Birth pain
THE White House’s release of a certified copy of Pres. Barack Hussein Obama’s more detailed, long-form birth certificate on April 27 finally puts the protracted birther controversy, which started during…
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Why most family businesses fail
FAMILY businesses have both strengths and weaknesses. The overwhelming strength of the family business is the different atmosphere and feel that a family concern has. There can be a sense…
Holy Week rites and rituals in the Philippines
LENT prepares the Christian for the yearly commemoration of Christ’s Death and Resurrection. Forty weekdays – hence the term ‘Cuaresma’ in Spanish, are given over to prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and…
Making the best out of the worst
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…
H-1B visas for professionals and college graduates
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. …
Family petitons reopened, priority date retained
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…
Keeping a commitment
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…
A flourishing market
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…
My gum disease is linked to what?
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…
An inspiring break
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…
Rejoice… you’re single!
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…
Attributes of successful Asian family businesses
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….
Reality check
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…
Claiming injuries from your auto accident
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,…
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Conditional Permanent Residency
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…
Avoiding family wars
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…
No news is bad news
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….
An OFW’s endeavor
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…
‘Fugitive from injustice’
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…
Love and prayers from the ‘Yaya’ sisters
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…
Never underestimate your power to dream big
“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…
A summer to remember
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…
The reluctant balikbayan
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…
A day at a time
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…
Liability of owner of premises for slip and fall
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…
Ensuring the success of your family business
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…
Realization
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…
How to make a dream board
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…
Picky, picky
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…
Disaster preparedness
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…