Celebrating and challenging the Filipina
I HAD the privilege of meeting so many high achieving kababayan and kabaro in the Filipina Women’s Network Gala honoring the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World. It was…
Litography
SOME mischievous social media folks have been using a rather funny-sarcastic term when talking about President Noynoy Aquino: Litography. No, they’re not referring to a printing process. They mean someone…
Self-petitions for abused spouses
“ A spouse or child who has been ‘battered or subject to extreme mental cruelty’ is eligible to ‘self-petition’ and adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident independent…
Undas: A time of remembering
Undas, the Philippines’ celebration of All Saints’ and Souls’ Day, has become a significant part of the Philippine culture. And from preparations to practice, Filipinos have a unique way of…
The Fil-Am community in California: Political influence doesn’t match the numbers
THERE are two things we know for sure about the Filipino-American community in our nation’s largest state. And what we know tells us that the community is a sort of…
One night in autumn
Autumn provokes memories of loss. After all, it is the end of summer and we witness the last batch of uncomplaining plants, which contributed to the zest and color of…
Controversial Fil-Am mom asks: ‘What’s your excuse?’
ANOTHER Fil-Am mom created a firestorm online and on television because of her Facebook page picture, which showed her with her three very young sons, wearing a skimpy two-piece workout…
Tired of worrying about debt? Rest in green pastures with Jesus
WE worry about so many things that are not on the right track in our lives. We worry about our children and their future. We worry about our retirement. Are…
Real estate title choices
WHEN buying and selling real estate, there is always that inevitable question: how do you hold title? Remember that your choice can have dramatic impact on estate taxes, liability protection,…
Non-service connected aid and attendance pension for veterans
VETERANS who once served on active duty at time of war, need not be in combat, in the United States Army, Marine Corp, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard, or…
Employer threats of deportation now illegal
THE struggle to help immigrant workers enforce their basic labor rights recently gained a major boost in California with the passage of new employment laws. Two laws are intended to…
The O-1: An alternative to the H-1B
QUESTION: I have years of experience, but cannot get an H-1B as they are used up. Are there any alternatives to the H-1B? Answer: There is the option of the…
Scammers prey on Larry Itliong Village hopefuls
LOS ANGELES – A new scam has got the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipinos in LA worried. Apparently, scammers are using the soon-to-open Larry Itliong Village (an affordable housing…
Trial set for Pinay in distracted driving case
ANAHEIM – A jury trial has been set for a Filipino-American woman accused of driving while distracted, causing a fatal accident. An Orange County District Attorney spokesperson told the Asian…
A life of prayer
MANY of us need to have a wider understanding of the concept of prayer. Some of us think that prayer is just coming to church for an hour on Sunday,…
Halloween and All Souls’ Day worldwide practices
Fall ushered in a series of eventful October activities aptly culminated by one of the most anticipated global celebrations there is, Halloween, a holiday celebrated on the night of October…
Do you need to file bankruptcy again?
Eight years ago, Congress passed new federal laws that made it tougher to file personal bankruptcy. This happened at a time when thousands of families were living in financial distress…
Waiver of joint petition to remove conditional permanent residency on a marriage entered less than two years
The Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) requires an alien obtaining a green card through a marriage less than two years old to come back at the end of…
Halloween and All Souls’ Day worldwide practices
Fall ushered in a series of eventful October activities aptly culminated by one of the most anticipated global celebrations there is, Halloween, a holiday celebrated on the night of October…
California immigration related laws to benefit illegals
Even with the passage of immigration reform stalled in Congress, the State of California has been enacting laws benefitting the undocumented population of the State. Notable among these immigration related…
Your petition could be shred if you don’t advise the Nvc of any address change!
If you have ever filed a petition on behalf of a relative (i.e. a brother, sister, adult child, etc.), and then moved to a new home, you must notify the…
The season of breakups
WITH the coming Christmas season, it is always nice to have that “someone special” for the holidays who you can cuddle with and celebrate. Since the holidays come early in…
Controversial medical therapies
“For ladies who want larger breasts, men who want larger and longer penises, for those who want to be taller, and for older people who want to have instant rejuvenation…
An evening at the opera
I CAN never quell a stir of fascination, dread and longing when the house lights dim and the curtains part. But the enjoyment of an opera can begin, not with…
Higher stakes
THE stakes in uncovering the truth behind the controversial pork barrel scam just got higher. On November 7, the stage is set at a Senate public hearing, for a face…
The changing persona of the Filipina ‘lola’
IN the past, the epitome of the Filipina lola has been painted as an old woman in a rocking chair, gray hair in a bun (pusod), wearing eye glasses, a…
The cat and the hot stove
MARK Twain is said to have quipped, “A cat who sits on a hot stove will never sit on a hot stove again. But he won’t sit on a cold…
Philippines’ oldest colonial churches
THE vibrant past of the Philippines is among the many great things it is known for. As one of the most-visited destinations, it is home to a great number of…