May 22, 2013 Dear Editor: Re: May 22, 2013 “Philippines fears for workers in Taiwan amid row” YOUR Journal’s past coverage of events related to the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been noticed. Amid the current tense relations between the ROC and Philippines following the recent fatal attack on a Taiwan fishing vessel, we look…
A SAD news greeted me when I arrived at the San Francisco Airport on May 7 on the way to my training. Mr. Felino Punzalan, our esteemed veteran leader in San Francisco died and was buried yesterday. I asked: “Why did you not inform me? I could have come.” “It was very sudden. And quick….
PEOPLE with heavy debt think that they have serious problems in life that are almost unbearable. “Attorney, we can’t sleep because our creditors are hounding us day and night! They threaten us with lawsuits and wage garnishment and bank levies!” Well, yes, if you have too much debt, it does create a financial problem for…
IF YOU run your own business, consider employing your children this summer vacation. Employing your children gives you a triple benefit: 1. It teaches your children the virtue of work and the value of money. 2. It could save you around 27 percent by shifting income down from a maximum rate of 35 percent for…
BEDFORD Care Group, Inc., a company that operates six assisted living facilities in Fresno County, was recently cited by the labor agency, for violating California’s employment laws including unpaid minimum wage, unpaid overtime, meal and rest break violations, and failure to issue itemized wage statements. The employer was ordered to back-pay eleven residential caregivers a…
“Homes that are under water have only a few option to refinance their mortgages, the HARP programs is probably your best bet but it’s not for everyone and there are restrictions.” THE Home Affordable Refinance Program expansion helps today’s historically low rates become available to customers who have an existing mortgage loan owned by Fannie…
A week ago, a whole nation fidgeted while the next installment of political drama unfolded during the May midterm elections. In any case, what can one really do within the three-layered hiatus from the time one is elected, proclaimed and finally assumed into office? A campaign combat is many things: a pageant, a carnival, a…
The Southern Philippines is known for its rich traditional practices particularly in relation with birth, marriage, death, funeral and mourning, worship, beliefs, myths, everything that pertains to their daily activities and the way they enjoy and celebrate life. Southern tribes, like any ethnic group, have their own brand of musicality and a wide array of…
The Southern Philippines is known for its rich traditional practices particularly in relation with birth, marriage, death, funeral and mourning, worship, beliefs, myths, everything that pertains to their daily activities and the way they enjoy and celebrate life. Southern tribes, like any ethnic group, have their own brand of musicality and a wide array of…
DURING a recent appreciation dinner for faculty members at St. John’s Seminary, I was sitting next to a rabbi, who is a professor of Old Testament theology, and his wife. “What about you,” I asked the wife, “do you also teach? “I do,” she answered. “I teach monotheistic religion.” At that time I had become…
Motorists should make certain their vehicle is up to the rigors of travel. Whether you do your own maintenance or depend on the pros, Regular service let’s you undo the wear and tear of summer and winters tough conditions while getting ready for travels ahead. • First things first – Read your owner’s manual and…
Water crisis is threatening the world, and the Philippines is not immune to it. As a matter of fact, the United Nation appears to be a notch more concerned about this than about global warming. And rightfully so, because water is life, and no water means no life on earth. The Philippine archipelago, made up…
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning that immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority…
Angelee Claudett delos Reyes was crowned as the new Miss Philippines Earth 2013 last Sunday, May 19, during the grand coronation night held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The 25-year-old marketing head from Olongapo City, Zambales stood out among the other 46 candidates for the title. The pageant mission to promote the…
You may be thinking, “hmm… another health/wellness company. Who cares?” and you wouldn’t be the only on thinking that. When we started VG Wellness, we asked ourselves that exact question, Who Cares? The answer to this question is the foundation on which we built our company. We Care. We care about providing the best nutrition…
The heat still hovers around the metro. It makes itself known to everyone with its imposing presence. Some may find it a bit irritating as it becomes a source of displeasure. This fever-pitch position on the temperature scale has a direct connection with the rise of electric bills due to high consumption by electric fans…
“THE government’s wrongdoing should not be shouldered by innocent people,” read a placard held by a young Taiwanese, during a rally on May 19, to support the plight of Filipinos in Taiwan. As the diplomatic spat between the Philippines and Taiwan (over the slained Taiwanese fisherman in the disputed waters of the coast of Bataan)…
WOULD you have both of your breasts removed if you find out you are genetically predisposed to have breast cancer, even if you do not have signs you have cancer at the moment? That was exactly what famous actress Angelina Jolie chose to do, as she disclosed via an op-ed article in The New York…
It is said that choice is destiny’s soulmate. You have a choice to accept or refuse, to take one turning down the crossroads to the future or another. By not choosing, we allow others to decide for us. If you didn’t make the choice, you cannot blame someone else for your unhappiness. As you retrace…
FILING Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often a last resort for people in foreclosure when no other options exist. A lot of homeowners usually put off making this decision for a long time until they find themselves backed into a corner with no way out. Most of the time they’ll attempt to do a loan modification…
LOS ANGELES – On May 17, LA City mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti endorsed Mitch O’Farrell, to succeed him as the Councilmember representing the 13th Council District. “Mitch O’Farrell is the best choice to carry on the work I’ve been doing in the 13th District. He deserves your vote,” Garcetti said. “John Choi is a fine…
AS OF March 4, 2013 certain immigrant visa applicants who are the spouses, children and parents of US citizens (“immediate relatives”), who have been unlawfully present in the United States, can start applying for provisional unlawful presence waivers through a new, Stateside “Provisional Waiver” process. The new provisional waiver process is for certain individuals who…
With all the trouble immigrants go through to obtain their lawful permanent residence (LPR), you would be surprised to find out that some immigrants abandon their LPR status, in most cases, unintentionally. Typically, this happens when an LPR visits his home country and stays abroad for too long. Upon his return to the U.S., a…
LOS ANGELES – Capping off a three-month campaign to educate the Asian American community in the City of Los Angeles about the upcoming municipal general election, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) urges voters to get to the polls on May 21 to elect a new mayor, city attorney, city controller, some city councilmembers,…
LOS ANGELES – The Philippine Consulate General closed the overseas voting period at 4am on May 13 and immediately thereafter counted the votes. The Consulate activated nine (9) election precincts which counted 3,628 ballots that it received at the end of the voting period. The unofficial results showed the top 12 as follows: Escudero –…
LOS ANGELES – A 75-year-old Filipino caregiver earlier this week won an undisclosed amount of back wages owed to her by an employment agency, according to the Filipino Migrant Center (FMC). Elydia Sarmiento, who worked as a private caregiver for an elderly woman, claimed for four years the employment agency (which was not disclosed) paid…
For Outreach and Education on Obamacare LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, independent state government arm Covered California announced that 48 lead organizations will be receiving a total of $37 million in grants, which will be used to deliver information on new health coverage options that will be starting in 2014 to millions of individuals and…
LOS ANGELES – With Asian American Heritage Month in full swing, the Republican Party sought to take advantage of the momentum of the cultural event and reach out to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, Republican National Convention Chairman Reince Preibus spoke to the AAPI politicians and personalities…
LOS ANGELES – With only a few days left until the LA General Filipino community advocate and Council District 13 (CD13) stakeholder Joel Jacinto made a bold move and expressed his endorsement for candidate John Choi. “I believe that there is only one choice for the Filipino community, and that is John Choi,” Jacinto said…
For Outreach and Education on Obamacare LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, independent state government arm Covered California announced that 48 lead organizations will be receiving a total of $37 million in grants, which will be used to deliver information on new health coverage options that will be starting in 2014 to millions of individuals and…
