ELTON and Rosie finally had their church wedding last week. It was a beautiful and down-to-earth ceremony with few relatives, friends, and members of their Charismatic community. At the reception, one could feel their profound gratitude and joy as they shared experiences of faith and love. Last January, Elton and Rosie lost their two-year old…
This week, two kababayans made their fellow Filipinos proud. On Wednesday, migrant workers’ rights advocate Susan V. Ople received the 2013 Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery award from US State Secretary John Kerry in Washington DC. “This is a pleasant surprise, a remarkable blessing. It’s the best belated Father’s Day gift ever for my…
WHEN we are saddled with seemingly insurmountable problems in our day-to-day life in America, we yearn for inspiration — one that will reassure us that all will be well. That there is light at the end of the tunnel. That we can use our challenges to become better human beings, not just for our own…
IF YOU have debt problems, think of seven loaves of bread and two fish. A crowd of 5,000 men, their wives and children, making the crowd about 15,000 to 20,000, had been listening to Jesus talk in the wilderness. On the third day, the disciples of Jesus told Him that He should send the crowd…
ON June 10, 2013, Commissioner Martin R. Gladstein of Department 2 of the Valencia, California Court, ordered restitution payment as in a civil judgment, pursuant to Penal Code Section 1202.4(i). This Author currently represents the white Caucasian defendant, who pled “no contest” to a violation of Section 243(d) of the Penal Code for assault with…
Background WHEN is your return free from IRS audits? From your perspective, statutes of limitation prevent the IRS from collecting a deficiency in tax or beginning a civil or criminal case. In short, statutes of limitation provide a date of finality after which the IRS or the taxpayer can take no further actions. We all…
(Unpaid internships may be illegal) ERIC Glatt and Alexander Footman worked as unpaid production interns on the film Black Swan. In September 2011, they sued their employer, Fox Searchlight, to recover wages. An internship may be an essential part of an established course of an accredited school or of an institution approved by a public…
RESEARCHING blog site like loansafe.org, I have come across a few loan mod success that might excite you with their stories. I thought I might share it with you: “First of all, I wanted to say a special thank you to Loan Safe and it’s members for the valuable and knowledgeable information that it provides….
LOS ANGELES – To celebrate the 152nd anniversary of the birth of Jose Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles (PCG-LA) launched on June 19, Wednesday, the first ever “expansive” library dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Philippine national hero. Dubbed as “Centro Rizal,” Consul General (ConGen) Hellen Barber – De…
LOS ANGELES – Less than 24 hours of placing Walter Lee Williams on the Ten Most Wanted List, FBI officials announced his capture. The former University of Southern California professor Williams was wanted for allegedly committing sex crimes in the Philippines. The FBI captured the 64-year-old Williams on June 19, at the resort town of…
NEWPORT BEACH – Law enforcement officials are seeking the publics help identifying possible additional victims of a Filipino caregiver accused of sexually assaulting a 66-year-old disabled woman. On June 17, Orange County Sheriff officers oarrested Robert Ligayo, 62, of Aliso Viejo for elder abuse and sexual battery. Ligayo is in custody with bail set at…
LOS ANGELES – The Better Business Bureau that served the greater Los Angeles marketplace has been expelled from the national organization, according to the Council of Better Business Bureaus. In a statement in March, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which is the umbrella organization for 113 local, independent BBBs across the United States and…
LONG BEACH – On June 18, business leaders based in Long Beach and the South Bay areas expressed their opposition to Assembly Bill 880 — a piece of pending legislation introduced by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-East Los Angeles). AB 880 is seen by its supporters as a measure that would address a so-called flaw of…
Courts are strange places, with its sterile poetry of setting. With such natural order, the décor scarcely matters, reduced to benches, tables, doors and a wall. In ponderous tones (of an outdated literary manner), men pass judgment on business interests, and on the emotions and freedom of others. There is almost a funeral eloquence in…
Filipinos, by nature, are known not only for being sociable but also for being discriminating food lovers. The typical Filipino cook has that peculiar penchant for food preparation and is skilled with numerous cooking techniques. Their myriad ways of cooking had evolved over the centuries after being influenced by their country’s diverse ethnic groups; by…
Filipinos, by nature, are known not only for being sociable but also for being discriminating food lovers. The typical Filipino cook has that peculiar penchant for food preparation and is skilled with numerous cooking techniques. Their myriad ways of cooking had evolved over the centuries after being influenced by their country’s diverse ethnic groups; by…
Humans are similar, with one big difference. We have adult teeth (these are our “working teeth”) and we have dental lamina. What we don’t have are substitute teeth. While most vertebrates can replace teeth until the day they die, human teeth replace themselves only once. The million dollar question is, why do replacement teeth stop…
Right now, the full Senate has begun debating on the new immigration reform proposal which was approved and forwarded by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is expected that senators will introduce their own amendments and there will be changes, additions or removals throughout the debate. Some Senators are promising a vote on the Senate’s proposal…
IT was indeed a starry, starry night at this year’s 36th Gawad Urian Awards Night when the one and only Superstar Nora Aunor and actor Jericho Rosales bagged the top awards for Best Actress and Best Actor respectively. Held last June 18 at the NBC Tent in Taguig City, it is Jericho’s first win in…
The decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a divorce proceeding. In a long term marriage especially, these issues are often heavily litigated between the spouses, and can take a significant amount of time…
AFTER the tension, which flared after the shooting and death of a Taiwanese fisherman by a member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on May 9, the Philippines and Taiwan have agreed to avoid resorting to force and preventing the recurrence of similar incidents. The two nations are also expected to meet in July for…
IN the past edition of this column, I shared with you some important information to help you understand teen depression and guide you in doing your best so that the heartbreaking loss of the Molina Family in New York (whose 12-year old daughter took her own life after being bullied in school and online) may,…
WHAT should the Philippines do about the “salami-slicing” and “cabbage-wrapping” strategy that China is applying in the Spratlys? It has left our armed forces looking like the skinny kid at the beach, in that old-time Charles Atlas ad, with the bully kicking sand on the weakling’s face. Like the quintessential bully, the Chinese are taking…
WHEN your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, it is one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the decision should not be taken lightly and it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to see if it is best for your…
LOS ANGELES – A former University of Southern California professor wanted for committing sex crimes in the Philippines was named in the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List on Monday. Walter Lee Williams became the 500th person named on the infamous list, FBI officials said. Williams is a former tenured professor where he taught anthropology and…
LOS ANGELES – Asian American homebuyers and renters face discrimination and adverse treatment as or more often than other communities of color when seeking a home, according to a US government study. The study done by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and The Urban Institute found on average that Asian American homebuyers…
LOS ANGELES – The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP), a statewide collaboration of agriculture officials and citrus industry representatives, held a press briefing on June 6 at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to call for the support of Angelenos and LAX travelers in the fight against a disease that threatens to wipe…
“Summer time and the living is easy,” says Gershwin. Summer has officially arrived, that season when time stands still. When nothing bad can happen. When mornings, with the sun buttering the tree tops, represent a chance to start over and when everything seems possible — as it began to beguine. Summer is one metaphor after…
Aliens who commit drug offenses may become inadmissible or deportable. Inadmissibility means that an alien is ineligible to receive a visa or he cannot be admitted into the U.S. based on his conduct or convictions. Deportability means that an alien who was previously admitted could be removed based on his conduct or convictions. The drug…
IT HAS always been the case that every time I see my spiritual director, I end up becoming affirmed and beheld again. It is as if my spiritual director is God telling me, “Rodel, you are a special person. You have so many gifts. You are loved!” You see, like many people, I don’t always…
