“Love comes from the most unexpected places….” So goes Jose Feliciano’s old familiar tune that aptly applies to the serendipitous encounter of Nena Kaufman and Raymond Smith. Theirs is a love story paved by an accidental meeting that transcended expectations, defied all norms, and led to a lifetime commitment. Their accidental meeting one late summer…
It was time once more to honor the men and women and what they died for, in a moment of celebration, despite the bloody cost. It is always a proud day for Filipinos, celebrating Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). The people’s applause was special. It wasn’t in the program. There was no cue, they simply put…
IN October 2012, an international conference was held in Cape Town, Africa. Here, four of the world’s top forensic DNA experts did a presentation on “Forensic DNA Profiling and The Law.” Leading the DNA experts is Chris Asplen, former Assistant US Attorney and Executive Director of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence…
I BELIEVE that 2013 is going to be the “year of the short sale.” And THAT is a good thing! As I have always mentioned in the past, lenders will be more eager to help homeowners towards the fourth quarter of the game. I seriously believe that this is the fourth quarter of cleaning up…
“Love comes from the most unexpected places….” So goes Jose Feliciano’s old familiar tune that aptly applies to the serendipitous encounter of Nena Kaufman and Raymond Smith. Theirs is a love story paved by an accidental meeting that transcended expectations, defied all norms, and led to a lifetime commitment. Their accidental meeting one late summer…
“Viva Europa”, the European Union’s annual distinctive, rich and exciting cultural showcase was launched today, 11 April. This year’s celebrations bring to Manila the best of European art, music, dance, film, languages, food and poetry. For the first time it will include a culinary festival to highlight Europe ‘s incredibly diverse cuisine and food culture that continues to…
“Viva Europa”, the European Union’s annual distinctive, rich and exciting cultural showcase was launched today, 11 April. This year’s celebrations bring to Manila the best of European art, music, dance, film, languages, food and poetry. For the first time it will include a culinary festival to highlight Europe ‘s incredibly diverse cuisine and food culture that continues to…
A lawful permanent resident (LPR) or US Citizen (USC) parent may file an immigrant petition for his alien child including an adopted child. Under INA 101(b)(1)(E)(i), a child adopted while under the age of 16 years and who has been in the legal custody and has resided with the adopting parent for at least 2…
Our modern lives have made a demand for the instantaneous. We surround ourselves with things that make our lives easier. There is a desire to be connected, to have access to the wealth of information out there. There is nothing wrong with this for we are continuously moving forward and pushing the limits of what…
DUE TO TENSION WITH N. KOREA LOS ANGELES – In light of the recent escalating nuclear tension between the United States and North Korea, the Pentagon has decided to postpone a scheduled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test that’s due to be conducted in California sometime between April 7 and 13. According to a Department of…
“Animals are my friends, and I don’t eat my friends.” -George Bernard Shaw There is no question that diet plays a very important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and some forms of cancer, especially of the gastrointestinal tract. One particular diet — one high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and low…
“IF WE want respect, we must demonstrate that we have political power!” This was the consensus at a recent meeting of members of US Pinoys for Good Governance, the group that grew out of US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar, which raised money and actively campaigned and voted in the last presidential elections. The group agreed to…
MANY optimists believe this could be the week when Congress would finally be able to present a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Talks of a bipartisan support on creating a pathway to citizenship in this plan have made many undocumentedkababayans exhaust all possible means to benefit from the new immigration laws. While to be proactive is a…
EITHER laws are not properly implemented and followed, or someone’s pursuing a vendetta against the Tubbattaha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Philippines’ most prized possessions. It took three strenuous months for the Philippine and US governments to complete the salvaging operations on the USS Guardian, which…
The Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments in two cases regarding challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and is expected to issue a ruling in June 2013. Both cases involve same-sex marriages. DOMA was enacted by Congress in 1996, and Section 3 of the law defines “marriage as only a legal union between…
It is called the pompous sickness — the spell which hushes the household, with its desert-like stillness felt through its innermost chambers. One in a world unto herself, her own theater. A severe fit of indisposition, under the name of a fall from dignity (or careless demeanor), amounting to a deposition that made me a…
Congress must respond! AS A sure sign the US economy is improving, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the annual H-1B quota (“H-1B Cap”) for FY 2014 was reached within the first week of the filing period, which began on April 1, 2013. On April 7, 2013, USCIS used a computer-generated lottery…
AFTER the Easter Vigil Mass in my church last week, I congratulated one of the youngsters that I baptized and joked with him, “So, now that you’ve already received the three sacraments, the next step for you is to become a priest. What do you think?” He looked at me with disapproval and said, “I…
ON January 2, 2013, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time US citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States…
IT WAS an epic battle that was bound to happen at some point. Both of Filipino descent, Conservative blogger and political pundit, Michelle Malkin and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and undocumented immigrant, Jose Antonio Vargas locked horns in a battle of wits over immigration issues on Twitter. Coming from extremely opposing ends of the political spectrum,…
A long, long time ago, Kris Aquino and I sat together by the steps of the Guest House (the official residence of then, President Cory Aquino). We goofed around at the foyer in Hacienda Luisita and various presidential sorties around the archipelago. I was her trusted listener in casual conversations about school, love and crushes,…
(Part 2) IN MY last article, I discussed some of the socio-economic implications of marriage (starting off with Social Security and Taxes) and why gay couples insist that the federal government should also accord to them the same rights and privileges that heterosexual couples now enjoy. Gay couples contend that the Constitution of America guarantees…
CAN the employer legally fire a pregnant employee, who, after using up all her leave under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (the pregnancy law), is still unable to return to work? The laws prohibit pregnancy discrimination of pregnant employees. Pregnancy discrimination is defined as discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions….
1. CALIFORNIA State Income Taxes in box 24 of your W2 are deductible. So are quarterly estimates paid by self-employed and subcontractor taxpayers. TIP: Time the payment of your estimates in the year with the higher income and higher tax. 2.Real Estate Taxes on your house, land, or rental property are deductible in the year…
HE sings co-lead in the second most-played song on American radio in the past century, but few Filipinos have heard about him or know the impact he’s had on a generation of Asian American musicians. Never My Love by The Association ranks No. 2 on the Top 100 Songs of the Century (according to BMI)…
THE debate over the United States economy and dearth of high-tech workers has spotlighted the H-1B professional working visa in the press. Nonetheless, Congress has been slow to respond in the face of economic problems throughout the World and the FY 2014 H-1B quota is sure to be reached within just a couple of weeks…
The demigods of the silver screen and the idiot box have given us a different kind of entertainment that we fail to get from social conversations or even from jokes that tickled our funny bones. There is always that certain kind of enticing force that draws us closer to them. There were a number of…
DUE to obvious delays and failed attempted to help struggling homeowners, the two leading agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who owns or guarantee more than half of all US home loans have come up with a simplify loan modifications, many borrowers who become 90 days or more past due on mortgages will be offered…
LAST Sunday was Easter Sunday celebrated by Christians all over the world as the greatest event in human history. This is the day when Jesus Christ, who died three days before on the cross on Mt. Calvary, to atone for the sins of mankind, past present and future, resurrected back to life by His own…
The demigods of the silver screen and the idiot box have given us a different kind of entertainment that we fail to get from social conversations or even from jokes that tickled our funny bones. There is always that certain kind of enticing force that draws us closer to them. There were a number of…
