LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2013 – More low-income Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) customers are eligible to save 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bill and receive no-cost energy efficient home improvements as a result of updated income guidelines for the state-sponsored California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Energy Savings Assistance Program. “SoCalGas…
After having seen a great number of diversely conceptualized Philippine ethnic and cultural stage presentations, I was certain that I’ve seen the best. But this changed when I was invited to watch Day By Day Christian Ministries’ KALOOB. A non-denominational evangelical mega-church organization headquartered in Makati City, Philippines, Day By Day Christian Ministries or DBD…
Life should not be measured not by the number of years, but rather by the love shared with your relatives and friends. These moments are priceless memories — the joy and blessing that God has given to us. This love was felt during Ferdie Villar’s birthday celebration held last Saturday, June, at his residence in…
There are only so many immigrant visas available (or allocated) for your country each year. Many people under petition are confused and mystified about the priority date on their petition, why it moves so slowly, why it may retrogress (or move backwards), or sometimes does not move at all. In other words, why does it…
A few weeks ago, a certain fury was unleashed by Filipinos. The gates have been opened and out came a flurry of statements in defense of Manila. Dan Brown’s latest novel, Inferno, already making a killing at the bookstores, had one of his characters depicting Manila as the gates of hell with its traffic jams, smothering…
AS mandated by the Constitution, every individual is entitled to free and quality education. It is a right and not a privilege. From its P2 trillion budget for 2013, the Philippine government gave the biggest slice to the education sector. The P292.7 billion allocation is intended to improve the quality of education through the provision…
IT WAS truly heartbreaking to hear the news about the death of a 12-year old Filipina in Queens, New York, who took her own life because she could not take the cruel messages in school and online anymore. Authorities have confirmed that Gabrielle Molina, who was found hanging in her bedroom last week in Queens…
SOME detractors are saying that, as incoming mayor of Manila, Erap Estrada will be the new boss of City Hell. At any rate, whatever that idiot, Dan Brown, says, I’ll take Manila anytime. Did I call Brown an idiot? Yes, and I’m entitled to my opinion, just as he is entitled to his, even if…
THE government announced last week that it was extending the application deadline to apply for relief under MHA (Making Home Affordable Program) but only through December 31, 2015. Thus, for homeowners who are still struggling to keep their homes due to unaffordable mortgage payments, this presents a limited-time opportunity. Home values are also starting to…
In commemoration of the 115th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, the Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) cordially invites everyone to attend a celebration at Los Angeles City Hall. BERNARDO BERNARDO, a well-known award winning Fil-Am artist of stage, TV and film, will be directing and hosting the program. Songs from the Motherland will…
LOS ANGELES – Lakewood police detectives are still trying to find the suspect in a hit and run that killed an 83-year-old Filipino woman on May 25. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a red car struck and killed Carolina Garnado Estrella around 4:40am on the morning of May 25, as she was…
LOS ANGELES—If the Samsung Galaxy Camera were a professional basketball player, it would be the Lebron James of the point-and-shoot cameras league. Before this escalates into a heated debate on the Miami Heat forward, let me clarify that this is not a discussion of whether or not Lebron James – or for that matter, the…
THOUGH the few good TV shows back home are applauded, it is dismaying that these small islands of quality are almost lost in the sea of mediocrity and outright vulgarity, which characterize some current television fare. The best humor, when it is not simply playful, says something witty about the issue it confronts. The solution…
ROSEMEAD, Calif., June 4, 2013 — With the income requirements for several energy saving programs increasing, Southern California Edison (SCE) encourages its customers to check out these programs so they can save money on their utility bills. Starting June 1, the maximum-allowable income requirements for the California Alternate Rate for Energy (CARE) and the Family…
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – Banking policy experts at The Greenlining Institute applauded Union Bank’s announcement today of a new account aimed at low and moderate income customers. The new “Access Account,” available in California, Oregon and Washington, offers basic banking functions, such as ATM access, online and mobile banking, with lower fees than many checking accounts…
THE past couple of days were most eventful for the Philippines — with the unfolding of a series of both fortunate and unfortunate events. On May 25, at least 14 Filipino marines and Abu Sayyaff militants perished during a gunbattle in a new US-backed offensive which aimed to rescue six foreign and Filipino hostages near…
NASALING na naman ang ating Pinoy pride! Kababayans in the Philippines and from different parts of the world have been buzzing about Dan Brown (famous author of Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons) and how he referred to Manila, our beloved city, in his latest book, Inferno. Brown described Manila as the “gates of…
WHAT are the 4 questions in ‘Passover Seder”? Passover Seder is a ritual feast held in the homes of Jewish people as part of the Passover celebration. They celebrate this for a week every year. This year it was celebrated in March. What is the ‘Passover’? About 3,300 years ago, the Jews were slaves in…
WHILE there are no guarantees to avoid an audit, there are creative ways to attract one. Below are 12 easy ways to increase your audit profile. Try any combination to help the IRS zero in on your return: 1. Opt out of e-file to use a name different from the one that appears on your…
Q: I WORK as an hourly employee for a private business. There are days when I work more than 8 hours per day. However, instead of paying me overtime, my employer gives me comp time for the hours I worked. What are my rights regarding this employment practice? A:California law allows non-exempt employees to receive,…
BALDWIN PARK—In this placid and sinless community that was misting into early summer evening, the Flores de Mayo (also know as Flores de Maria), a month-long custom and celebration, which is steeped in history and religious beliefs. The month of May culminates with the Santacruzan — the grandest and the most popular religious festival in many towns and cities throughout…
“WHAT would you do to be global citizens, to improve communities, to act locally but think globally? This was one of the challenging questions of Kofi A. Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, as he spoke to UCLA students, staff, and guests during the annual Laskin Lecture in Royce Hall last Thursday night. It…
To commemorate Memorial Day, the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc., (PACCAL) nostalgically observed the federal day that honors men and women war veterans. The May 27 event, done in cooperation with the Philippine–American Veterans Organization, Inc. (PAVO) and Filipino-American National Historical Society, Inc. NJ Chapter (FANHS-NJ), was celebrated together with the veterans’ surviving…
Question: I have to escape my country. I don’t know what to do. I want to go to the United States and try to get help. What can I do? Answer: Assuming you do not have proper entry documents, the border patrol will try to remove you from the United States. However, if a person…
YOU can’t hear enough about the fact that mortgage rates are at record lows! Its absolutely true, I have been in the mortgage and RE business for over 25 years and when I started everyone was refinancing out of a 12% rate to a 9% rate back in the later 80’s. Here we are in…
IF YOU are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average consumer. The truth is that every situation is different and what may work perfectly for others is not necessarily going to work the same way…
To commemorate Memorial Day, the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc., (PACCAL) nostalgically observed the federal day that honors men and women war veterans. The May 27 event, done in cooperation with the Philippine–American Veterans Organization, Inc. (PAVO) and Filipino-American National Historical Society, Inc. NJ Chapter (FANHS-NJ), was celebrated together with the veterans’ surviving…
ONE of the most successful movie actors in the Philippines today John Lloyd Cruz, heads the list of personalities celebrating their birthdays this June. John Lloyd, who won the title of Box-Office King of Philippine Movies three times (2008, 2009 and 2012), will turn 30 on Friday, June 24, which is also the feast of…
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) provides “age-out” protection for certain children who turned 21 while waiting for their green card or immigrant visa. For children of non-citizens (such as derivative beneficiaries of their parent’s employment or family based petitions, or minor children of immigrants), there is a two-step process: 1. Calculate the child’s age…
Tilapia was in the news lately as a food item that contains “higher levels of potentially detrimental long-chain Omega-6 fatty acids than 80-percent-lean hamburger, doughnuts and even pork bacon.” The study was reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. In biblical times, tilapia was popularly called St Peter’s fish because reportedly, he caught…
