CHRISTMAS came early for Mary Jane Alvero Al-Mahdi, Chief Executive Officer of the Geoscience Testing Laboratory, the biggest independent testing laboratory operating in the Middle East. Al Mahdi was honored by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III on December 5, 2012 at Malacañang Palace, as one of the recipients of the 2012 Presidential…
AT the 16th International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) Congress, Dr. Delia Rodriguez-Amaya was among ten speakers chosen to give their advice and perspective on what makes a great leader, on how to succeed, and on how they were able to persevere and become the success they are today. Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya, the IUFoST…
Man, by nature, is sociable. His sociable nature is emphasized with the constant changes in the community which are congruous to his ever evolving preferences. Filipinos, for one, always take every milestone in their life so seriously that they tend to celebrate its significance pompously. They celebrate in any possibly affordable way they could just…
In this day and age of health-consciousness, various food items have been on the spotlight, scrutinized, and re-evaluated, including chocolate. Chocolate is the “feel-good” food, the lover’s delight, which comes with, or without, flowers as a popular gift on special romantic occasions or holidays. In this column today, let us demystify some of the “facts…
After a smooth ride along the SCTEX and navigating the tortuous terrain of Bataan, an excitement builds up as you are welcomed by the security detail in guardia de civil garbs. The feeling that you are about to travel through time seeps in as you casually dig for images culled from movies and history books…
Some things light up — an uneasiness that, at first, you wouldn’t know how to define. But then you eventually do, and a shudder rises up and down your spine. Sometimes, it wouldn’t be much of a line. It doesn’t have the poetry of “I-breathe-the scent-of equality,” or the elegant journalism on the verge of…
IN the Republic of Santa Banana, there’s a new president, replacing the unlamented Gloria En Excesses Deo. President Penoy Balut is said to be the most honest president Santa Banana has ever had. He is so honest, he recently signed a bill levying heavy taxes on cigarettes, to discourage the masses from smoking (which is…
(Editor’s Note: This editorial was produced in association with New America Media -http://www.newamericamedia.org – a national association of ethnic media, and was published by ethnic media across the country to bring attention to the urgency of immigration reform.) The White House and Congress must move quickly to enact just and humane comprehensive immigration reform. In…
BARACK Obama just renewed his oath of office, to serve as our president for four more years. His second inauguration coincided with two important moments in history, made possible by two great men, who have been a big influence in Obama’s guiding principles and conviction as a leader — Martin Luther King and President Abraham…
WE previously discussed the question of whether an employee’s signature to an independent contractor agreement binds the employee to the terms of that agreement. We noted that the law determines the worker’s status, not the parties’ agreement. Even if there was such an agreement, workers who are treated as employees will not be bound by…
Part B: Driving and motor vehicles Cell phones and texting while driving: ASSEMBLY Bill 1536 clarifies existing law by allowing drivers to dictate, send, or listen to text-based communications while driving as long as they use voice-operated, hands-free operation. This clarification makes the texting-while-driving ban consistent with current law that prohibits use of cell phones…
AFTER a 10-day convoluted tirade between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the two senators finally called a “ceasefire” on what has become a bitter (and possibly, life-threatening) diatribe. The very publicized feud and conflict between the nation’s two top officials started over Sen. Enrile’s distribution of P1.618 million each among members…
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 Mae and Freddie Mac. There is a little twist to the new guidelines that might get you in the door of refinancing to historic low rates in the 3’s if you…
THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been named by an interactive travel website as “the worst airport in Asia.” But many Filipinos back home are still forgiving, even defensive in protecting the Philippines’ image. For many kababayans who have been to other airports in the world, and those who frequently fly in and out of the…
LET’S say that you decide to file for Chapter 7 relief this month to discharge $100,000 of hospital bills and credit card debt. You anticipate that you will have an income tax refund claim of $10,000. What is the bankruptcy treatment of this refund? If your Chapter 7 case is filed before you file your…
IT HAS been said that out of the most severe trials come the greatest triumphs. We could either become victims of circumstances, or we can turn those difficulties into stepping stones and emerge as victors. Filipino-Canadian Tomas Avendaño Sr. has undergone severe trials in his life as an immigrant in Canada and has become a…
THE circumstances, consequences, and services of my father’s death and all the gatherings and prayers of families and friends are still vividly present in my mind. I’m sure that it’s the same for every member of my family. Although the wounds of our hearts are still tender with grief, our hearts are full of gratitude…
One of the major assets a divorcing couple usually has, other than real estate property, are retirement benefits such as company pensions, 401k, and other deferred compensation. The problem in determining how much community property interest in the retirement benefit arises when the employee spouse worked at a particular employer longer than the period of…
Changing the face of a diverse community takes several well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers. It takes a whole lot of persuasive power to influence people to embrace the principle they endorse. When the public perceives an air of veritable sincerity and its potential benefits for the general public, the indomitable program or plan can neither…
Changing the face of a diverse community takes several well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers. It takes a whole lot of persuasive power to influence people to embrace the principle they endorse. When the public perceives an air of veritable sincerity and its potential benefits for the general public, the indomitable program or plan can neither…
Diminished or ineffective erection in man causing inability to have a successful intercourse 75 percent of the time is medically termed erectile dysfunction or ED for short. This condition affects between 18 to 30 million in the United States, some as early as age 40, according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Others have reported…
DOES FREQUENT SNACKING PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR OUR TEETH? Well, it depends. Every time we eat, our mouths go to work cleaning things up and restoring “balance”. Having three meals a day is one thing. But when we continuously snack, our mouths struggle more to maintain that clean, happy balance—especially when we’re eating the wrong kinds…
IN the spate of news filled with violence and other unwanted events, a little bit of the good comes to us. The Philippines was recently awarded by FIBA, the official governing body of basketball in the world, the right to host the 27th FIBA Asia Championship from August 1 to 11 this year. A basketball…
Next week, we will celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Dr. King’s extraordinary contributions to the civil and economic rights of more than 120 million people of color in the United States. During this week recognizing civil rights, President Obama will celebrate his second inauguration and address the nation on its future. In examining the…
IN travel and leisure, it seems that politics are set aside. Contrary to its implications, the escalating conflict in the ongoing territorial dispute over the Spratlys does not interfere with travel plans of Chinese tourists to the Philippines. On January 9, China’s Oriental Morning Post hailed the Philippines as one of the “Best Tourist Destination for 2012.”…
AFTER the announcement of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Nepolitano on a new ruling (which will give immediate family members of US citizens unlawfully staying in the United States provisional waivers so they can continue to live in the US while awaiting their green card), we have seen spikes of advertisements in both traditional…
ON Friday, August 3, 2012 the USCIS issued new guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the rules and requirements for “Childhood Arrivals” to the US who may benefit under the “DREAM ACT” Deferred Action Status (DAS) initiative announced on June 15, 2012. There are an estimated 1,000,000 people living in the US who…
A CLIENT of mine said he never saw it coming. Everything he ever wanted in life, he always purchased on credit. The “pre-approved” credit cards just kept coming in the mail and he never said NO to any of them. Buy now and pay later, why not? As long as they allow you to pay…
The details of the DHS Final Rule on Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives, which was published on January 3, 2013 and which take effect on March 4, 2013, are by now familiar. Immediate relatives of US Citizens (USC) applying for immigrant visas abroad but are inadmissible based on their unlawful…
THE common belief is that signing an agreement binds an employee to all the terms in the document. But what if the agreement is illegal or a violation of public policy? Do employees have remedies? Consider the following question: Q: We work for a service-oriented company, which made us sign an “independent contractor agreement.” As…
