DESPITE the August 23, 2010 hostage drama incident which left 8 Hong Kong nationals dead, the Philippines is still optimistic that it will be able to double the number of tourist arrivals in the country – from 3 million to 6 million by 2016. This was what the country conveyed to China through the efforts…
MOST aliens that come to the United States do so under a B-1 or B-2 visa as a visitor which gives visitors up to 6 months stay in the US. However due to the recent policy of disfavoring extensions of visitors status, extending once visitors visa is almost no longer an option for a lot…
HERE’S what happened: In 2001, our client became a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He immediately petitioned for his 3 children back in the Philippines because as you know, children of derivative (preference) petitions cannot simultaneously immigrate to the United States. When he petitioned for his children, he was told that the priority…
True to its commitment to help the Philippines towards economic progress, Japanese Ambassador to Manila, Makoto Katsura, recently said in his speech during the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan at Mt. Samat, Bataan, that the Japanese government will still continue to provide developmental assistance to the country, particularly in Mindanao, amid the disorder brought about…
SO far the recent performance of the local economy appear resilient according to the recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF retained The Philippine economic growth forecast at 5 percent for 2011 and 2012, after taking into account the potential impact of both favorable and unfavorable factors. In its latest forecast, IMF also…
You’ve probable heard us talk about the “mouth-body connection” and how periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes, in addition to pregnant women’s chances of giving birth to pre-term, low-weight babies. Did you know, however, about the correlation between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, and even certain cancers?…
WITH the Willie Revillame-Jan-Jan issue and a lot of bad news hogging the headlines lately, it would be good for everyone’s morale to take a nice, quick break – away from all the negativity to focus on the good, but lesser-noticed success stories. Recently, two inspiring, intelligent and achieving young people – both from the…
It’s good to be single. But to be happy being single is another story. Over the holidays, I did get kind of lonely being alone, without a significant other to spend it with. I honestly felt that I could be happier when I am with someone. One of my resolutions for this year was to…
IN A family business, it’s the third generation that presents the big problems. The first generation founds the company and has the drive and the dedication to move it forward. The second generation rides that wave. The third generation wants to do their own thing. They’ve seen Broadway; they’ve had all the advantages. – Gale…
WHILE the entire world watches and continues to hope and pray, that the seemingly unending chain reaction of problems in Japan’s tsunami-ravaged nuclear power complex will finally be put to a grinding halt – it is also time for us to stop, think and do a reality check on the imminent danger and effects that…
Being involved in an auto accident can be a frustrating and very disruptive experience to most people. Depending on your injuries, most likely you are unable to commute to work, unable to carry on your regular chores, or even unable to work at all. This is on top of all the pain and suffering that…
ANY foreign national who marries a US citizen, and is otherwise eligible, may apply to adjust their status to lawful permanent residency (“green card”). If married for less than two years at the time the case is approved, the foreign national will receive “conditional permanent residency.” This type of residency expires two years after the…
STARTING a family business presents unique challenges over and above the usual problems a start-up faces. That’s why only one in three family businesses survives to the next generation. Less than 1/3 survive the transition from 1st to 2nd generation ownership. Of those that do, about 1/2 do not survive the transition from 2nd to…
Armed with the intention to ultimately halt the corruption that has stained the reputation of some of its innocent members, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. has recently expressed its willingness to help the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the allegation of corruption within the AFP. Mabanta…
The RA. No. 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, provides that the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether in country or overseas, “continuously monitor international conventions, adopt/be signatory to and ratify those that guarantee protection…
AFTER 14 months of absence, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has finally emerged from hiding, following the clearing of charges against him by the Court of Appeals. Two days after his return, Sen. Lacson lamented his grievances against the government and said that at some point while he was regarded as a fugitive, he had the…
Ah, love… makes the world go round, doesn’t it? It does. I do believe that’s the reason why we wish to continue living. For without it, I find no other reason that even equals love for anyone to want to live. Life is hard as it is, and without love, it would be one dull,…
“NEVER underestimate small people with big dreams,” was the favorite quote of one inspiring lady from Iloilo who pioneered the spa business in the province in 2000, back at the time when the wellness industry in the country was at its infancy. At the time Anna “Babes” Rivera, owner of Spa Riviera, was also taking…
WITH the recent announcement of PAGASA that it is officially summer in the Philippines, it almost became a go signal for students who are on summer vacation to head down to the beach or unwind in the cool mountains with their friends and family. For the Department of Education (DepEd), however, the coming school year…
DESPITE the Philippine government’s efforts and appropriated contingency funds for repatriation, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Libya have given Aquino’s administration the cold shoulder on their last call and have vehemently decided to stay put in war-stricken Libya. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), only a few of the estimated 3,500 Pinoys…
Despite the nuclear crisis in Japan, and the rising conflict between Libya and other countries, President Aquino still have reasons to smile through the hardships encountered by his administration. He recently learned that majority of Filipinos still trust him as shown in the latest Pulse Asia Survey from Feb 24 to March 6. Pulse Asia’s…
At one time or another, we have all made a trip to the local market. Whether it is to purchase food or other daily necessities, our expectation is that upon departing, our needs will be fulfilled. Rarely, if ever, does a person’s expectation in making a trip to the market include slipping on something on…
FAMILY Businesses are the cornerstone of the economy. They are all around us –from neighborhood mom-and-pop stores and the millions of small and midsize companies that underpin many economies to household names such as BMW, Samsung, and Wal-Mart Stores. One-third of all companies in the S&P 500 index and 40 percent of the 250 largest…
JUST last month the world was left in shock when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand killing at least 65 people. The event was deemed as New Zealand’s darkest day. Then on March 11, terrible news was once again brought upon us when a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan at around 2:46pm. It…
I am living my dream. And I am still bursting with more dreams. I have tons of great ideas, some of which I am still too scared or overwhelmed to start on. I have all these goals and opportunities within reach. But how do I prioritize which dream I will turn into a reality? How…
The common toothpick, usually made from wood, is primarily used to remove food stuck in–between teeth. Most wooden toothpicks in the United States come from birch trees in Maine, where the tree trunks are sliced into thin sheets and then cut and milled into individual toothpicks. While toothpicks work well to remove food trapped between…
SEARCH and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which devastated Northeastern Japan on March 11, are still in full force. But as the week progresses, the chances of finding more survivors become less likely. And it feels as though nature’s wrath wasn’t enough. Japan is on the verge of…
150 VOTES from the 283 members of the House of Representatives was more than enough affirmation to proceed with Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s impeachment. The House justice committee only needed was 94 votes to be able to elevate the case for deliberations in a plenary session and for a possible trial in the Senate. This was…
WITH economic progress of the country on his mind, President Benigno Aquino III recently launched the first five infrastructure projects of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) last March 7 in Makati City, before setting off to Jakarta, Indonesia and Singapore for his state visits. Estimated at $1 billion, the ten big ticket projects under the PPP…
WHILE most US markets are slowly but surely easing their way out from the global economic hardship, Filipinos remain optimistic on the chances of retrieving the passage of the US Bill H.R. 3039 dubbed as the “Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act.” The United States and the Philippines have shared a long and rich history together….
