Going for Gold
ELEVEN Pinoy athletes will try to achieve what no other Filipino Olympian has ever done before – bring the Philippines that elusive gold medal. All eyes will be in London…
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Are lenders finally reducing loan balances on Loan Modifications?
CALLER: My neighbor has a loan modification package that reduced their loan balance by about $200,000; this reduced their payments about $600-700 per month. I have a very similar situation…
Eliminating tax debts through bankruptcy
Another weapon in the taxpayer’s arsenal that stops the IRS in its tracks is bankruptcy. The filing of a bankruptcy petition will generally stop the IRS from collecting your tax…
Presenting a compelling case for prosecutorial discretion
WITH the USICE Prosecutorial Discretion program under way, thousands of cases pending before the US Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) are ripe for review to determine whether…
Bankruptcy: Your past doesn’t have to be your future
IN MY work as a Bankruptcy Attorney, I usually have the privilege of meeting all kinds of people from all walks of life. Some are poor, some are rich. Some…
The London Eleven
The greatest show on Earth will happen again from July 27 to August 12 at the London Olympics. It will be another spectacle and the stage is set for this…
On spending some Me time
A MAN who goes to the gym, where I work out , would flaunt a t-shirt with bold lettering, IT’S ALL ABOUT ME. “Hmmm,” I would often muse, “what message…
Confusion in the mortgage rescue package by Gov. Brown might spell trouble
DUAL Tracking is the practice of negotiating with clients to modify a mortgage so that payments become more affordable while simultaneously pursuing foreclosure. What most of the calls I am…
A Life for Others
FILIPINO-American George Samson has dedicated his life to helping the poor, the sick and the needy, but has never sought fame and honor for his work as the President of…
DHS urges potentially eligible ‘Dreamers’ to gather evidence
BOTH the President and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have recently issued statements urging people who may qualify for deferred action status and work authorization under the DREAM Policy…
Take control of your finances and your life
YOU’VE probably heard the saying, “The failure to plan is a plan to fail”. And yet so many of us don’t realize how we so easily neglect to plan for…
High School Student almost misses graduation because she was illegal
Recently, there was a story making national news, about a high school student who got stuck in Mexico while applying for her immigrant visa. Shewould not only miss her high…
Sonny’s stuff of legend
The symbolic significance of the number seven goes way back in the Creation Story when God created the world in seven days and took a breather on the seventh day….
From packing bagels to handling million-dollar ad campaigns
A MULTICULTURAL advertising agency in Toronto owned by two Filipino women recently won the top award for print in the annual Summit International Awards, highlighting the two immigrants’ incredible journey…
Equipping our children with trust and power of God
JOINING the Goliaths of the world choirs! That’s what I thought as our children’s choir sung in front of the international judges of the World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio…
Why you need to escape the debt trap
IF YOU are buried in debt, you may be feeling trapped at the moment with no way out. You realize you need help but don’t know where to go for…
Loan modification companies might be a thing of the past!
CALIFORNIA would prohibit the charging of advance fees to homeowners in connection with a loan modification, and require anyone who wishes to charge a fee for loan modification services (after…
The August 2012 Priority Dates – Single children of US citizens (F-1) retrogresses!
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…
Countdown to the perfect wedding smile
Every bride dreams of walking down the aisle, stunning white dress cascading behind her, beaming groom waiting to take her hand. But wait – are the smiles photographer-ready, all set…
A true King
In the game of chess, the game is over when the king falls or is checkmated. It is a representation of accepting defeat, but what it signifies is that when…
DREAM Policy to be implemented by August 15, 2012
ON June 15, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the DHS would consider granting Deferred Action Status (DAS) to many young people in the…
Common fears about bankruptcy are false
IF you are struggling with serious debt problems and the idea of filing for bankruptcy has crossed your mind, like most people, you may have some “fears” about bankruptcy that…
The Republic welcomes Royalty
ROYALTY graced the country last July 2 to 6 as Queen Sofia of Spain visited various parts of the Philippines. The official trip of the Queen of Spain was named…
From admiration to rejection
FIRST, the admiration, then, the rejection. “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands? Is…
Cha-cha for China?
EARLIER this week (in an interview with dzBB radio) Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile raised a question in jest: “Now that China has sent its own astronauts into space, would…
Foreclosure Protection Bill passing in California
NOW when lenders pursue foreclosures and simultaneously negotiate with clients to modify their mortgages so that payments become more affordable. Homeowners will not wind up being evicted even though they…
A Role Model for Public Servants
Retiring a few days ago, Anita Sanchez is the highest ranking and longest-serving government employee of the city and county of San Francisco. She lives to serve people, to empower…
DREAM Act is a reality
FOR those that have anticipated the DREAM Act to become reality, we are one step closer. On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration revealed a new initiate which will orders…
Why have a Family Advisory Board?
“IF there were only one “success strategy” I could recommend to a family business, creating an Advisory Board would be that strategy. In times of crisis, the Advisory Board can…
How to pay your taxes by installment
PREVIOUSLY, I discussed ways on how to request the IRS to reduce your tax liabilities, which is accomplished by means of an Offer in Compromise (OIC). In this article, I…