Goal-oriented
ONLY two years in office, yet President Aquino’s government has been constantly making efforts to improve the lives of its constituents. Amid upgraded credit ratings, huge investments and renewed business…
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Reunite with your children
IN 1988, Maria, a US citizen, petitioned her brother, Edgar from the Philippines. Although the petition was approved, the priority date was not current. In fact the priority date did…
How will this election affect the real estate market?
WE HAVE earned a right to vote here in this great nation. We should all make time to exercise that right and study the issue and vote according to our…
12 tips to keep the IRS away
THE name of the game is keeping a low audit profile. It means getting lost in the crowd. It reduces the risk of an audit. Here are 12 tips to…
Strengthening the Mandate of the UN SPT in Torture Prevention
DR. JUNE Caridad Pagaduan-Lopez reached another milestone in her long and distinguished career. On October 25, the United Nations elected the well-renowned Filipina doctor to its Sub-committee on Prevention of…
Large mortgage payments from sale of assets may be evidence of fraud in bankruptcy
IMAGINE you won the new Prius in your church lottery. Instead of keeping the car, you sold it for $25,000. You use the $25,000 to pay down the mortgage on…
Musing on this solemn November
WE began this month of November with two feast days that are close to our hearts as Catholics: All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These subsequent feast days set…
Food and arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), commonly known as arthritis, which causes the usual aches and pains in the various joints in the body, especially among the elderly, affected about 47.8 million people…
Days of veneration
IT’S that time of the year again — for a celebration universally known as Halloween. Spooky decorations of skeletons, ghosts, witches and pumpkins dangle on windows and lawns with almost…
Filing mandamus actions in federal court
ALTHOUGH the volume of newly-filed applications for benefits is down at the USCIS, the processing times for some applications pending at the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) are longer…
Creating Competition and Lower Costs for Asian Americans
SoftBank, a major Japanese telecommunications company, is seeking to acquire America’s third largest telecommunications company, Sprint, for $20 billion. It is possible that a combination of anti-foreign investment politicians, community…
Clarifying family business boundaries: Operational responsibilities vs. strategic financial decisions
One of the most dangerous survival tests for family businesses is their succession. It is no surprise therefore that many successors and heirs feel relief and complacency once the transition…
Travelogues: Sagada Part II
There is a presence, grand and mystic, that lurks in caves. History harkens the images of men seeking shelter in caves as they made the first paintings of the beasts…
Filing bankruptcy when you face a financial crisis
A LOT of people end up filing bankruptcy when they get to the point of feeling hopeless about their financial problems. Despite what others may think, there is no shame…
Thicker than blood
HISTORICALLY, it has long been a natural occurrence in Philippine politics that family members or relatives of a political figure would eventually run for a position in government — more…
California life insurance beneficiaries to receive about $138M
IN 2008, the California State Controller’s office led a multi-state audit of the practices of 21 national insurance companies, to determine these companies’ compliance with state unclaimed property laws. California’s…
Moros and Indians
Back in 1996, when President Ramos signed what was described as a “final peace agreement” with Nur Misuari’s MNLF, I wrote a piece guardedly welcoming the initiative and expressing relief…
Short sale for 2013: What are the consequences?
ADVANTAGES of home sales for 2013 is that there will be fewer short sales and hopefully more regular listing coming back on the market. Lenders have pulled together finally and…
What factors will the court look at in awarding spousal support?
THE purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case. The facts and circumstances of…
10 tips to prepare for an IRS appeals conference
YOU are still upset from losing an IRS audit. You have two choices: pay or fight. If you choose to fight, go to appeals. Let me give you 10 tips…
A Life Dedicated to Showcasing Pinoys’ Best
ONE of the greatest American expos that have been showcasing the best of the Philippines is the Philippine Fiesta in America, which is held in New Jersey every year for…
Is stockbroker’s forgiveable loan bonus dischargeable?
YOU know what a stockbroker is and what he does for a living, right? A stockbroker recommends what stocks to buy and sell to his client, and he makes a…
Jesus’ desire for us
WHAT do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man in this Sunday’s Gospel. Wasn’t this the same question he raised to James and John,…
Passport and green card returned to Filipino youth in deferred inspection
AN 18-year old Filipino male was granted lawful permanent resident status on or about June 3, 2010. He has been residing with his parents in Glendale, California, since May 23,…
Average debt up again for new college grads
It’s the latest snapshot of the growing burden of student debt and it’s another discouraging one: Two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 finished school with loan debt,…
The November 2012 Priority Dates
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…
Voter guide on key California initiatives for November 6: How Asian Americans can finally make a difference
The National Asian American Coalition (NAAC) is a nonprofit bi-partisan organization. It is offering its suggestions and advice on the four most crucial California ballot measures (propositions) before the voters…
Come to our Sweet Swap Post-Halloween party!
IF this Halloween proves to be too much candy for your children’s teeth, then come join us at Millbrae Smile Center on November 2nd for a Sweet Swap Post-Halloween party…
Probiotics and health
Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when ingested, confer a health benefits. The most common types of microbes used as probiotics are lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria, but some yeasts…
Abandonment of US residence
Jon and Kate own and operate a successful real estate business in California. In addition to owning a beautiful home, they had acquired several homes and apartment buildings which they…