Move over Cleveland hero Charles Ramsey. The Filipino-American community has their own hero in Nida Arjona Tapel, who helped thwart a kidnapping attempt on December 19, 2011. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey presented the “Courageous Citizen Award” to Tapel and three other heroes during a luncheon held at the City Club on April…
AS OF press time, nine senatorial candidates have been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as winners of the 2013 midterm polls. The first six who were proclaimed earlier include Grace Poe Llamanzares, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Nancy Binay and Juan Edgardo Angara. Another three were proclaimed by COMELEC on…
FIL-AMS and kababayans back home may share the same love for Filipino food and follow the same teleseryes on The Filipino Channel, but when it comes to their discernment process when voting for candidates in elections – they seem to live in different worlds. Take the recently concluded midterm elections in the Philippines as an…
May 15, 2013 Dear Editor: California lawmakers are actively considering state legislation that could severely impact a wide array of Asian-owned and operated businesses throughout the state. The legislation, which is known as Senate Bill 622, was introduced by State Senator Bill Monning of Monterey, CA and is quickly moving its way through the California…
DEBTS are a big headache for many people. In my last article, I suggested that if you had problems with debt you should rely on Psalm 23 for comfort. It says that you should rely on the Lord for He will guide you to the right path. Then what is the right path to get…
CALLER: Hi Ken, I have been following your columns for many years and they are very informative and delightful. I am turning 60 and want to buy a home again. I am retiring in a couple more years and would like your opinion on this subject. I sold my house in 2006 because I read…
Background A LIMITED Liability Company is referred to as “LLC.” A husband and wife can form an LLC for their real estate properties. You can choose the type of entity for tax purposes by “checking the box” for either partnership, corporation, or disregarded entity. A formal partnership has to file a separate partnership tax return….
WHEN insurance companies issue a policy, they promise that they will take care of their policyholders when they suffer a serious loss to their home, their car, or their health. Life insurers promise that beneficiaries will be provided the benefits when they die. Disability insurers promise that payments will be made in the event of…
We saw what joy looked like on the “Day of Tribute to all Mothers” last weekend. It touched us to the core , bringing back tenderly the true meaning of and reverence for the life-long role of motherhood. It was a whole day affair that made one laugh, cry and snuggle up to warm, wonderful…
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — LA’s new consul-general, Ambassador Ma. Hellen Barber-de la Vega, last Saturday, May 11, inducted into office the 2013-14 officers of United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) at the Radisson Hotel in this city. Heading the line-up of the newly inducted officers were Board Chairman Zenaida “Zeny” P. Sabocor and President Antonia “Nanie”…
Finally, Jersey City’s voting populace has spoken and they did it with passion by electing Steven Fulop! Voters saw that somebody with well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers will come to change the face of this diversely populated community. That is why the May 14 election made Fulop the messiah of change. Fulop gives out that…
Question: I am married to a US Citizen and I want to adjust to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident. What can I do? Answer: Are you inside the US? Question: Yes. Answer: Did you enter illegally? Question: Yes? Answer: Did you commit any crimes, any fraud or have you been issued any deportation orders?…
Finally, Jersey City’s voting populace has spoken and they did it with passion by electing Steven Fulop! Voters saw that somebody with well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers will come to change the face of this diversely populated community. That is why the May 14 election made Fulop the messiah of change. Fulop gives out that…
IT’S amazing to think about the power of God in our lives, how he has gifted humanity with intelligence, strength, and artistic ability. It’s marvelous to see young people growing in wisdom and experience. It is even more fascinating to see how people persevere, how they are able to overcome the sufferings and challenges of…
ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 9, 2013 — Southern California Edison (SCE) is advising Asian customers to be aware of a telephone scam is demanding 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…
Many people admit that they only visit the dentist when they feel something is wrong. If you don’t wait until it’s too late, your visit can be comfortable and convenient. YES, we all live on budgets, right? When life throws us a curve ball, it can be tempting to postpone our dental treatments. Resist that…
I know of many cases where a child was a derivative beneficiary of the parent’s family or employment-based petition. The parent was able to adjust status, and lock in the child’s age under the CSPA mathematical formula. While the child was in the midst of being processed for an immigrant visa, the parent became eligible…
IT may be a little premature for some of showbiz personalities to declare victory during the last May 13 elections in the Philippines, so we try to get the most updated results to see who among those may have a leading edge. Some can be considered as winners, especially when results show that they have…
In a previous column, we reported that drinking coffee regularly “reduces the risk for the development of Type II (adult onset) diabetes.” Subsequently, we have also published reports of later clinical studies that alluded to other health benefits of coffee-drinking in warding off migraine headaches, Alzheimer’s, degenerative diseases, gallstones, liver cirrhosis, and possibly cancer. New…
Humanity has been held in awe by the possibilities of space since we started looking up to the skies. The space race, led by the United States and the former Soviet Union, gave way to a plethora of adventures with highlights like the Russians sending the first man, Yuri Gagarin, to space; and the steps…
LOS ANGELES – Asian American groups are pushing hard to fight for a family-friendly immigration system in the comprehensive immigration reform bill. During a conference call on Monday, officials from the Asian American Justice Center applauded Senator Mazie Hirono’s amendments to the legislation to protect the family-based immigration system. “We are grateful to Sen. Hirono…
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Government held the colorful opening ceremonies for the 2013 Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month on Friday, May 10, at the LA City Hall South Plaza. In attendance were various city hall officials and representatives from different APIA community organizations, lending their presence to the annual…
IT is a feat for a country that is infamous for its “dirty politics.” Within two days, ballots were in and results are almost complete in the Philippines’ second automated polls. Others were declared as runaway winners while some emerged after a neck-and-neck race, to fill the 18,000 positions in contest—from national legislators to local…
THE news is out. Our virtues shine through. Filipinos are a forgiving people. Yes, we abhor erring politicians. We even oust them from office. But time heals all wounds. We forgive and forget. People from other countries have taken notice. Americans, who follow politics in the Philippines, have been saying that had the popular Noynoy…
WE should be relieved that the Boston marathon bombing didn’t happen in Manila. Otherwise, we would have the officials and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation throwing up their hands in helplessness and admitting the “difficulty” of tracking down the terrorists, as did Reynaldo Esmeralda, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services. Here’s how the…
On that big production (called Mother’s Day), we laid gifts of love and honor at the treasured feet of our mothers. They do not crave attention, but they glory in it. For some, it involved but a short journey, perhaps just around the corner, or merely into another room. For others, it was a telephone…
CHAPTER 13 is the section of the US Bankruptcy Code that allows individuals in the United States to reorganize their finances. If you are having difficulty paying your debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, taxes, late mortgage payments and property taxes- all kinds of debts) due to insufficient income, don’t despair. Chapter 13 may…
ALTHOUGH the Bipartisan “Gang of Eight” Senators has introduced The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744, the Bill is still undergoing considerable “mark-ups” as it is debated in the Senate. Once this process is complete, the entire Senate will vote on the Bill, and only if the Bill also passes in the…
Question: I am married to a U.S. Citizen and I want to adjust to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident. What can I do? Answer: Are you inside the U.S.? Question: Yes. Answer: Did you enter illegally? Question: Yes? Answer: Did you commit any crimes, any fraud or have you been issued any deportation orders?…
We’re continuing our discussions on the interesting proposals under the bipartisan senate bill on immigration reform, S.744, entitled the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act”. Last time, we examined the legalization provisions of the bill. Now, we’ll discuss some new grounds for inadmissibility and changes in waivers of inadmissibility. A criminal conviction could…
