BUHAY AMERICA TIPS: HULI KA!What to do when a cop pulls you over

Ano nga ba ang dapat mong gawin kapag narinig mo na ang sirena ng pulis sa likod ng kotse mo?

According to police officers interviewed for this article from aol.com, here are the do's and don'ts:

Pull over as soon as possible. Kapag sinenyasan ka na ng pulis, tumabi ka kaagad.

Always pull over to the right. Tumabi ka agad sa bandang kanan ng kalye. Kung nasa freeway ka, dahan-dahang lumipat sa shoulder ng freeway, doon sa walang guardrails, kung maaari.

Know where your paperwork is. Ang unang hihingin sa 'yo ng pulis ay ang iyong lisensya, rehistro at insurance. Kung di mo alam kung nasaan ang mga papeles na ito at pinag-intay mo ang pulis ng matagal, malamang na mawala ang simpatya niya sa iyo.

Make the officer feel safe. Kung madilim na, buksan ang iyong ilaw sa kotse. Siguraduhing kita ng pulis ang mga kamay mo sa lahat ng oras. Buksan ng sagad ang iyong bintana. Manatili sa loob ng kotse.

Let the cop talk first. Huwag kang magsabi ng anuman na maaari mong ikapahamak. Manatiling kalmado, kahit na naiinis o natataranta ka na dahil pinatigil ka. Wag kang mag-bigay ng impormasyon na hindi hinihingi, gaya ng kung gaano ka kabilis nag-da-drive. Hayaan mo'ng siya muna ang magsalita at manatiling kalmado.

Don't argue with the cop. Maiinis lang sa iyo ang pulis kapag ginawa mo ito. Maaari ka niyang bigyan ng full offense ticket. Kung gusto mong i-contest ang ticket mo, mas mabuting gawin mo ito sa korte.

FilipinOnline NEWS:VIOLENT ASSAILANT ATTACKS WOMEN IN RIVERSIDE, CA

As of Feb. 24, five women have been viciously attacked on separate occasions by a still unidentified man in Riverside, Calif., according to this report.

The assailant has the same scary modus operandi: Without uttering a single word, he approaches female victims and beats them up with a metal bar.

The Riverside Police Department has asked for the public's help in identifying the man. The crimes occurred in the city's Eastside near Iowa Avenue and Spruce Street.

Per report, the attacks were unprovoked and police officials said robbery or sexual assault did not appear to be the motive. The victims have been all races and ages.

Anyone with information related to these attacks is asked to call Detective Dave Smith at 951-353-7103 or Detective Greg Rowe at 951-353-7136.

FilipinOnline NEWS: Higher Citizenship Fees and Stiffer Test for Future New Fil Ams

Green card holders, take note. You might want to get started on that US citizenship application form that has been languishing in your to-do drawer.

If you wait longer, a more comprehensive naturalization test, higher fees, and new immigration laws might already be in effect by the time you submit that application to CIS.

According to the LA Times, citizenship requests are already soaring due to these proposed changes, up 79% from same time last year.

Citizenship application and fingerprint fees would increase from $400 to $675 in June, per a CIS proposal, "and a new test, which would require a better understanding of the nation's history and democratic principles, is set to take effect next year."

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS: Homeowner Worries and How To Deal With Them

According to this report, mayroon daw 4 na rason kaya di makatulog ang ilang mga homeowners:

Here they are:

1. Is my house falling apart?
2. Do I have enough insurance?
3. Can I afford my mortgage?
4. Am I paying too much?

If these worry you also, the article gives some valuable tips on how to deal with each of them.

ASK A KABABAYAN:"I Changed My Name When I Became a US Citizen. What Should I Do Next?"

Change is good.

That's probably why there are a lot of Pinoys who sign up for the name-changing opportunity when it becomes an option when they become newly minted US citizens.

Unfortunately, this change doesn't come with a magic wand. There are several things that must be accomplished to get your new identity fully acknowledged in the U.S.

Here's how to change your driver's license name per DMV. Next time, we'll tackle the other necessary steps (informing your financial institutions, etc.) involved in name changing.

How to change your name on your driver license and/or identification (ID) card

To apply for a name change you will need to:
• Visit a DMV office (make an appointment for faster service)
• Complete application form DL 44 with your new information. (An original DL 44 form must be submitted. Copies will not be accepted.)
• Give a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Pay the application fee (No fee for a senior citizen ID card)

Acceptable evidence of your new name may be provided by showing an original or certified copy of a Birth Date/Legal Presence document or a true full name document.
Please contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to change your name on SSA records, if you have not already done so. DMV electronically verifies your name, birth date and social security number with the SSA.

If your information does not verify, you will not receive your new California driver license or identification card. You will receive a Request for Verification of Information letter from DMV informing you that the information you provided (name, birth date, and/or SSN) does not match SSA's records.

Ma-i-isyuhan kayo ng interim license o resibo ng inyong ID card na maaaring gamitin sa loob ng 60 araw hanggang matanggap ninyo ang inyong bagong photo license o photo ID card sa koreo. Siguraduhing tama ang inyong address bago kayo umalis sa DMV at sabihin kaagad sa DMV representative kung mali ito. I-me-mail ang inyong bagong lisensya o ID card sa loob ng 60 araw. Kung di ninyo matanggap ang inyong lisensya o ID card matapos ang 60 araw, tumawag sa 1 (800) 777-0133 para i-check ang status nito. Siguraduhing nasa inyo ang resibo ng interim license o ID card kapag tumawag kayo.

Note: A name change on your driver license or identification card will not change your vehicle registration information.

SOURCE: DMV, http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2504

SingleFilipinOnline - LILIAN T.

Lilian T. from Seattle, Washington

LT, as friends call her, is a hardworking senior accountant who loves the outdoors.

"I love nature," she says. On weekends, this 38-year-old cheerful gal sheds her dainty office pumps in favor of hiking boots - she loves camping with friends.

FUN FACTS ABOUT LT:

Describe yourself: "I'm petite, simple, outgoing, loves life and nature."

Hobbies: Reading books, watching TV and movies, walking in the park, hiking/camping

Guy Turn-offs: Smokers, cocky/attention getters

Fave Superhero: "Gosh, I can't think who and why right now. Maybe Superman. Kasi cute s'ya - joke lang."

Must-Haves: Hair dryer/flat iron, cell phone and my car.

If I Am Not An Accountant, I Would Be _____ : "A lawyer or a social worker. I'd like to help people especially those who are being persecuted and treated unfairly."

You can e-mail Lilian at: editor.filonline@yahoo.com
Don’t forget to put her name on the subject heading!

If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured on SingleFilipinOnline (SFO), please send an e-mail to editor.filonline@yahoo.com. The requirements? You gotta be single - and you gotta be Pinoy/Pinay!

Simula

Welcome to FilipinOnline!

As described above, this site aims to provide News, Helpful Information, Features and Entertainment For and About Filipinos in America. Currently, it is Southern California-centric, but I aim to include more national Fil Am news and features in the future.

I want to say that this place is a product of some overnight tinkering but the truth is it took me a long time to finally realize this dream.

While covering Filipino news in Southern California, I've always been struck by the wealth of material that goes unreported in our community. As the reporting assignments I get are frequently of the "if it bleeds, it leads" variety, I hungered for the days when I will get the opportunity to write about stories in our community that are truly worth caring about.

It took me a long time to break free of my fears and inhibitions about striking out on my own to finally follow through on this idea for a site that aims to help, inform and entertain my fellow kababayans.

Here we have a segment called "Ask A Kababayan" where anyone can pose a question that will be answered by a kababayan who is in a relevant field, or by someone who, due to a personal experience, just knows the answer.

This is our online version of bayanihan, one of our greatest Pinoy traits.

When I was just starting out in America back in 2000, I would have killed for a place like this where I would be able to get help from kababayans who've been there and done that. And because it seems like we have successfully infiltrated every field there is in America, I am confident that somewhere, somehow, some knowledgeable Pinoy will always be able and willing to inform a kababayan in need.

We also have Buhay America Tips. It's fun collecting these tips because I get to learn a lot in the process too.

There are lots more in store!

I was inspired to finally take the plunge to set up this long-dreamed of site when I discovered darynkagan.com, a website created by former CNN news anchor, Daryn Kagan. She calls her website a "hopeful" news site whose aim is "to show the world what's possible." Her site's credo, it seems, is just simply to help and inspire.

I hope to do the same thing, and I hope you'll join me on this trip.

Yong B. Chavez