A separation, break-up and new beginning

THEY were considered as the couple who most people were expecting to tie the know in the not-so-distant future.  So when international singer and TV host Billy Crawford and singer/actress Nikki Gil admitted that they have indeed mutually agreed to end their relationship of more than four years, everyone was surprised and saddened. Nikki, 25,…

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Stem cell fraud

Three top politicians in the Philippines have died from complications of stem cell treatment. There are countless others, some unreported cases, around the world, so the public must be warned. What are stem cells? The building block, the foundation cell, for every cell, tissue and organ in the body is the stem cell. Stem cells…

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Filner to undergo behavioral therapy

SAN DIEGO  San Diego Mayor Bob Filner plans to undergo behavioral therapy as pressures for him to step down from his political post continue to grow. Filner on Friday again apologized to his staff and the people of San Diego for “the behavior I have engaged in over many years,” he said. The former long-time…

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Impossible dream?

CELEBRITIES, who venture into politics, are not an uncommon sight in the Philippines — and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is one of them. In the last three years, politics has been a major part of his career. He may have lost his last two major fights in 2012, but Pacquiao won big time in…

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“Fresh Start” Initiative for Payment Plans with the IRS

(Part 2 of 2) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: Offer in Compromise (OIC) – more flexible guidelines for collection potential. Payment plans – more taxpayers can apply without financial statements. We discussed OIC in a prior article. Let’s now discuss…

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Catholicism in the time of Pope Francis

THIS is an exciting time to be Catholic, especially for those who have had doubts and questions about the Catholic Church’s relevance in their spiritual and faithful journey. After the resignation of Pope Benedict a few months ago, the emergence of Pope Francis as the new leader of the Catholic Church has been a defining…

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Reduce stress by reducing your debt

DO you dream of simplifying your life, reducing your stress and regaining control of your financial future? Everyone dreams of living a debt-free life and yet we know that today, so many people are drowning in debt that they don’t even sleep well at night. If you are one of these people, perhaps you are…

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Majestic waves

WITH the high bio-diversity and undiscovered riches in the country, the Philippines is without a doubt a tropical paradise. Its scenic attractions, various outdoor activities, interesting culture, rich history and sumptuous dishes are just among the many inviting features of our country. During the summer, this archipelago is a major tourist destination. Travelers of different…

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Aggravated Felonies

Immigration law defines an aggravated felony, not by describing its common elements but by enumerating the specific offenses that fall under this category. Originally, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (ADAA) defined an aggravated felony to include murder, drug trafficking, and illicit trafficking of firearms. This definition has expanded over the years to include about…

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Marinduque Association of Southern California Grand Reunion

Marinduque Association of Southern California (MASC) , a tax-exempt organization, is celebrating its 34th Anniversary and is hosting 20th Anniversary (10th Biennial Grand Reunion) of Marinduque International, Inc. (MII) from August 15-18, 2013 to be held at the Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way , Anaheim, CA 92802. Schedule of events:  Thursday, Aug. 15, Welcome, Luau…

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To veil or unveil, a purely Muslim issue

MANILA, July 28 (PNA) — Prudence dictates that non-Muslim Filipino educators should leave alone Filipino Muslims and Muslim teachers decide when and where to unveil or expose their hair and face. For the Muslims all over the world, the burqa or head-to-toe garment worn by Islamic women, is not only religious but cultural and political…

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Christmas in July

Christmas comes only once a year. You cannot exaggerate it. You cannot overstate it. It is a rich festival that belongs to mothers, fathers and children. It is not the time to talk about situations, nor conditions, nor people who emerge briefly into the scene. You see, Christmas is made of equal parts of love,…

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All shook up

TROUBLE in the Philippine Bureau of Customs has been brewing for months. In April, Pres. Benigno Aquino III sent feelers at a groundbreaking ceremony in Capiz. According to a report from GMA News, the president said that “it’s only a matter of time when the administration will implement an extensive plan to weed out the…

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Oscars-like pageantry in the SONA

LAST Wednesday, I wrote a bit about Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s statement, where she lambasted lawmakers’ “obsession to bling,” and promised to file a resolution prescribing an official uniform for members of Congress attending the State of the Nation Address (SONA). “I watched TV and could not stand it,” the fiery lady senator said, “…

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Debt problems? Think of Lot & his daughters

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…

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FAQ #2 – FBAR financial accounts

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….

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Short sale legal and tax implications

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…

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Immigration status is not a bar to claiming unpaid wages

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…

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