House valuation for lien strip excludes foreclosure sales
CHAPTER 13 debtors are able to “strip” junior liens on their residences if there is no equity supporting the lien. To illustrate, debtor owes $100,000 of credit card debt, owns…
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New hope for aged-out victims
LAST month, the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit last week joined the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and reversed its previous decision in De Osorio…
A saintly life
A SAINT may come in different shapes, forms and religion. “I would like to hope that after his canonization, Saint Pedro Calungsod would become not only an exemplary role model…
The face of heroism
The hero as a part of the human race portrays the ideals and excellence that man strives to reach. It is the society that defines the hero, and (s)he gives…
Bankruptcy is not always your fault
IF YOU have serious debt problems, you may feel depressed and alone. It may seem like the end of the world. Your self-esteem may have suffered. You may feel angry,…
‘English Only’ policy may be workplace discrimination
IN 2006, Filipino nurses at the Delano Regional Medical Center in Delano, California were called to a meeting and told they were not allowed to use their native language at…
A Commitment to Excellent Leadership
In Santa Clara County, California, in between San Jose and Fremont lies Milpitas, a city rich in diversity. Since the 2000 census and again confirmed in the 2010 census, Asians…
Finally a homeowner gets mortgage debt forgiven
I TOLD you I would always keep my eyes and ears widely observant for potential homeowners getting any kind of mortgage debt balance reduction. I also mentioned that I felt…
Audit update: Schedule income from business or profession
WHILE IRS audits decreased from the mid-90s, the Service reorganized, retrenched, and retrained its personnel during years of inactivity. They are back. I have personally handled more audit defense cases…
The radical way of Jesus
PARTS of the joy of my recently concluded Holy Land Pilgrimage were the company of two young brothers in their 20s and my conversations with them. Often after supper, we…
Can an inadmissible arriving alien be paroled or released from detention?
YES, under certain humanitarian exceptions, an inadmissible arriving alien can be granted parole by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), even…
Meeting the Higantes
IT is a clear day in Angono. The streets are filled with bystanders-residents and non-residents alike-who are eagerly waiting for the presence of something big. Looking above, the view of…
When would marriage hurt my petition?
(Part 1) Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I am single and under petition. I have a common-law spouse, whom I would like to marry, but I am receiving conflicting advice and information…
Prevailing catastrophes, apocalyptic prognostication?
The recent catastrophic devastation of hurricane Sandy and the down-the-drain aftermath that emotionally impacted and economically ravaged even the strongest of heart were all but parts of life’s never-ending challenges…
Beauty advice for a flawless bride
Anyone who has ever been a bride, a bridesmaid, mother of the bride, a debutante, or someone who has dolled up for a special occasion, shares an unguarded secret about…
Lorli Villanueva: The diva who refuses to sing her swan song
It was a seeming reflexive reaction the moment news about Lorli Villanueva’s concert at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York reached her fans and even those…
Celebrating the Filipino Filmmakers at Tribeca Film Festival
It is that time of the year again, when filmmakers and film-lovers from around the globe converge in New York City to attend the much-awaited Tribeca Film Festival. This year…
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…
Dental care from (before) Day 1
PREGNANCY and its related hormonal changes exaggerate the effects from plaque irritants. And as you know, the acids in plaque can lead to tooth decay, gum tissue inflammation and, if…
Vitamin E and Stroke
Until about the latter part of 2004 vitamin E, a fat soluble vitamin was a most popular anti-oxidant that was believed to protect the body from harmful unstable substances known…
Renewed partnership
REALIZING that it is outmatched militarily with China, the US has responded to the country’s call for a defense modernization program and has agreed to help equip and train its…
Travelogues: Sagada
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…
The sum of all fears
THE first day of filing for Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may have been rambunctious enough for COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes to deem it “a…
I don’t need $1,000,000 for the Green Card?
QUESTION: I heard that there is a type of visa whereby I don’t need to invest $1,000,000 to get the Green Card, but rather can use my business knowledge and…
Can employers demand access to your Facebook account?
ROBERT Collins had applied for an officer’s position with the Maryland Department of Public Safety. Collins narrated that during the job interview, the human resources personnel interviewing him asked for…
Dr. Belinda Aquino, Renowned Filipino Academic and first Dr. Jose Rizal Award for Peace recipient – Putting PH on the Intellectual Map
Dr. Belinda Aquino further cements her place in Filipino academic history. The first-ever awardee of the prestigious Dr. Jose Rizal Award for Peace and receiver of the University of the…
Not everyone with a law degree is a lawyer
RECENTLY, I was approached by a lawyer who inquired if I was advising eligible applicants to file for Deferred Action. When I responded yes, of course, this same lawyer told…
Who has been enjoying lower interest rates from refinancing?
EVERYONE knows that the mortgage rates are really at its Historic Lows, we are talking about 3.25%- 3.5% for your 30 years fixed rate mortgages. I noticed that these are…
Sexual harassment damages not dischargeable in bankruptcy
LET’S say that you’re a man who loves women and you own a business distributing lingerie. You require all your women employees to wear the company’s products in the office….
Greetings from the Holy Land
AS I write this article early in the morning of Thursday, the 4th of October, on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, I remember the strong and honest…