Of sin taxes, bishops and guns
THE guys at my favorite watering hole in Daly City are, as usual, confused about the state of affairs in the Philippines. And, as usual, they turn to me for…
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2012 tax season starts January 17, ends April 17
INCOME taxes. For the lower income earner, it is a welcome relief as the government bestows tax credits and benefits. But for the medium to higher income earner, it’s usually…
I can stay in the US and submit my waiver!
QUESTION: I have heard that there is a new way that I can submit my Waiver of the 3/10 year bar. Is that true? Answer: Normally, you would have to…
An exciting development in the area of immigration waivers
AS WE begin this New Year, we hope that 2012 will be good for all of you, especially in the area of immigration law. Traditionally, immigration law has seen positive…
Small steps for bigger goals
TAKE small steps at a time. This has been a recurrent advice that we hear from people and read from magazines as we make our New Year’s resolutions. We can’t…
A ‘more fun’ strategy
ON January 6, the much-awaited and much-anticipated new tourism campaign was launched by the Department of Tourism (spearheaded by DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.) to dispel the nation’s disappointment over…
An insult to our physicians
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has shown vicious contempt and grave disrespect for the Filipino physicians and the healthcare in the Philippines when she and her husband decided the quality of medical…
Swimming and … staining?
When we notice someone with discolored teeth, we usually assume it’s due to smoking, a high consumption of staining foods and drinks, or some other common reason. There’s another cause…
Testament of faith
TO commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene Monday, Jan. 9, some brave volunteers tried to secure the image of the Black Nazarene throughout the procession, while seven million maroon-clad…
IRS warns public of tax preparer fraud
MORE and more taxpayers have been receiving it from the IRS….. the audit letter asking to substantiate tax deductible expenses claimed in a prior tax year. In fact, some taxpayers…
Permanent residency and divorce
WITH the New Year comes the opportunity to reflect on our lives and to set goals for ourselves during 2012. Many of these goals will revolve around health, work, and…
On taking on this journey of 2013
THE holidays are over and now we’re back to our normal routines. Like many of you, I think of the activities and the events that will unfold before me as…
Safety (and security) first
The New Year is a usual time for Filipinos abroad to visit their loved ones in the Philippines. But for most Pinoys in the Middle East, it was an involuntary…
Health capsules for 2012
Veggies protect the stomach Those taking NSAID drugs like ibuprofen, and other anti-arthritis pain medications regularly can be victims of stomach irritation which could result in ulcers and bleeding complication….
A fresh start
“LEARN from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”- Albert Einstein Forget the past and start anew. This is perhaps a trend now as the world economy begins a new…
Using caution with student loans
GOING to college is a good thing as it can open greater opportunities for employment and has the potential to transform someone to higher level of success. There are various…
Obtaining bond in immigration custody
AT LEAST once a week, someone comes into my office panicking because their spouse or other relative has been picked up and detained by immigration authorities. The relative was arrested…
The visit: The gift
MY best Christmas gift this year was not another gadget or a nice polo shirt or a sweater. It was not a gift card or a ticket to a concert….
Foods to avoid
Poorly cooked pork/seafood Unlike beef which could be eaten rare or medium, pork is safe only when fully cooked, especially in barbeque. Improperly cooked pork could lead to a micro…
A period of reflection and determination
NO MATTER how good our intentions are in helping others, we will often find ourselves misunderstood, mistreated or misjudged by some people. I have found this true in my twenty…
Tax cuts program extended
THE Bush-Era Tax Cuts was set to expire on December 31, 2011 and one of those that would have been greatly impacted is the Child Tax Credit (CTC), one of…
Christmas ailments
Is there an illness called Christmas Disease? Yes, there is, but it has nothing to do with the Christmas season. Christmas Disease is a blood disease, also known as Hemophilia…
Season of giving
DURING this holiday season, we are bombarded with advertisements about the latest and greatest deals on how we can celebrate Christmas with awesome gifts and welcome New Year with a…
Tidings of (dis)comfort
IT’S the season of gift-giving. And President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) wasted no time looking for the perfect gift for his nemesis, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) – a suite…
2012 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
DESIGNED to supplement the wages or earned income through self-employment of working families, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits taxpayers who are either low or moderate income earners by…
Anacleto ‘Lito’ Alcantara, Multi-awarded Founder and CEO of One of America’s Top Construction Companies
ONE of America’s top construction companies is Hawaii-based Group Builders, Inc., founded and owned by Filipino-American Anacleto “Lito” Alcantara. Group Builders Inc. ranked 186 among the Top 600 Specialty Contractors…
The Good News within
THE Good News is within us – within our minds and hearts. It’s the change that is happening within our lives, in the way we think about or perceive our…
Race for the numbers
Since Benigno Aquino III assumed the position of president, he made his intentions very clear of weeding out officials who did the country wrong during their terms. The aggressiveness of…
Holiday thoughts of hope
IT IS hard to believe that we will be greeting a new year in less than three weeks. If you are like me, you are in the midst of Christmas-related…
Laser gum surgery
Dear Dr. Val, My gums are irregular and they make some of my teeth smaller than the rest . What can I do ? Thanks Gummy Bear Dear Gummy Bear,…