‘Bisita, Be My Guest’ program launched in Los Angeles to invite Fil-Ams, travelers to the Philippines
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of Filipino American travel enthusiasts and tourism industry players recently flocked to the official launch of the Bisita, Be My Guest (BBMG) program of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT). This was the first-ever Philippine tourism fair of the Marcos administration in the United States after the two-year hiatus from the…
Fil-Am actor Arielle Jacobs to lead Broadway cast of ‘Here Lies Love’
FILIPINA American actor Arielle Jacobs will lead the Broadway cast of “Here Lies Love” in the role of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos. The musical, written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, will begin preview performances at the Broadway Theatre in New York on June 17 ahead of opening on Thursday, July 20. “I’m so honored to…
Journey at Pechanga hosts more than 30 top LPGA players in 16th CM Pro-Am April 3 & 4
JOURNEY at Pechanga at Pechanga Resort Casino hosted Character Media’s 16th Annual Pro-am Golf Tournament on April 3 and 4, 2023. This marked the 10th year the championship course set amid the Temecula rolling hills hosted the tournament as its official sponsor. Journey at Pechanga is Pechanga Resort Casino’s premier championship golf course which is…
[COLUMN] Business owner needs Chapter 13 to reorganize
Client is a young senior. At 65, in my book, she’s a young senior. She has been living by herself since she divorced 20 years ago. Her adult children have their own lives and families. She prefers to have the privacy of living by herself. Most seniors prefer to live in their own house living…
As pandemic emergencies end, people battling long COVID feel ‘swept under the rug’
Lost careers. Broken marriages. Dismissed and disbelieved by family and friends. These are some of the emotional and financial struggles long covid patients face years after their infection. Physically, they are debilitated and in pain: unable to walk up the stairs, focus on a project, or hold down a job. Facing the end of the…
Free speech vs. national security in proposed TikTok ban
With its dancing cats and lip-synched grandmas, TikTok has gained a massive foothold in the U.S., but lawmakers here say the platform threatens privacy rights and raises serious national security concerns. With a billion users worldwide and 150 million in the U.S., Chinese owned social media giant TikTok is facing a possible ban here amid…
[COLUMN] Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation
A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years. In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the…
[COLUMN] Navigating the challenges of divorcing a Narcissist
Narcissistic behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Many divorcing spouses would point to the other spouse’s personality as the reason they decided to file for divorce. When describing their spouse’s personality, it often fits many of the characteristics of Narcissism. Narcissism is a personality disorder characterized…
[COLUMN] Wages not paid on time or not shown in paystubs warrants employee recovery of monetary penalties
When an employee quits from work, the employer must pay all wages due within 72 hours, unless the employee has given 72-hour previous notice in which case payment shall be made at the time of quitting. Upon discharge, wages are due upon discharge. “Wages” include regular wages, overtime, and payments for missed meal and rest…
[COLUMN] The Road to Emmaus: a story about the Eucharist
The Gospel on this Third Sunday of Easter (April 23) is full of emotions: the disciples looking downcast and filled with sorrow as they stopped on their way; their surprise and agitation at learning that the “man” who joined them in their walk did not have a clue about what happened to Jesus; their disappointment…
Philippines aims to be health information management destination hub for Asia Pacific
BPO industry continues to perform well, expects 1.7 million direct jobs by year end Philippine government officials and industry leaders from the IT-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) sectors held a business forum last week at the Philippine Center to share updates on the Philippine economy, the state of the country’s…
Need to safely dispose of old tax files?
City of San Diego residents can have paperwork securely shredded and recycled for free SAN DIEGO – Just finished filing your latest tax return and wondering how to safely dispose of old tax files? City of San Diego residents can take advantage of the city’s annual free Tax File Recycling event. Until April 25, city residents…
[COLUMN] Avoid dying early!
IN 2005, a 128-page report from the World Health Organization in Geneva stated that “nearly 400 million people will die from heart diseases, diabetes and other chronic ailments over the next 10 years, but many of those deaths can be prevented by healthier lifestyles and inexpensive medications.” Of the 40 million deaths per year in…
Building a county budget for all – A step-by-step process
IF it’s spring, then it’s high budget season at the county. Preparations are in full swing for a May 4 release to the public. Staff began preparing the new two-year budget in February but now it’s crunch time. After examining the data, considering community feedback, and pinpointing funding priorities, a balanced recommended budget must be…
Be ready for local disasters with SD Emergency App equipped with ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system
DID you get an earthquake early warning alert on your smartphone for an earthquake near Palomar Observatory seconds after 6:16 p.m. on March 31? The quake shook parts of San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties. The alert delivered in Spanish and English said, “Earthquake Detected: Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” “We want to remind San…
City of San Diego develops new hazard dashboard to track environmental threats
Online tool intended to provide real-time weather and situational data for daily awareness and during emergency conditions SAN DIEGO – To help San Diegans understand and better prepare for environmental threats like wildfires and flooding, the City of San Diego has developed the San Diego Hazard Dashboard. This new tool is accessible online and designed to…
City of San Diego hosts Earth Month and Arbor Day events
Activities are open to everyone and available for volunteer opportunities SAN DIEGO – The month of April is Earth Month and the City of San Diego has upcoming events and activities for both Earth Day and Arbor Day to highlight environmental stewardship, the benefits of trees, and to remind San Diegans how to be we…
Mobile Probation Centers will enhance services for community
THE state awarded San Diego County Probation a $1.2 million grant to establish two Mobile Probation Service Centers that will help its clients and the community access services conveniently. The Board of State Community Corrections grant will allow Probation to purchase two vehicles approximately 22-foot-long, similar to a command center vehicle, that will help its…
Watch for the yellow envelope – 15 million CA MediCal enrollees’ eligibility under review
by Mark Hedin Ethnic Media Services MediCal enrollees are encouraged to update their information to keep their status as the state reviews eligibility for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. For the first time in three years, an estimated 80 million Americans whose health care is through Medicaid will have their eligibility for it…
Loida Nicolas Lewis spills the tea in her book ‘Why Should Guys Have All the Fun’
By Abigail Zelenski Loida Nicolas Lewis made some revelations in her memoir ‘Why Should Guys Have All the Fun’ and in an intimate chit-chat with some local media in New York, she teased and spilled a few stories she has not shared in public before. A multi-hyphenate in the Filipino American community, Lewis is a…
PH consulate in SF visits Spokane Valley, Washington for first-ever consular outreach in the inland northwest
SPOKANE VALLEY, WA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco held its second consular outreach for the year at Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 26-28, 2023. Passport, dual citizenship, and overseas voting (OV) registration services were offered during the Consulate’s first-ever consular outreach held in the Inland Northwest Region, which covers Eastern Washington…
Raleigh Fil-Am surgeon dies
Godofredo Ng, 85 GODOFREDO T. Ng, MD, FACS, a popular general surgeon, medical leader and missionary to the Philippines who has resided in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1967 died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm on April 17, 2023. He was 85. Dr. Ng was a 1962 medical graduate of the University of the Philippines and…
Success story reveals the benefits of hiring an immigration attorney vs doing it on your own, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
AFTER living in the U.S. for over 20 years, Kristan tried to obtain his green card by filing paperwork on his own, instead of hiring an immigration lawyer. In one instance, he tried to file as a minor child of an immigrant (F2A), even though he was already an adult. His application was rejected. On…