[COLUMN] Firing of employee who reported wage violations violated whistleblower retaliation law
Q: MY co-workers and I have been having an issue getting our paychecks on time from our manager. Sometimes we would go more than a month without getting paid, which I know is illegal. When the Regional Manager—our manager’s boss—came to visit, I took the opportunity to let him know about the late paychecks. I…
[COLUMN] Clients fit into classic Chapter 7 profile & eligibility for honest debtors
DIFFERENT clients have different financial and asset situations, which make them start thinking about getting rid of accumulated debt. Nobody starts with borrowing money with the intention of defaulting and not being able to pay back. Certainly, in my over 30 years of practice in bankruptcy law, I have seen potential clients — not many…
[COLUMN] 5 types of car insurance explained
Car insurance policies vary in what they cover. The state mandates certain types of coverage that you must have to legally get behind the wheel. However, the mandated minimum coverage may be far too low in some situations, such as being in a hit-and-run, in an accident with an uninsured driver, or if your car…
New CDC opioid guidelines: Too little, too late for chronic pain patients?
Jessica Layman estimates she has called more than 150 doctors in the past few years in her search for someone to prescribe opioids for her chronic pain. “A lot of them are straight-up insulting,” said the 40-year-old, who lives in Dallas. “They say things like ‘We don’t treat drug addicts.’” Layman has tried a host…
Bystander intervention workshops to combat hate held in NY, SF
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile met with the members of the community media for his inaugural “Con Gen Media Hour” at the Philippine Consulate General in New York last week. ConGen Mangalile recognized the role of the media as partners in disseminating information and promoting events of the Philippine Consulate. He said he is looking…
Ceremonial swearing-in held in LA for Attorney General Rob Bonta
CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American to hold the office, had a ceremonial swearing-in during a recent community event in Los Angeles. LA Mayor Karen Bass administered the oath of office during the ceremony held at the Japanese American National Museum on Sunday, March 5 as Bonta’s wife, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda),…
Sushi & Sake keep festival season in full swing this spring at Pechanga Resort Casino
3rd Annual Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival back by demand, benefits Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley FESTIVAL season stays on a roll this spring at Pechanga Resort Casino. The Annual Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival serves up the freshest catches and smooth sake inside the Summit Events Center on Saturday, April 8. The popular one-day…
Accor continues expansion in the Philippines with the signing of the country’s first MGallery Resort
South Palms Resort Panglao Bohol—MGallery is set to open in 2024, embracing local art and design Bohol, Philippines — Accor, the region’s largest international hotel operator, has continued its rapid expansion in the Philippines with the signing of South Palms Resort Panglao Bohol – MGallery, a locally-inspired five-star resort on the idyllic island of Panglao…
Get in on the ground floor, help shape county’s housing blueprint
COUNTY officials want San Diegans to help turn a house or rather, the County’s draft housing blueprint into a “home” by filling it with their opinions and advice. San Diegans can take a survey on the County’s Engage San Diego County webpage (https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/engagement/home.html) to help shape the County’s housing blueprint. The blueprint’s overarching goals were adopted from the…
California expands eligibility for low-income water bill assistance to include relief for current bills
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program expansion increases the number of households eligible for residential water and wastewater bill assistance throughout the state THE California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) on Wednesday, March 15 announced the expansion of eligibility for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to include all eligible low-income…
Climate Action at the center of new San Diego Public Library programs
Workshops, camps and storytimes will focus on clean energy, mobility, recycling and more SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego Public Library (SDPL) has launched a series of free, interactive workshops and programs to bring awareness to climate change and empower communities to become more climate resilient. “Our Climate, Our Future: Our Sustainable San…
City of San Diego advances plan for new safe parking lot with live-in-ready camper trailers
Successful program provides safe, lawful 24-hour vehicle camping for individuals and families SAN DIEGO – Working to create new options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, the Wednesday, March 15 recommendation by the City Council’s Rules Committee moved forward a plan to open a new safe parking lot in the Clairemont neighborhood that will include…
City of San Diego offers spring cleaning events to urge San Diegans to properly dispose of bulky items
Several opportunities for residents to get rid of large items and help beautify their neighborhoods SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego’s Think Blue program has teamed up with Project Clean Water and Caltrans to promote the responsible disposal of bulky items like mattresses, chairs, tires, appliances and more, along with several opportunities for…
Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivers record number of consular services in 2022
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivered a record 56,466 consular services in 2022, registering a 27.84-percent increase from the previous year. During the Consulate’s Planning Meeting for Consular Services held in January of this year, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer said: “I am very pleased to…
Filipina in Daly City shot dead by partner in front of her two kids
A Filipino American woman was killed in front of her two children by her partner in Daly City, California on Monday, March 6. Frances Kendra Lucero, 27, was shot and killed by her partner, Romier Narag, also 27, in front of her two children, aged 3 and 4. Police said the two had argued on…
‘Serial filers’ — San Francisco businesses still vulnerable to fraudulent ADA lawsuits
by Selen Ozturk, Ethnic Media Services Business owners in San Francisco say they remain vulnerable to fraudulent ADA lawsuits which have targeted more than 35,000 businesses statewide. LAST April, the San Francisco and Los Angeles District Attorneys sued San Diego law firm Potter Handy, LLC for filing allegedly fraudulent disability lawsuits with over 300 businessowners…
No — HHS didn’t reach out about free grant money
DID you get a message from a friend on social media about a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant opportunity? Or from someone saying they were an HHS employee? Well…they weren’t who they said they were. They were scammers. This new twist on the age-old government grant scam often goes like this: someone reaches out…
SF Mayor Breed proposes permitting improvements to speed housing construction
Housing for All effort would streamline the site permit process to significantly reduce permitting times for new developments and major renovations SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor London Breed, City Administrator Carmen Chu, the Department of Building Inspection, and the Planning Department on Tuesday, March 14 announced an effort to improve San Francisco’s Site Permit approval process…
ConGen Ferrer, Mayor Nicolas meet with biotech firm co-founder
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer and South San Francisco City Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas met with Filipino co-founder of U.S. biotech company InterVenn Aldo Carrascoso at its headquarters in South San Francisco. InterVenn is a biotech company founded by Carrascoso, Nobel Laureate Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi and distinguished UC Davis…
ConGen Ferrer meets with University of San Francisco President
PHILIPPINE Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer met with the President of the University of San Francisco (USF), Reverend Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. on Wednesday, March 1 at the USF campus. During the meeting, ConGen Ferrer and Rev. Fitzgerald exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including education, cultural exchange, and Philippines-U.S. bilateral relations, especially…
Consul General meets Jersey City Mayor and Fil-Ams of the Jersey City Police Department and Jersey City Hall
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile paid a courtesy call on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop on Friday, March 10, at the Jersey City Hall. With Jersey City home to the largest Filipino population in New Jersey, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile remarked how Filipino-Americans have become a significant part of the fabric of Jersey City…
2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Ball
PIDCI (Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc.) President Nora Galleros said that her team and Dr. Dely Po Go, 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal are working hard with the Philippine Consulate General of New York to come up with a memorable celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day Parade in Manhattan, New York on June 4, 2023….
[COLUMN] Are you depressed?
WHAT is depression? Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic…
[COLUMN] Success story: A terminated case is reinstated and visa issued, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
JOSEPH was petitioned by his mother in 2007 and waited 12 long years for his Nanay Pilar’s petition to become current. Unfortunately, Joseph was in Zurich, Switzerland for work and was unable to attend his embassy interview in April 2019. Despite Joseph’s attempt to contact the National Visa Center to reschedule his interview date, he…