IN THE 2007 elections in Canada, Flor Marcelino, a Filipina businesswoman, made history as the first woman of color and first Filipina elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for the electoral division of Wellington. Her outstanding performance as a public servant resulted in her appointment by Premier Greg Selinger as Minister for Culture, Heritage and…
How is Miriam Defensor-Santiago regarded by her colleagues in the Senate? No more than a sick joke. This was obvious in the way they were chuckling and exchanging mischievous whispers while she ranted and roared and called them “gago” to their faces, while rationalizing her verdict of not guilty in the impeachment of ex-Chief Justice…
Starting June 4, 2012, people applying for immigrant visas at the Embassy, but have been found ineligible (or inadmissible) by a US consular officer, will nowfile their waiver requests in the US, vs. filing them in Manila. (In the past when applicants applied for immigrant visas, butwere found to be “inadmissible”at the US Embassy (i.e….
Question: I was raped years ago. I heard there is some type of visa. Can I get this visa? Answer: You may be eligible for a U nonimmigrant visa. If You are the victim of qualifying criminal activity. You have to have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a…
Brugada Syndrome is a baffling condition where a person, who appears to be healthy, unexpectedly develops cardiac arrest, for no apparent reason. Most victims do not survive the episode. This condition is now believed to be responsible for countless sudden deaths among young people – athletes, students, etc., – who suddenly dropped dead. Did the…
By this time most of you must have filed your 2011 tax returns already, as the filing deadline on April 17 had long passed. But if you are among those who failed to file their tax returns, including those with unfiled tax returns on previous years, the IRS may go after you and impose penalties….
AFTER 44 days of trial, the world witnessed the guilty verdict passed for Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is now impeached. Although it took five months to deliver, the conclusion has brought a sigh of relief, a sign that justice in the country may have gained momentum. It took a long time to enforce the…
THE USCIS has announced that its Stateside Provisional Waiver process to allow immigrant visa applicants to overcome the 3 and ten year “unlawful presence” bars should be in full force by the end of 2012. Earlier this year, the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced that it has promulgated new regulations to allow for…
WASHINGTON — Today the formal public comment period closes for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives rule. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2012, proposes a new filing process for certain immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens (i.e. spouses, children, and…
June 12 marks the 114th celebration of our independence as a nation. There will be parades not just in the motherland, but overseas as well. Philippine flags will be unfurled and proudly displayed. Our politicians and other significant individuals will be donning our traditional garb and lead the people in programs and activities. Music will…
With a vote of 20 to 3, impeached Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, the unconstitutional midnight appointee of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was forcefully kicked out of his office as head magistrate of the Philippine Supreme Court, and majority of the Filipinos all over the world rejoiced. We, in the US Pinoys for Good Governance, even held…
AS THE convoluted chapter called the impeachment trial of now ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona comes to a close, yet another one opens — and with a lot at stake. The search for the next chief magistrate has begun. President Benigno Aquino III said that he is open to appointing an “outsider” candidate, according to deputy…
QUESTION: I lost at the immigration Court level. Can I appeal? Answer: Yes, you can appeal. You can appeal it to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia. Question: When do I appeal and what happens if I don’t appeal on time? Answer: You must appeal to the BIA within the 30 days after the…
EACH year, I consult with hundreds of individuals who have been ordered to leave the US by Immigration Judges. In the vast majority of these cases, the person had applied for some form of relief from removal, such as asylum, and the Immigration Judge denied the claim and either granted the person voluntary departure or…
IN MY opinion there is a big bad wolf that is always winning over any market we are in. It’s not the rich guy you here about buying up rental properties, it’s not the Real Agent with their investor clients buying up distress homes, it’s not the banks that are foreclosing on you and its…
FIL-AM Shella Condino’s philosophy in teaching is similar to how she lives her life: Dream big, work hard and be the best that you can be, because as she says: “Dreams really do come true.” Condino, a physics and chemistry teacher at Presidio High School in the small town of Presidio, Texas, was given the…
JONATHAN’S innocent face always glows, especially when he serves at Mass and sees me presiding. The glow also comes from being part of an active church and from the utmost care that he receives from his parents. After Mass, Jonathan would ask me for my blessing. “Padre, echeme su bendicion,” he would always plea. Of…
Governor Brown, facing growing pressure to fund programs necessary for California’s future growth has decided to put 2.2 million homeowners facing foreclosure in further distress. Spotting a soft target for short-term revenue “growth,” he has raided the Attorney General’s homeowner bank settlement fund in the amount of $300 million. The legislature will be voting during…
I wrote this piece on the eve of the decision that the Senate impeachment court was scheduled to hand down on the case of Chief Justice Renato Corona. It appeared then that the senator-judges had already made up their minds on their respective votes. According to a late poll, the Filipino people had also framed…
MARRIAGE to a US citizen is an obvious and well- known method of obtaining legal and permanent residence in the United States. Once married to a US citizen many immigration violations are forgiven or overlooked and the path to residency clear. This ease of procedure is well- known and often abused by those with no…
For the past few weeks, Filipinos in the US (and around the world) have followed Jessica Sanchez’s meteoric rise on American Idol. She instantly became a source of pride and unity within the Filipino community. In fact, a major topicof discussion among Filipinos was reminding one another to vote for Jessica. Indeed, it almost became…
What is nutriment? The substance in the food we eat that nourishes the body is called nutriment, consisting of micro-and macro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients include vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) and elements (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, etc.). Macro-nutrients are the carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Are vitamins important for our health? Yes. The body…
EACH year, I consult with hundreds of individuals who have been ordered to leave the US by Immigration Judges. In the vast majority of these cases, the person had applied for some form of relief from removal, such as asylum, and the Immigration Judge denied the claim and either granted the person voluntary departure or…
CHIEF Justice Corona has had his day in court. But he has left a lot of questions hanging. But rather than speculate on how he will satisfactorily explain his seemingly unexplainable dollar deposits and the alleged millions in his alleged multiple bank accounts, it may be worth our while to turn our attention to all…
WITH the Philippine school year coming once again to an opening, expect the streets to be a little more crowded and brimming with youthful exuberance. Just imagine rows and rows of school children, half-awake and asleep, crossing the streets with their cute little backpacks and lunch bags some of them holding their parents’ hands. You’ll…
IF YOU are considering Short Selling your property now, the first thing your lender will ask of you is what kind of hardship are you going thru? What do you need to consider in determining whether you qualify for a short sale? Hardship comes in many forms and shapes, what lenders usually need is an…
THERE are people who are meant to live a life of altruistic service. They are people who dedicate their entire lives to helping and serving others, making vital contributions for the betterment of society. One such individual, who has been making an impact in the lives of her fellowmen, is Dr. Elizabeth Eugenio Fildes Ed.D,…
WITH the immense powers that the government wields over individuals, the founding fathers included in the United States Constitution the Bill of Rights to limit the exercise of governmental powers. These rights, which have been enshrined as the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protect individual rights to life, liberty and property. Similarly, in the…
QUESTION: I have heard that there is a new electronic filing system at USCIS. Is that true? Answer: It is called USCIS ELIS.USCIS ELIS is a user-friendly system created to streamline the application process for immigration benefits. It allows immigration benefit seekers and their legal representatives to create an account and file benefit requests online. USCIS…
THERE can be moments of depth in our everyday lives–times when God reveals something to us or makes us feel his quiet presence. These moments do not have to be dramatic; they can be simple and ordinary. The other day, I was sitting with a priest-friend in a nearby coffee shop when one of the…
