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…
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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…
A United Heritage
October marks a month’s worth of observing Filipino-American history in the United States. With a population of a million and growing, this is an appropriate action in understanding our deep…
Bankruptcy: Debt forgiveness for honest debtors
CONTRARY to what others may think, the majority of people who file for bankruptcy are honest, hard working people who simply need to get a fresh financial start. Because life…
Are you being paid the correct overtime rate?
Q: AS an employee for a service provider company, I am paid an hourly rate and an additional piece rate if I respond to customer calls after hours. I often…
Advocating for Active Participation among Fil-Ams
WHEN the Director of the Census Bureau appointed Ditas Katague to a new national advisory committee, it was just another milestone accomplishment for one of the highest-ranking Filipino-American officials in…
DOMA declared unconstitutional (Will same-sex petitions be possible?)
ON October 18, 2012, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York declared that the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) was unconstitutional, to the extent the law attempted to…
Bank of America second lien mortgage debt extinguishment: Q&A
FROM my article last week, I got a few more homeowners calling about the same scenario, I thought of researching more of how you can research and find out if…
Ocean View apartment not reasonably necessary for Chapter 7 debtor
SCHEDULE J of the bankruptcy petition shows the actual monthly expenses of the debtor. This is different from the means test which specifies the allowable deductions of debtor using IRS…
Can you get a Green Card even if you’re over 21 years old?
Question: My auntie petitioned my mother when I was 3 years old. However, the visa process is so slow that it took 22 years for the visa number to become…
Tito Sotto and Damian Sotto
I frankly think that the protests and demonstrations over the Cybercrime Prevention Act are an overreaction. In the first place, the Philippine justice system has never been famous for enforcing…