[COLUMN] Motion for bifurcation, status only dissolution for spouses who want to move on while divorce pending
THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a divorce proceeding. In a long term marriage especially, these issues are often heavily litigated between the spouses, and can take a significant amount of time…
Voters of color, women shape midterm races
Despite new laws to keep people from voting and gerrymandering election districts to take away the power of minority communities, the Republican “red wave” that pollsters predicted ahead of last week’s midterms didn’t happen. Ethnic Media Services debriefed six experts on their reactions to the election results and what should be done to prepare for…
[COLUMN] Divest early
THIS is culled out from the series, “The Bucket List” written in 2018. You have become a collector over the years. Memories, good and bad, you have them, by the bucketful, stacked in yellowing photographs in frayed and tattered albums. You used to dutifully collect them, way back when printed photos were the norm. But…
[COLUMN] Get boosted and give yourself the gift of good health this holiday season
The winter is fast approaching and bringing in colder weather, it is more important than ever to get yourself and your family vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. For people ages 65 and older, getting the updated COVID-19 booster is critically important since the risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 increases with age. Covid-19 infection…
Several Filipino Americans projected to win in SoCal races
WITH the 2022 midterm election come and gone, local governments across California are closer to being a lot more Pinoy. This year, significant races from Los Angeles city controller to multiple city council races featured many Filipino American candidates — incumbents seeking to keep their posts and those who have never held office alike. Even…
Kenneth Mejia wins LA controller race, becoming city’s first Filipino elected
KENNETH Mejia made history with his victory in the Los Angeles City Controller race in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 mid-term elections, becoming the first Filipino American elected in the city and the first Asian American in a citywide position. Mejia, a 32-year-old accountant and progressive leader, captured 60.92% of the vote (290,736), beating three-term councilmember…
[COLUMN] On perseverance
IN my homily last Sunday (November 6), I spoke about courage. I said that courage is the ability to express one’s mind from the values, beliefs, and genuine intentions we hold in our hearts. For this Sunday (November 13), I’d like to convey the need for perseverance. It’s what this Sunday’s Gospel wishes us to…
[COLUMN] Should women receive equal pay for equal work?
FOUR female Google employees believed it was unfair that male colleagues with similar qualifications were consistently paid more than them and other female counterparts. This week, the San Francisco Superior Court approved an $118 million payment by Google to settle the discrimination claims of approximately 16,000 women. The class action lawsuit was brought under California’s…
[COLUMN] Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts do consider…
3 Fil-Am candidates lead races in Nevada
BALLOTS are still being counted following the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8, including prominent races in Nevada: governor and the U.S. Senate. In state and local races in the Silver State, three Filipina Americans are leading their respective races for the Assembly and a court district. Democratic candidate and education advocate Erica Mosca captured…
Rob Bonta wins race for California Atty General
FILIPINO American Rob Bonta has won a full term as California State Attorney General. As of Thursday, November 10, Bonta, a Democrat and the current state attorney general, held a big lead over his Republican challenger Nathan Hochman. Bonta has garnered 3,152,292 votes (56.9%) while Hochman has received 2,385,723 votes (43.1%), per the California Secretary…
[COLUMN] Do not conceal assets before filing for bankruptcy
WHAT are the things that you should not do before you file for bankruptcy? First on the list of things not to do is do not hide assets. Concealing assets What does not hiding assets mean? Let’s give an example. You own a house with a fair market value of $1.0M in Los Angeles. You…
[COLUMN] Motion for bifurcation, status only dissolution for spouses who want to move on while divorce pending
THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a divorce proceeding. In a long term marriage especially, these issues are often heavily litigated between the spouses, and can take a significant amount of time…
[COLUMN] K-1 fiancé(e) visa: Getting your significant other to the United States
Several options exist for a U.S. citizen to bring his/her foreign-national fiancé(e) to the United States. One popular option is to marry the fiancé(e) in the country in which he/she resides, and file an I-130 immigrant petition, with the fiancé(e) to undergo consular processing for an immigrant visa when the I-130 petition is approved. However,…
Here’s what to ask when saving for the unexpected.
Finances are different for everyone, and so are the life events we all go through. An emergency fund is your financial line of defense against life’s lemons. Although there are many financial rules of thumb, there is no “normal” way to handle your emergency fund. The bottom line: saving money is the first line of…
Steven Raga wins assembly seat, becomes the first Filipino American in the New York State legislature
NEW York State Assembly District 30 candidate Steven Raga has made history as the first Filipino-American elected to office in New York State. On election night, Raga won his race to serve in the state assembly. There are 150 seats in the New York State Assembly that serve two-year terms without term limits. Raga won…
Filipina author’s remarkable debut is inspired by Filipino culture and folklore
RISING talent Caris Avendaño Cruz has just released her debut book inspired by Filipino folklore. Cruz said she wrote Marikit and the Ocean of Stars in honor of two amazing women in her life: her mother and Inang, her grandmother. Inang was a seamstress and had a vintage sewing machine that helped her get her…
NorCal Fil-Am candidates lead in 2022 polls
Bonta looks to win full-term as CA Atty Gen FILIPINO Americans in the Bay Area continue to make their mark in local politics. In the recently-concluded mid-term elections held Tuesday, November 8, a few Fil-Ams have come out on top or near the top of their races for positions within their counties and cities/towns based…
[COLUMN] Client gets his green card even after aging out and before the Child Status Protection Act became law, on a brand-new success story on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
TWENTY-FIVE years ago, San Diego area’s “King of Lechon” was denied his green card because he aged-out before his case was approved. The family was heartbroken, but leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was persistent to the point of filing a lawsuit against the INS for failing to expedite Michael’s case. Although the Federal…
[COLUMN] Filter it, pull the plug or simply think outside the box
THE one thing that differentiates a life of deprivation from a rich one is the availability of choice. And making wise choices from the array made available to us, is not always obvious or easy. Awash with a steady stream of choices on radio, television, cable, satellite and the ubiquitous internet, we have morphed into…
[COLUMN] A beauty queen and the New York marathon
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach completed one of her life’s missions – the beauty queen recently ran and completed the New York Marathon that was held on Sunday, November 6. In an Instagram post, Pia was very emotional about what it meant to be able to run in the popular and established marathon. “The NYC…
Charity scams for veterans tug at heart strings and grab for wallets
WANT to help charities that support servicemembers and veterans? Around Veterans Day, charity scammers seek to take advantage of your generosity. They contact you about fake veteran and military causes, tugging at your heart strings — and grabbing for your wallet. A little research will help you spot these charity scams and make sure your donations…
[COLUMN] How to take control of your credit
Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co. By Eileen Viray Alcones / San Leandro Community Manager Improving your credit score starts with understanding how all of the pieces work together and continues with building a plan to improve your credit. Simply, a credit score is an indicator of how responsibly you handle your credit. Several factors…
Fil-Am surgeons’ group celebrates 50th at Caesar’s, Las Vegas
The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) and its Fellows from various cities in the United States and Canada, commemorated its golden gala at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, October 19-21, 2022. A 450-page Golden Yearbook and its 84-page supplement Souvenir Journal chronicle the half-a-century of historic contributions of the SPSA to the US/Canada healthcare…