MANILA, July 31 — President Benigno S. Aquino III led the opening of an exhibit featuring his mother, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino’s paintings at the Lobby Lounge and Roma Salon of the Manila Hotel on Monday. The exhibit, aptly titled, “A Gift of Self,” showcases around 90 paintings of the former President and pieces…
(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…
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…
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…
“ In making an application for adjustment of status, an applicant must also prove that he is not “inadmissible” to the US. Certain grounds of inadmissibility may be “waived” during the process, such as prior criminal convictions or immigration violations.” THE US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit granted a joint motion to dismiss…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Asian Business Association (ABA) is proud to once again partner with the Los Angeles Business Journal for their annual Asian Business Awards. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the many achievements made by the Asian business community. We live in a global village and Los Angeles is at the center of trade and…
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,…
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…
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, “…
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…
