. Barack Hussein Obama II, born August 4, 1961, is the 44th and current US President and the first African-American to hold the office. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, he is…
BECAUSE it usually happens spontaneously, we don’t often think about smiling or laughing. However, they both really do make us feel better—and, studies continue to reveal more of their many benefits. 1. Smiling evokes trust A recent study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology suggests that people may be as much as 10 percent more willing to trust…
Almost immediately after the US Supreme Court declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, both Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, pledged their full support in providing same-sex couples the very same immigration benefits available to opposite-sex couples. Sec. Kerry, whose department oversees embassies and visa issuance, stated…
Elder abuse or abuse of the elderly is a pandemic. It is much more common that we think. This savagery is shameful, disgusting, and against every rule on love, respect, and human decency. It is most unfortunate that while the human race has come a long way from our cavemen years, the caveman mentality and…
Nelson Mandela forgave unconditionally. His life was a dimension of generosity and magnanimity, in both political defeat and victory. A multitude of adjectives describe him: statesman, magnanimous, dignified, patient and gentlemanly. He believed that by displaying dignity, and by consciously withholding animosity, he could accomplish far more than he could possibly achieve, armed with a…
MANILA, July 24 (PNA) –“Apolinario Mabini is an inspiration to persons with disabilities (PWDs).” Thus said Carmen Zubiaga in an interview with the Philippines News Agency (PNA) as she joined other people in witnessing the inauguration of the Apolinario Mabini Museum at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa Mabini Campus on Tuesday….
HOW wonderful it is to be a Filipino, in these times. These were the words left by President Benigno Aquino III on his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. “My bosses, let us remember: where did we begin? If you have doubts now, compare them…
THE MMDA and assorted kibitzers have come up with all kinds of solutions to the infernal Metro Manila traffic problem. The dancing traffic cops. The color coding idea. The U-turn idea. The bus ban idea. The flyovers and the underpasses. The LRT and MRT. But still the traffic mess remains. I live in the San…
PHILIPPINE President Noynoy “PNoy” Aquino delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address(SONA) on July 22, before the joint sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives and before kababayans worldwide. PNoy’s 102-minute speech heralded the achievements of his administration, focusing mainly on the economy and public service. Like his his previous SONA, Aquino slammed…
ACCORDING to a recent study, a majority of people in this country are living way beyond their means. In keeping up with the Jones’s, these people have resorted to using credit cards to buy things that they normally can’t afford with their income. They buy everything with the plastic cards they keep in their wallets. …
JUST weeks after the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act’s (DOMA) definition of “marriage” in Windsor v. US as a union between male and female spouses, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has followed suit. On July 17, 2013, the BIA issued its decision in Matter of Zeleniak, holding that DOMA…
With the erratic weather changes experienced in the country, it is important to keep a healthy body and lifestyle to avoid any sickness. And since the rainy season has begun a lot are experiencing mild sickness like colds and coughs. Endowed with abundant natural resources, the Philippines have been known to have a variety of…
Parents that are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network is in another state. This decision often have a significant impact on the visitation of the other parent because it would be more difficult for…
SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office plan to further investigate the driver behind the wheel of the deadly limousine fire, which killed five Filipino women, after a newspaper reported that he was on the phone arguing with his estranged wife, while the passengers inside were pleading for help. In a story…
It is alarming to hear that the IRS has proposed a plan to Congress that will take away our independence as tax filers and instead force us to rely on the IRS to do it for us. The IRS claims that it can handle the enormous task of preparing tax returns for every single American…
Summer is the time when people from all walks of life gather at the Hollywood Bowl. This iconic spot, nestled in Hollywood Hills under the starry sky of Southern California, shares the experience of true live music. It is the ideal setting for grand expression — whether it’s a performance or a voices joined in…
The Asingan Association of Northern California, Inc. will elect a new set of officers on August 17 in conjunction with its annual summer picnic, and its focus this year is to tap young members to become involved in the electoral process. While Fil-Am organizations have generally been on target in the pursuit of their goals…
