In externalizing our thoughts and express our feelings in a different perspective, poetry becomes a powerful tool other than written, spoken, or sign languages. This literary work has a special intensity that allows us to express emotions, feelings, and ideas by the use of distinctive style, imaginative ideas, elevated thoughts, and spiffing command of the…
They consist of running bits of metals through the flesh of men — large, small, pointed, square, round and splintered bits that tear and kill. It is not the metal in its natural state, but the metal fashioned by the intelligence of man — a being who’s great, builds space ships and goes to the…
AFTER a long wait under four administrations (Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo), victims of the Marcos tyranny have more reasons to celebrate the 27th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution this year. In three weeks, Filipinos will commemorate the February 1986 event which brought the People Power Revolution. In this historic uprising, the voice of…
COULD and should a person be imprisoned for “offending religious feelings?” In the Philippines, it is possible. That is exactly what the judge ruled in a case filed by Monsignor Nestor Cerbo of the Manila Cathedral (Catholic Church vs Carlos Celdran) over Celdran’s violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. On September 30,…
On Monday, January 28, 2013, a Bipartisan group of Senators introduced a blueprint for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). The Senators, dubbed the “Gang of Eight,” include Shumer, McCain, Durbin, Graham, Menendez, Rubio, Bennett and Flake. With four Senators hailing from each side of the aisle, this is the first attempt at meaningful immigration reform since…
HAVE you ever faced a situation in your life where you needed help so badly but you were just too afraid or embarrassed to ask for it? Perhaps you felt confused and overwhelmed with the problem that you spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do. As a bankruptcy attorney, over the years…
An N-400 naturalization application may appear to be a simple application. For most applicants that might be true but for some there are serious risks that go beyond mere denial of the N-400. A lawful permanent resident (LPR), who is 18 years or older, may apply for naturalization by establishing that he meets the residence,…
They all came to “meet and greet” ABS-CBN Foundation International Managing Director, Ms. Jo Ann Kyle in her recent LA visit. Driven by a culture of caring and sharing and by formidable global communities of people with faith and patriotism, the fundraisers came to be counted. They are dedicated, even to the tiniest of ways…
Q:As an hourly employee, my work schedule is 9am to 5:30pm. We swipe our ID through a time clock when we start and end our work. My supervisor often asks me to come in early or leave late to finish work. However, the total work hours in my pay stub is still 40 per week….
As of press time, the USS Guardian ship is still stranded at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tubbataha Reef. Amid all the outrage caused by the unfortunate accident, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) made clear that the annual Balikatan Exercises between the Philippine and US troops will still push through. In a statement, AFP…
YOU should have received Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from your employer by now. If you did not, here are 10 tips to help you file: 1. Employers have until January 31 to furnish your W-2. 2. If you have not yet received your Form W-2, ask your employer when the W-2 was mailed….
I WILL be holding a buyers seminar January 26, 2013 in San Marino CA, please call to reserve seats. I did a research for my buyers seminar and found out a lot of amazing stories of investors making huge amounts of profit flipping properties the past three to four years. My 2012 calendar give away…
I FEEL privileged to be part of this year’s formation of seminarians of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California. Being a professor of Homiletics for nineteen students in 2nd Year Theology gives me a sense of fulfillment of being able to help future priests to become good preachers and pastors. This, indeed, is a great…
The duties owed between spouses in the management and control of community property are the same with regard to those in a fiduciary relationship. The marital entity is one with the greatest degree of confidence. This confidential relationship imposes a duty of the highest good faith and fair dealing on each spouse, and a duty…
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…
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…
