Drugs devastate lives
In an effort to crack down drug abuse and drug trafficking in the government, the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) starting August 2004 implemented random drug testing among government employees,…
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Self-defense or racial hatred?
“NOT guilty.” Many of those who have been following the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman case could not believe the verdict. They could not accept nor understand that a 17-year-old was killed…
A close look and a chat with FVR
Twenty seven years after the 1986 People Power Revolution, former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos’ drawing power and energy have not diminished one bit. And it was evident in his two-day visit to…
Filing bankruptcy to get rid of credit card debt
IT IS not difficult to get into credit card debt. If you are used to buying things on credit, perhaps you don’t even realize how much your borrowing is really…
Waiting for your immigration case: How long is too long?
THE processing times for some applications pending at the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) are longer than ever before. The USCIS holds a monopoly over all immigrants applying for…
Ramadhan begins in the Philippines
The official start of Ramadhan varies throughout the world since it is traditionally determined upon the sighting of the new moon. This year, the month-long celebration of Ramadhan in the…
1st Case Report of California Certified PA (Public Insurance Adjuster)
In February 2012, a flood occurred in the luxury house (with an estimated value of at least 1 million dollars) located in Tustin Valley, L.A. County. The homeowner, a male…
Tanker spill caused ‘minimal damage’ to LA River – authorities
LOS ANGELES – Over the weekend, a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline flipped over at the 2 and 5 freeways, spilling gasoline that erupted into flames along portions…
Fil-Am WW II vets saddened by allegations vs Filner
LOS ANGELES – Filipino-American World War II veteran supporters are saddened by the sexual harassment allegations against San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, a once staunch supporter of their plight. Eric…
Sunday night at the ER
All of LA County’s sufferings come through the doors of the emergency room. Accidents, shootings, heart attacks, beatings, rapes, suicides—just as gory and exciting when I was covering the police…
Cancellation of removal for LPRs
Despite their right to live and work in the U.S. permanently, lawful permanent resident (LPR) aliens may be removed from the U.S. due to criminal behavior or prohibited conduct. During…
The Pope and his homilies
POPE Francis’ homilies are getting popular nowadays. One of the reasons is that they’re simple, clear, practical, down-to-earth, honest, direct to the point, and devoid of highfalutin theological discourse. For…
Con-ass vs Con-con
WHILE President Benigno S. Aquino III still strongly opposes amending the Constitution, advocates of Charter change (Cha-cha) are making their move. Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. filed House Resolution…
After Asiana plane crash: Do you still feel safe to fly?
The news about the crash landing of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport on July 6 made many people re-think how safe it is to fly. This…
Your debt problems and Hosea
“ The LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.” IF YOU…
Are taxes dischargeable in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
YES. Some are. Let’s discuss taxes, penalties, and interest that are not dischargeable in a Chapter 13 filing. The Chief Counsel of the IRS examined which tax claims are nondischargeable…
From wage violations to human trafficking?
The story of a Saudi Princess and her 5 maids THE Los Angeles Times, NBC, CNN and other major news outlets report that on July 10, a woman identified as a…
Warning about short sales
STILL dealing with the burden of owning a house that is underwater at this stage of the late stage mortgage meltdown we had has got to be much more frustrating…
Fil-Am appointed to Cerritos Planning Commission
CERRITOS – On Monday, July 8, The Cerritos City Council appointed Tatiana Yokoyama to the city’s five-member planning commission. The city council unanimously voted in favor to appoint Yokoyama, a…
SD Mayor Bob Filner apologizes for inappropriate behavior
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, a long-time champion of Filipino American World War II veterans, on Thursday issued an apology to the residents of San Diego for…
Saudi princess arraigned on human trafficking charges
ICE still determining if 4 Pinoys are human trafficking victims ORANGE COUNTY – Four Filipino domestic servants were found in the home of a Saudi Arabian princess, who is accused…
Gov. Brown announces appointments
Fritz Friedman appointed to Cal Humanities Board SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on July 11 announced the following appointments. Cynthia Cotharn, 56, of Playa Vista, has been appointed to…
NAM holds writing fellowship on Palliative Care
PALO ALTO – New America Media recently held a Journalism Fellowship Program in Palliative Care at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The goal of the program is to educate…
What makes a perfect beauty pageant?
There is no correct or incorrect answer to that question—only an honest or dishonest one. Yet it is susceptible to a glib answer, just the way Atty. Jojo Reyes handled…
Julio Diaz: Philippine showbiz’s brown Adonis on a much-needed respite
Movie: “Trafficker.” Location: Mother Ignacia, Quezon City. Director: Roland Sanchez. Scene one. Sequence. Take one. Exterior shot. Day effect. Street scene. Along a congested neighborhood the street surprisingly looks deserted…
Julio Diaz: Philippine showbiz’s brown Adonis on a much-needed respite
Movie: “Trafficker.” Location: Mother Ignacia, Quezon City. Director: Roland Sanchez. Scene one. Sequence. Take one. Exterior shot. Day effect. Street scene. Along a congested neighborhood the street surprisingly looks deserted…
INA 204(c) Marriage Fraud Bar
Marriage fraud is a serious immigration violation with lasting consequences. An I-130 immigrant petition based on a fraudulent marriage would be denied. Additionally, under INA 204(c), no petition shall be…
I am a victim of violence, what can I do?
Question: I have been a victim of crime and also my friend was basically a slave for her employer. What can we do? Answer: There are different types of visas…
Claudine, Raymart now live separate lives
AND just when you thought that the controversy about of the Barretto family has died down (a bit), a new one will surely come out. True enough, just recently, actress…