IN an effort to keep labor costs down, some companies take shortcuts and break the law. One of these shortcuts is to classify workers as “independent contractors” so that they do not have to be paid minimum wage, overtime, missed breaks, and other benefits. There are also no deductions for taxes and Social Security. Some…
Question: Is there any movement on new Immigration Bills since President Obama was re-elected? Answer: The House voted on a STEM bill — standing for science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in September, but under a procedure requiring a two-thirds majority. It was defeated, with more than 80 percent of Democrats voting against it, because…
HERE’S a bit of good news for a change, for homeowners in California. More than 22,000 homes sold in Southern California in August, showing a 14 percent increase from a year ago. The median price rose more than 10 percent from about $290,000 to $309,000. Does this mean prices will shoot straight up? What about…
TODAY, I celebrate a milestone in my blessed life. I am halfway there… I took off from work for a long personal weekend to map out where I had been, where I am now, and where I am going in the next course. As we do our usual daily grind in life, we only know…
It is typical, if not natural, for Parties to a divorce case to start hiding assets and income from each other as soon as divorce is anticipated. Spouse’s are thinking ahead of the game on how they can outsmart the other spouse so that they end up with the larger portion of the pie. This…
WHILE Europe continues to struggle with an economic crisis and the Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives are still locking horns over what to do with the looming “fiscal cliff,” the Philippines is experiencing a sunnier side in the economic scene. The country is currently the best performing nation in Southeast Asia, exceeding…
SUPPOSE that you lost your finger in a work related accident. You filed a worker’s compensation claim for that, then you filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A day after you file your bankruptcy, you receive $193,000 as your worker’s compensation payment. In your bankruptcy petition you exempt your worker’s compensation claim pursuant to Section 522(d)(10)(C)…
THERE are times when I need to be alone and to be quiet, away from the noises and the busyness of life. There are times when I prefer to stay away from public occasions, when I would rather be anonymous. During these times, I would close my room, sit comfortably on a chair to mediate,…
With the days leading up to Pacquiao-Marquez IV ( and hopefully this will resoundingly end) the boxing world saw another classy fight courtesy of Filipino-American and World Boxing Organization flyweight champ Brian “the Hawaiian Punch” Viloria who scored a convincing victory via technical knockout over Mexico’s Hernan “Tyson” Martinez. Viloria’s feat was a rare one…
IN the wake of Mitt Romney’s devastating loss in the Presidential election, House Republicans will introduce a Bill to expand visa availability to foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates, as well as ease the process through which spouses and children of Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) may immigrate to the US. Although viewed as…
On the third anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre on November 23rd, we might as well remember all those who perished in the Philippines, as the continued human rights violations goes on unabated. Five months ago, on May 29 this year, the Philippine government’s human rights record came under scrutiny by member states of the United…
LAST week, US District Judge Audrey B. Collins ruled against churches that tried to keep a 60-year Nativity tradition alive, “after atheists stole the show with anti-God messages.” She rejected a motion from the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee, to allow the religious display this season while their lawsuit plays out against the city. Kababayans and…
THE Philippines was ranked 87 out of 141 countries, in Forbes’ annual look at the Best Countries for Business. With a 3.7 percent GDP growth and inflation rate of 4.8 percent, the country maintained its position from last year and remained at the bottom half of the list. The country outranked China and India, but…
FOR about 150,000 homeowners with a second mortgage held by Bank of America, it seemed too good to be true. In the last couple of months, a lot of my clients received letters in the mail saying that their second mortgage is being automatically forgiven and wiped out. And they don’t even have to do…
EMPLOYEES who are “on the clock” know that the employer must pay for work performed during this time. However, there are situations where it is not quite clear whether a work-related activity performed by an employee outside the regular 8-hour framework would still be compensable. The most important rule to remember is this: Time spent…
ACCORDING to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, a Gallup poll revealed that the Philippines is the “most emotional” nation in the world. The survey was conducted in 152 countries, with the Philippines ranking 151st among the least emotional nations — conversely making us the”most emotional” country among the lot. Social media was replete with mixed feedback…
IF CONGRESS does not extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 by the end of the year, homeowners will have to start paying income taxes on the portion of their mortgage that is forgiven in a foreclosure, short sale or principal reduction. So if you owe $350,000 on your home and it sells…
ONE of the rituals many Fil-Am families enjoy doing during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is putting up a Christmas tree and decorations, for that early Christmas feeling. Our friends and family, business establishments, public parks and places back home in the Philippines do that even earlier – some even as early as September (the start…
HOW long should you retain records? I have some clients who throw away everything instantly. Can’t stand records. I also have clients who keep records forever. Rat packs. There must be some balance in between. Unfortunately, there is limited guidance from the IRS. Fortunately, there are relevant statutes of limitation – the period when you…
The move of the Senate to pass the Sin Tax Bill is a vital step forward in improving and expanding public health safety nets for all Filipinos, a Palace official said on Wednesday. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday after the Senate passed the Sin…
Through the annual “Give A Hand” in-restaurant fundraiser can help raise funds to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® Oak Brook, Ill. (November, 10, 2012) – Today, McDonald’s® are celebrating McHappy Day®, the official kick-off of the 10th Annual “Give A Hand” fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)® – the company’s “Charity of Choice”…
Get a head start on Thanksgiving Day festivities by treating your family and guests to Goldilocks’ special Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Buffet on Thursday, November 22, 2012 from 8-11am. The sumptuous All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet on Thanksgiving Day features favorite Filipino breakfast items such as Tapa, Tocino, Chicken Adobo, Meat or Fish Longganisa, Daing na Bangus, Dilis,…
It’s just hard to imagine that this place was once submerged in water. Rocks that were once in the abyss of the ocean seemed to have risen as the waters disappeared; a mountain is born. This lovely place located in Mountain Province-Sagada-now exhales, after a billion years, cool and crisp air to visitors who come…
For cigarette smokers and those who may be tempted to start, here’s a bit of truly disturbing new information from the American Chemical Society. New research revealed that tobacco smoke causes genetic damage within minutes of inhalation of cigarette smoke, not years. The adverse effects are almost instantaneous as the smoke gets into the lungs….
The month of October greets us with tons of excitement and brings us weeks loaded with grandiosely conceptualized events and pompously celebrated occasions that literally filled up our calendar, aside of course, from enjoying the globally celebrated Oktoberfest which originated in Germany. Oktoberfest was established in 1810 with the marriage of King Ludwig I of…
“The juveniles are fun to watch. The young males enjoy sparring, often in the shallow rocky areas off shore. That play, characteristic of male mammals of many species, humans included, is pretty clearly fun and, certainly in the case of elephant seals, it serves to prepare them for the dominance battles as adults. Seals in…
SOME people are content being average. There are also those who want to make a difference in the world they live in; who want to make their lives count — they are people who are committed to serve others through their talents and abilities. Such is Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, who has made it his…
LET’S assume that you lost your job and are no longer able to make the mortgage payments on your house, so you quitclaim the house to your son who takes over the mortgage payments. Your house has equity of $70,000. Next week, you decide to file for Chapter 7 relief because you owe $50,000 of…
CORA Oriel, the publisher of Asian Journal, shared with me an amazing story from New York Times regarding a devastation of recent Hurricane Sandy. This happened in Breezy Point in the New York City borough of Queens. One hundred homes in this wealthy neighborhood that sits near the Atlantic Ocean burned to the ground. One of them is…
“HOW can I pay my creditors when my income is not even enough to cover my basic living expenses?’. This is a question that I hear everyday from people in my bankruptcy practice. We are living in tough times. Some people resort to more borrowing to make up the shortage in income. So they are…
