The danger of voting in US elections
US citizens will soon be voting in the upcoming presidential elections. As election time nears, many groups try to register as many people as possible and increase the turn-out of…
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Angina Pectoris: Chest pains
What is angina pectoris? Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pains or more specifically pains emanating from, and involving, the heart. It is most common for people to…
What illness and pain can do
MAUREEN Pratt, the speaker of the month this August of our parish’s centennial year, impressed many of us with her talk and example. Despite suffering from lupus erythematosus since age…
Passing it on
WITH the olympic torch still fired up for the London 2012 Olympics, inspiring Filipino athletes (and an NBA champion coach) seem to come out of the woodwork. 2012 NBA champ…
‘Face of Defense: Siblings Showcase the Navy’s Diversity’
SEVERAL months ago, a Filipino brother and sister team made history in the United States Navy, when they became the first and only siblings of Filipino descent to hold flag-officer…
New online resource provides immigration information in up to 22 different languages
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched its online Multilingual Resource Center, a new feature on www.uscis.gov. The center provides a central location for USCIS resources in…
Will I have any problems if I go home for a vacation?
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I have a 10-year multiple B-1/B-2 visa. I entered the US, and was given six months by the Immigration Officer at the airport, but overstayed by only…
Remembering Tita Cory
FILIPINOS, who are old enough to remember the Marcos regime, would clearly understand what kind of impact Corazon Cojuangco Aquino made in freeing the Philippines from the clutches of oppression…
Deferred action for Dreamers: Thousands preparing to file
WITH the August 15, 2012 start date for the filing of Deferred Action Status (DAS) and work authorization for otherwise “DREAM ACT” eligible people, thousands of applicants are preparing to…
Why have a Family Advisory Board?
(Part 2) THE composition of the board should complement the knowledge and skill set of the owners. Good advisory boards will have at least one member with strong financial skills,…
These lovely shores
THERE is a moving painting hanging in our memory. It is filled with hues of blue and green. The masterstrokes glibly flowing as the waves carry the music that bellows…
Deferred Removal Action for undocumented youth: Obama’s policy change short of the DREAM Act
ON JUNE 15, 2012, Pres. Obama announced from the White House Rose Garden that the Department of Homeland Security will grant deferred removal action for undocumented youth who meet strict…
Home invasion robbery punishable as felony (3-6-9 years) state prison
ON OR about March 21, 2012, in South Gate, California, the crime of home invasion robbery, in violation of Penal Code Section 211, a felony, was committed by four individuals,…
Fed by the Eucharist, a testament of faith
“WHERE can we buy enough food for them to eat?,” Jesus asked Philip, one the disciples, as he saw a vast crowd of about five thousand in number following them….
The waiting game
AT HIS third State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III mentioned four priority measures, one of which is the controversial Reproductive Health Bill (which he referred to indirectly…
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…
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…