BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:Be sure to check your W-2 for errors

This is the time of the year when we get our W-2 forms. The deadline for employers to put W-2s in the mail is Jan. 31 so if you haven't received yours by that time, tanungin na ninyo ang inyong accounting department.

[If you're a new immigrant: The W-2 is the tax form distributed by employers which lists the income you earned, retirement plan contributions, and the income taxes that were withheld for the previous year. This is needed to file individual tax returns.]

Kahit di mo natanggap ang W-2 mo, you're still required to file your tax return on time. Kung nahihirapan kang kunin ang W2 mo dahil may problema sa employer, you can file a complaint with the IRS by calling 800-829-1040 or go to http://www.irs.gov/. Don't call until after Feb. 14.

The deadline to file individual tax returns is on April 15.

After reviewing your W-2 and wondering where all the money went (or feeling depressed about how little the amount was), check your W-2s for any errors.

This article lists some potential problems to look for when you receive your W-2:
• Wrong name.
If you got married last year and changed your name, the name on your W-2 may not match the one on your Social Security card. Notify your employer of name mismatches right away. You may be able to get it corrected before your W-2 is sent to the Social Security Administration and your state.
• Misplaced W-2s.
You're supposed to get a W-2 from every company you worked for in 2004, even if you stayed for only a day or two. Companies that have gone out of business are supposed to send employees a W-2 form by the end of the month following the quarter they stopped operations.

What if Your Employer Refuses to Give You Your Form W-2?

Kung ayaw kang bigyan ng W2 for whatever reason, your employer still doesn't want to give you one, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Pag tumawag ka sa IRS, have this information ready:
1.) Your name and address, Social Security number, and contact information.

2.) The employer's name and complete address, including zip code, the employer’s identification number (if known), and telephone number.

3.) An estimate of the wages you earned, the federal income tax withheld, and the dates you began and ended employment.

[photo: msn.com]

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER TO VOTE!

Election day is coming up so DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER.

Voter registration is permanent - if you already did so during your oath-taking then you're set. However, you should re-register kung lumipat kayo, wish to change your political party affiliation, or have changed your name.

For the upcoming presidential primary elections on February 5, the last day to mail in the registration form for California residents is on Jan. 22 . For more information about registration and voting, go to this site: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm

You may register to vote if you meet the following criteria:

You are a United States citizen
You are a resident of California [or the state of your residence]
You are at least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election)
You are not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony
You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote

To find the deadline to register in other states, just Goggle your state's name and add "voter registration."

RENALDO LAPUZ, FILIPINO AMERICAN IDOL

You knew it was just a matter of time. On the second day of American Idol Season 7 auditions, another Pinoy has made it to the show of shows.

Upon seeing previews of a contestant in a shiny silver cape and gaudy hat, I groaned knowing that he's Pinoy. I was afraid that the 44-year-old, 100% Pinoy, Renaldo Lapuz will do something completely embarassing. But as it turned out, he was so guileless and so sincere that he won me over.

Yes, he probably will be in the Worst list in the inevitable American Idol's Best & Worst, but unlike the completely deluded AI should-not-bes, Renaldo wasn't cringe-inducing (okay, maybe the costume was).

In fact, he did the most funny and entertaining audition so far. He even got the hosts to sing along and dance along with him.

The Reno, Nevada native didn't actually get the golden ticket to Hollywood (where many contestants wash out anyway) but he got something better: Fifteen minutes of fame and a prediction from his idol, Simon Cowell, that his audition piece - an original composition called "We're Brothers Forever" - will be a "hit record."

Okay, so Simon was laughing when he said that but it's not unthinkable: Renaldo could be this year's William Hung. And he already has one thing over Hung: Renaldo sings better, and I guarantee you, once you've heard him, for better or for worse, his song will stick in your mind like day-old malagkit. As one blogger described his performance: "He is freakin' hilarious!"

"If I were an American Idol, then I would give hope to those who are in despairs, and to be tough, to be strength," Renaldo said.

His English might be broken but his spirit surely wasn't when he tearfully thanked Simon after his audition for "giving a chance to everyone to sing to the whole world...to give a chance to any talent, free of charge."

Other kababayans might get crabby and start bagging on him but I hope for the opposite. Sure, talent-wise, he's no Jasmine Trias - not even AJ Tabaldo - but he just seems to be a happy Pinoy with a song in his heart so let's let him have the time of his life.

So - congrats, Renaldo! Idol ka namin.

And now, here are the lyrics to his song. All together now!

We're Brothers Forever

By Renaldo Lapuz

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing this songs
The music that you liiiike!

Brothers till the end of time
Together or not
You're always in my heart
Your hurt, your feelings
And you will worry no mooore!

USCIS TO HOLD U.S. HISTORY & CIVICS ORIENTATION SEMINAR

Volunteers To Receive President’s Award for Service to Older Immigrants

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the White House Office of USA Freedom Corps will hold a volunteer and civics orientation seminar at Los Angeles City College on Thursday to encourage individuals to volunteer to help legal immigrants become more actively engaged in their communities.

During the seminar, the Project SHINE chapter at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award for helping older immigrants learn English and prepare to become United States citizens.

Following the seminar, Alfonso Aguilar, Chief of USCIS’ Office of Citizenship, will teach a citizenship class using the new USCIS video, A Promise of Freedom: An Introduction to U.S. History and Civics for Immigrants and engage the students in a discussion using the lesson plan in the accompanying booklet.

January 17, 2008- 10 a.m.
Los Angeles City CollegeEl Camino Theatre
855 N. Vermont AveLos Angeles, CA 90029
Main Office: (323) 953-4000

MANNY PACQUIAO'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez had a press conference today in Beverly Hills to promote their upcoming fight called "Marquez vs Pacquiao II - Unfinished Business".

The highly-anticipated match for the Super Featherweight world championship will be staged on Saturday, March 15 , at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This bout is a rematch of their legendary May 8,2008 battle which ended in a draw. The fight will be telecast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

--Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2008

SCAM ALERT

The Internet Age brought us many great things but it also brought us spam, ID theft, and other hideous things perpetrated by hideous (and usually anonymous) people.

I'm starting a new segment on FilipinOnline today to help expose these scams, and to warn our kababayans against them.

For starters, I got this e-mail yesterday (see picture above) saying that I have a pending item for delivery for a free laptop.

Wow, a free laptop. I sure could use one. And I was lucky enough to be chosen by these wonderful people!

Too good to be true, right? Right. That's my first clue that this e-mail was bogus. So I hit Report Spam.

I've heard of sob stories of kababayans who fell prey to these kinds of things. They lost money, time and their sense of security because they trusted so easily.

If you wanna share your story so you could help others be informed, please e-mail them to me: ybchavez at gmail.com (no space in between, @ replaces 'at').

Here's a list of common Internet scams, from the FBI.

Internet Auction Fraud
-
Non-Delivery of Merchandise
-
Credit Card Fraud
-
Investment Fraud
-
Business Fraud
-
Nigerian Letter Scam

To file a complaint, go to this Internet Crime Complaint Center, ran by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center, and fill up a form.

ASK A KABABAYAN: I read that Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire caucus. Ano ba ang kaibahan ng caucuses at primaries? Ano'ng susunod na mangyayari?

ANSWER:

These are the same things being asked by other Fil-Ams who are voting for the first time or who are just wondering what the heck these caucuses and primary elections mean. Here's what I know:

First: what they had in New Hampshire where Hillary (for Democrat) and McCain (for Republican) won was not a caucus; it was actually a primary election. Sa Iowa yung caucus where Obama and Huckabee won.

Caucuses and primaries accomplish the same basic thing: They are used by each political party to let voters nationwide select their party's presidential nominee. Magkaiba lang sila ng implementation.

Ang caucus is sort of like a classroom election/barangay-level elections, while the primary elections are just like any other secret ballot election. Sa Iowa, they held several caucuses - depende sa dami ng counties (ang counties ay parang provinces sa atin, kumbaga). Sa Iowa Democratic caucuses, taasan ng kamay ang elections, at pwedeng mangampanya during the process.

The primaries and caucuses are used to select delegates (representatives of party members in each state) to send to the party's Presidential Nominating Convention.

Ang importance ng Iowa caucus is that, in the election season, it's the earliest to have any kind of voting process in an election year. It's the first time that the candidates and the public can see kung sinong kandidato o anong plataporma ang kinikilingan ng publiko.

So maraming publicity kasi well-covered ng media. Parang nagkakaroon ng momentum kung sinuman ang manalo dito kahit hindi naman nito ni-re-represent ang cross-section of the American voting public.

Iowa has been described in news reports as a lily-white state - meaning, it's a state na hindi masyadong maraming immigrants like Latinos and Asians, unlike California. Ganun din ang demographics ng New Hampshire.

Ang susunod na inaabangan ngayon ay ang mga primaries where minorities, like us Pinoys, vote.

Bawat state gets to have caucuses or primary elections kaya lang unang-unang gumagawa ang Iowa ng caucus at ang New Hampshire ng primary elections kaya sila ang unang center of media attention.

Sa primary elections and caucuses, nade-determine ang state party's nominee for president, which it will present sa susunod na event - which is the Presidential Nominating Convention where each (Dem and Rep) party's delegates will select the party nominee.

The outcome decides kung sino ang magiging official na kandidato per party sa general elections, which will be held in November.

Most Commonly Mispronounced English Words

Yes, we're known for sometimes confusing our Ps and Fs but there are other English words that trip even native English speakers.

Speaking of our Ps and Fs, naalala ko tuloy yung kwento ng isang katrabaho ko dati. She called a Pinoy client but the client wasn't home so the voicemail came up. The voicemail prompt left my coworker confused as to where and how exactly to leave her message for the client. This is what the client's recorded voice said:

"Sorry we missed your call. Please leave a message after the beef."

Anyway-- Here's a partial list with explanation from yourdictionary.com. Scroll down to get the full link. The first word is the commonly misprounced usage; the correct pronunciation is highlighted.

Some entries may surprise you. I didn't know that I've been mispronouncing "forte" till now:

Antartic - Antarctic
Just think of an arc of ants (an ant arc) and that should help you keep the [c] in the pronunciation of this word.

athelete - athlete
Two syllables are enough for "athlete."

[David Spader used this mispronunciation to great comedic effect in "The Benchwarmers". I know it's not an Oscar movie but it has Rob Schneider, who is Pinoy, so rent it now. - YBC]

cannidate - candidate
You aren't being canny to drop the [d] in this word. Remember, it is the same as "candy date."

[I know some of us are tempted to pronounce this with an American accent, like saying "twenny" instead of "twenty", but it doesn't make it correct - YBC]

duck tape - duct tape
Ducks very rarely need taping though you may not know that ducts always do—to keep air from escaping through the cracks in them.

Febyuary - February
We don't like two syllables in succession with an [r] so some of us dump the first one in this word. Most dictionaries now accept the single [r] pronunciation but, if you have an agile tongue, you may want to shoot for the original.

fedral - federal
Syncopation of an unaccented vowel is fairly common in rapid speech but in careful speech it should be avoided. See also "plute" and read more about the problem here.

forte -fort
The word is spelled "forte" but the [e] is pronounced only when speaking of music, as a "forte passage." The words for a strong point and a stronghold are pronounced the same: [fort].

'erb - herb
Does, ''My friend Herb grows 'erbs,'' sound right to you? This is a US oddity generated by the melting pot (mixed dialects). Initial [h] is always pronounced outside America and should be in all dialects of English.

irregardless - regardless
"-Less" already says ''without'' so there is no need to repeat the same sentiment with "ir-."

lambast - lambaste
Better to lambaste the lamb than to baste him—remember, the words rhyme. "Bast" has nothing to do with it.

often -ofen
We have mastered the spelling of this word so well, its spelling influences the pronunciation: DON'T pronounce the [t]! This is an exception to the rule that spelling helps pronunciation.

Here's the complete list of the 100 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words.

[picture from Savvy Traveler]

"JOURNEY" LEAD SINGER IS A PINOY

Discovered via YouTube, bonafide Quezon City boy and singer-extraordinnaire Arnel Pineda skipped gazillion steps in securing a spot desired by many aspiring singers. Last December, he became the new lead singer of Journey.

This juicy piece of good news was first brought to my attention by FilipinOnline reader Jon Dela Cruz, and I even talked about it when I guested on Kababayan LA. Today, I got another e-mail about this talented Pinoy from FO contributor Art Pacho. Thanks, Jon & Art, for the tip!

On its official website, Journey welcomed Arnel with Open Arms.

The group, which achieved its biggest commercial success thus far in the '80s, had another high-profile moment recently when one of its biggest hits, Don't Start Believing, was used in The Sopranos' much-talked about fade-to-black finale.

Here's Arnel singing:

TRAGIC END FOR A HEROIC FIL-AM

A Pinoy husband and father of five died on Christmas Day when he aided in rescuing children who had broken through the ice on Jackson Lake in Wrightwood, Calif.

Claro "Bhoy" O. Claridad II, 41, slipped beneath the ice and died from hypothermia.

Bhoy was born in Manila and has lived in California for 23 years. He and his wife Judith and their five children - all under 12 - resided in Victorville in the last four years. Bhoy was a Verizon store manager and he was also a former U.S. Army man.

"He risked his life for something he would do for everybody," said co-worker Diane Bach in a report. "He doesn't think, he just acts. No matter what anybody needs." In the same article, Bach described Bhoy as the manager that everyone loved who brought lavish lunches to work, "oftentimes wrapped in banana paper."

The Claridads went to the snowy lake for a family picnic to celebrate Christmas, not knowing that it will be their last day together.

When the incident happened, Judith had momentarily left to change her two youngest daughters. When she came back, she was informed that Bhoy has been brought to the hospital.

There, Bhoy's belongings were returned to her, including a hat with a Filipino flag, according to a news report.

A trust fund has been established to help Judith and the Claridad children.

Donations may be made at any Washington Mutual branch under the Claridad name and account number 3403135523.

Donations may be sent to Claridad Fund, c/o Washington Mutual, 12690 Hesperia Road, Victorville, CA 92302.

BUHAY AMERICA TIP:Airline Restrictions on Spare Batteries

Travel Alert!
Effective January 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation have prohibited loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.

In response to exploding laptops incidents, the government agency has issued this directive.

Eto ang mga detalye:
1.) Iba ang treatment sa mga installed batteries na nakakabit na (sa telepono, computer, camera, etc.), at sa spare batteries (carried loose). Only lithium-based batteries are affected, not nickel-based rechargeables or alkaline batteries.

2.) You can't pack spare batteries in checked baggage but equipment with batteries installed can be checked in.

3.) Sa carry-on bag mo, you can take as many batteries as you want (installed or spare), basta hindi lalampas sa 8 grams of lithium content each battery. How much lithium is in a battery? This informative article from Yahoo! tells you how to figure it out:
"An 8-gram battery equals about 100 watt-hours of power. Now, your battery won't say how many watt-hours it provides, but it's easy to do the math. Look on the bottom and you'll find a voltage rating and a mAh (milliamp-hours) rating. Multiply these two together and divide by 1,000. That's your watt-hours. In the (big) battery I'm looking at as an example, it offers 11.1 volts and 7,800 mAh. Multiply and divide by 1,000 and you get 86.58 watt-hours, acceptable under the new rules."

Since most travelers don't typically carry these big batteries, not a lot of people are affected by this restriction. But if you carry them, check out FAA's safety tips.

For more details, here's the link to the DOT website.

[Photo: US-DOT website]

IMMIGRATION NEWS:H-2B Cap Is Reached;Suspension of R1 Premium Processing Services Suspended

USCIS REACHES H-2B CAP FOR SECOND HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 2008
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this week that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008). USCIS is hereby notifying the public that January 2, 2008 is the “final receipt date” for new H-2B worker petitions requesting employment start dates prior to October 1, 2008. The “final receipt date” is the date on which USCIS determines that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of 33,000 H-2B workers for the second half of FY2008.

The cap was reached with existing totals for that day. USCIS will reject petitions for new H-2B workers seeking employment start dates prior to October 1, 2008 that arrive after January 2, 2008.

USCIS will apply a computer-generated random selection process to all petitions which are subject to the cap and were received on January 2, 2008. USCIS will use this process to select the number of petitions needed to meet the cap. USCIS will reject, and return the fee, for all cap-subject petitions not randomly selected.

Petitions for workers who are currently in H-2B status do not count toward the congressionally mandated bi-annual H-2B cap. USCIS will continue to process petitions filed to:

Extend the stay of a current H-2B worker in the United States;
Change the terms of employment for current H-2B workers and extend their stay; or
Allow current H-2B workers to change or add employers and extend their stay.

More information about the H-2B work program is available at www.uscis.gov or by calling the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

*******************************************************

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing Service
for Religious Workers (R-1) Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that suspension of premium processing services for religious worker (R-1) visa petitions will be extended until July 8, 2008. A previous six-month suspension was announced on June 18, 2007.

The Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. USCIS needs additional time to assess whether it is possible to provide this level of service for nonimmigrant religious worker petitions. Due to the complexities with adjudicating R-1 visa petitions, USCIS cannot reasonably ensure a level of processing service within 15 calendar days.

On April 25, 2007, USCIS proposed significant revisions to its regulations related to the special immigrant and nonimmigrant (R-1) religious worker visa classifications. USCIS is currently considering comments on the proposed rule and promulgating the final rule. The proposed rule suggested steps to eliminate fraud in the religious worker program and discusses concerns addressed in an August 2005 Benefit Fraud Assessment conducted by USCIS’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. That assessment revealed potential vulnerabilities in the religious worker program.

USCIS will continue processing R-1 visa petitions which include already-established procedures designed to ensure the legitimacy of the petitioner and statements made in the petition. The procedures may include inspections, evaluations, verifications and compliance reviews for religious organizations – procedures that exceed the 15-day guarantee for premium processing.

In the future, if USCIS is able to properly process these cases within 15 calendar days of receipt, the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) requesting R-1 nonimmigrant visa classification may once again be available for premium processing services. Additionally, USCIS may prescribe additional conditions of availability on the Premium Processing Service for religious worker petitions.


USCIS Press Release

BACK TO BLOG

I started this blog on January 2007 so, yes, one year na tayo!

One of the many memorable things that I got to do in 2007 happened during its last week: I was invited as a guest at "Kababayan LA" for its year-ender report, and I had a blast.

Choosing the top 10 Fil-Am stories that made an impact on me as reporter and an immigrant was difficult but ultimately rewarding. I'll post my choices later today.

"Kababayan LA" is the first and only Filipino daily show in LA and it enjoys a wide following so it's an honor to be asked. I couldn't make it last year but this time, I made sure to come.

Here's a link to the video. Here's another link.

Seeing Kababayan's tireless host/producer Jannelle So in action is always a treat. When I started reporting for ABS-CBN more than two years ago, Jannelle was the regular freelance correspondent so I've known her for quite sometime na. The success of her show is a testament to her talent and determination.

Check out her show on KSCI 18 weekdays at 4:30pm, and check out my Q&A with Jannelle this week on this blog.

THE ULTIMATE PINOY HERO

Today is Rizal Day.

Dr. Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan.

He was a revolutionary during the Philippines' Spanish colonial era. His writings were said to entice insurgency among Filipinos and for this and his other patriotic activities, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, Intramuros.

Rizal was executed by a Spanish firing squad. Before he died, he wrote Mi Ultimo Adios or My Last Farewell.

Written in Spanish, English translations of the poem can be found online. Here's one:

Mi Ultimo Adios
Dr. Jose Rizal

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.

On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight,
Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy,
The place does not matter: cypress laurel, lily white,
Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom's site,
It is the same if asked by home and Country.

I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin to show
And at last announce the day, after a gloomy night;
If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow,
Pour my blood and at the right moment spread it so,
And gild it with a reflection of your nascent light!

My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent,
My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor to attain,
Were to see you, gem of the sea of the Orient,
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high plane
Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame without stain.

My life's fancy, my ardent, passionate desire,
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon part from thee;
Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that fullness you may acquire;
To die to give you life, 'neath your skies to expire,
And in your mystic land to sleep through eternity !

If over my tomb some day, you would see blow,
A simple humble flow'r amidst thick grasses,
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so,
And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my brow,
Warmth of your breath, a whiff of your tenderness.

Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry,
Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant light,
In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh,
And should a bird descend on my cross and alight,
Let the bird intone a song of peace o'er my site.

Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize
And with my clamor behind return pure to the sky;
Let a friend shed tears over my early demise;
And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me on high,
Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may rest I.

Pray thee for all the hapless who have died,
For all those who unequalled torments have undergone;
For our poor mothers who in bitterness have cried;
For orphans, widows and captives to tortures were shied,
And pray too that you may see you own redemption.

And when the dark night wraps the cemet'ry
And only the dead to vigil there are left alone,
Don't disturb their repose, don't disturb the mystery:
If you hear the sounds of cithern or psaltery,
It is I, dear Country, who, a song t'you intone.

And when my grave by all is no more remembered,
With neither cross nor stone to mark its place,
Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it be scattered
And my ashes ere to nothingness are restored,
Let them turn to dust to cover your earthly space.

Then it doesn't matter that you should forget me:
Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I'll sweep;
Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall be:
Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings deep,
Constantly repeating the essence of the faith I keep.

My idolized Country, for whom I most gravely pine,
Dear Philippines, to my last goodbye, oh, harken
There I leave all: my parents, loves of mine,
I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen
Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign.

Farewell, parents, brothers, beloved by me,
Friends of my childhood, in the home distressed;
Give thanks that now I rest from the wearisome day;
Farewell, sweet stranger, my friend, who brightened my way;
Farewell, to all I love. To die is to rest.

PINAY GIRL WOWS ELLEN

If you haven't heard of her, now's your chance.

15-year old singing phenom Charice Pempengco, who traveled all the way from Manila to be a guest at Ellen DeGeneres's show, has wowed audiences everywhere.

Ang galing ng batang ito!

Here's her goose-bump-inducing rendition of "And I Am Telling You".

I am telling you, talo pa n'ya si Jennifer Hudson!

[Thank you to reader Jon dela Cruz for the tip.]

GOOD AND FUN REGALO IDEAS

Here's an awesome pang-regalo idea:

GiveWell.com helps you let your friends and loved ones know just how much you care when you buy them Prepaid Healthcare Visa Gift Card.

It lets you choose the amount you want to place on the card, from as little as $25 up to $5,000, and the recipient chooses the health related expenses he or she wants to use it for.

The card costs $4.95 plus shipping and handling and can be sent to you or straight to the recipient.

Uses include: co-pays at doctor’s and pharmacies; dental care, and others.

Mas okay na regalo ito kesa sa stale fruitcake, di ba?

For others naman who wish to give the gift of laughter, here's a quick and fun (and FREE!) gift idea: Get your loved ones' pictures and go to elfyourself.com to upload them and make a personalized Elf-theme singing card. I did this recently and I just could not stop laughing at the end result: My family as elves singing and dancing like crazy.

ASK A KABABAYAN: I want to help my parents. I'm 16, pwede na ba ako'ng magtrabaho?

Yes. And I admire you for wanting to help your parents. (Pero 'wag mo'ng pababayaan ang pag-aaral mo ha!)

According to the Department of Labor, under Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ang minimum age for employment in non-agricultural employment is 14.

Here are more info:

Hours worked by 14- and 15-year-olds are limited to:
Non-school hours; 3 hours in a school day; 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours on a non-school day; 40 hours on a non-school week; and hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.)

Youth 14 and 15 years old enrolled in an approved Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) may be employed for up to 23 hours in school weeks and 3 hours on school days (including during school hours).

The FLSA does not limit the number of hours or times of day for workers 16 years and older.

Many states have enacted child labor laws as well. In situations where both the FLSA child labor provisions and state child labor laws apply, the higher minimum standard must be obeyed.

Depending on what state you live in, you might need to get a work permit, click on this link to check. Though the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require that youth get work permits or working papers to get a job, some states do require work permits prior to getting a job. School counselors may be able to advise if a work permit is needed before getting a job, according to the Labor website.

You should also check this website, it is chock-full of info for teen workers.

[photo: south carolina DOL]

NO MORE "JINGGAM BELS"?

According to this report, Manila officials have banned Christmas carolers.

“The plan, controversial as it might be, is not done out of whim but rather for the safety of the children and the mo­torists,” an official said.

Last year a child was killed when he was run over by a speeding truck.

The rule effectively bans street kids from slum areas from knocking on vehicle windows on busy streets asking for cash while caroling.

Caroling in subur­ban areas where carolers would not affect road traffic is still allowed.

"WIFE SWAP" LOOKING FOR PINAY MOM!

ABC's "Wife Swap" is gearing up its 4th season and they are searching for "one-of-a-kind families with amazing personality and strong family philosophies!"

According to Elisha DeLeon, a proudly Pinay casting production assistant of the show, she is looking specifically "for families of all nationalities who are proud of their heritage and love their culture! Do you share your cultural values with your family and bring your cultural traditions into your household? If so, I would love to hear from you!"

Contact Elisha at 646-747-7959 or at elisha.deleon@wifeswapcasting.com.

Let them know that you got this info from FilipinOnline ha!

Here's more info from Elisha:

"In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, the premise of “Wife Swap” is simple: two moms from two different families get the opportunity to swap lives for one week to experience what it's like to live a different lifestyle - and to see what they can teach each other about their own! “Wife Swap” airs on Disney owned ABC television on Mondays at 8 pm- the family hour!

Potential families can live anywhere in the U.S. Families must consist of two parents with at least one child, between the ages 7 and 17 living at home. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age, as long as one child is in the required age range.) Families featured on the show receive a $20,000 honorarium to thank them for their time."

photo: abc.com

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:You Better Watch Out So You Don't Cry...Before Getting In-Store Credit Cards

I know the temptation of a discount is great - and believe me, I succumbed to it before I knew better - but if you're serious about maintaining a high credit score, you gotta be careful about opening another department store credit card.

Here's a tip from TransUnion's TrueCredit newsletter:

"Though it can be tempting to save 10 to 15% on your holiday purchases, consider this: the interest rates can be high (especially if you make a late payment), and applying for a lot of cards can damage your credit score."

In essence, that discount that retail stores give when you apply for a new card might seem like a good deal now but if you don't pay off your entire balance every month, you will lose more in the long run because of the high interest rate. Also, applying for new cards can put dings in your credit score. If you do pay off your balance every month, then by all means, take the discounts. Still, be reminded that each application could have an effect on your credit score.

Here are more credit report-related info from the newsletter:

Do you know how long records stay on your credit report?

Here is a quick list of expiration dates:

Late Payments: Up to 7 years.

Collections: 7 years, starting 181 days from first date of delinquency preceding collection activity on the account.

Bankruptcies: 7-10 years after the filing date, depending on the bankruptcy type and policy of the credit reporting agency.

Judgments: 7 years from the filing date or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer

[PHOTO: American Chronicle]

FYI: Democratic Party Forum

VOICES TO VOTES
An Asian / Latino Issues Forum featuring representatives from the leading Democratic Presidential Campaigns with special celebrity appearance by Kelly Hu.

Assembly Member Kevin de Leon (Hillary Clinton's campaign)
Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (John Edwards' campaign)
LA School Board Member Yolie Flores Aguilar (Barack Obama's campaign)

The forum will be moderated by Eric Byler (Asian Pacific Americans for Progress) and Sandra Mendoza (Metropolitan Democratic Club).

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central AvenueLos Angeles , CA 90012
Event is FREETo RSVP, email: curtischin@aol.com
6:15 PM doors open
6:45 - 8:15 PM panel/forum (will begin promptly)

Immediately following the forum will be the Tuesday Tingler, a special edition of the Monday Minglers co-sponsored by Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Committee and Asian Pacific Americans in Philanthropy. They will be joined by several co-sponsoring Latino organizations. Just walk around the corner to:
Far Bar at Chop Suey Café347 E. First StreetTel: (213) 617-9990
For more info on the party, email charles.chang@apadrc.org

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:Hit Delete on Texting While Driving

Naku, mga kababayan ko: Stop texting na while driving.

Apart from being ridiculously unsafe for you and the other motorists, it could land you in jail. If you haven't heard about the first texting-while-driving citation given to a distracted driver, then read this.

More and more states are adopting anti-cell phone-usage-while driving laws.

If you live in Calif., you must know that it is illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a cellphone, pager, text-messaging device or laptop while driving, even if they are wearing a headset.

Lawmakers used statistics that show that teenagers make up 6% of licensed drivers but 16% of auto accident fatalities in passing the bill.

For all California adult drivers, just a reminder: When you buy a new cell phone, make sure to get the hands-free one because by July 1, that's all we could legally use.

[photo: SWITCHED.COM]

ONE GOOD APL

It was very cold in Hollywood last night but at Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.Ap's birthday show at the Vanguard, the atmosphere was warm and fuzzy.

His celebrity guests, including Will.i.am, Taboo, American Idol's AJ Tabaldo and Camille Velasco, Bai Ling, among others, praised the purpose of the event. All the proceeds of the show will go to Asian charitable organizations, including the Philippines.

"All I want for my birthday is for people to help me give more help to our kababayans back home," Apl said at his birthday bash/A.P.L. benefit show.

The Black Eyed Peas Peapod Foundation presented the event. The mission of Apl's organization - A.P.L. or Allan Pineda Lindo - is to provide material, educational and monetary assistance to specific charities in Asia, including the Pearl S. Buck Foundation and Angeles University Foundation, among others. The objective of A.P.L. is to provide the tools for empowerment, progress and self-reliance for underprivileged and marginalized Asian communities.

Apl's best friend and BEP co-founding member had one major wish for the birthday boy.

"I want him to be the president of the Philippines," said will.i.am.

Watch out for my interview with Apl on Balitang America this week.

ALL THAT JAZZIPINO

Ever heard of Jazzipino? Go to the 3rd Annual Fil-Am JazzFest and find out what it's all about.

Jazzipino's creator, the lovely and talented Charmaine Clamor, who's also the first Filipina vocalist ever to have an album simultaneously on both the JazzWeek Traditional Jazz and World Music charts, will be one of the headliners at the 3rd Annual Fil-Am JazzFest, presented by ABS-CBN.

Charmaine Clamor, who has received international acclaim for blending American jazz and blues with the languages and melodies of the Philippines, will perform December 7-9, at Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club, in Hollywood. Critics across America have praised Clamor for bringing the music of her birth country to a mainstream audience. Her current CD, "Flippin' Out," has been heard on more than 200 radio stations in the United States and Canada and has been on the World Music Charts for an unprecedented 14 weeks. Following an appearance this month on NPR's "Weekend Edition," her acclaimed album peaked at #2 on the World Music Charts.

"I'm obviously very proud of my Filipino roots," said Clamor. "And I'm even more proud to share the stage with some of the greatest musical artists our community has ever produced."

Clamor's smash radio hit, "My Funny Brown Pinay," a reworking of the popular American standard "My Funny Valentine," has been one of the most played songs on Los Angeles jazz radio stations KKJZ 88.1FM and KCRW. She is famous for taking beloved kundiman and harana songs, like "Dahil Sa Yo," "Hindi Kita Malimot," and "Minamahal Kita" and giving them a jazzy flavor. The resulting blend is called "jazzipino."

Clamor will be joined by Filipino jazz luminaries from around the globe, including Toti Fuentes, the legendary pianist from Sergio Mendes Brazil 66; Mon David, the first Filipino to win the London Vocal Jazz Competition; and Abe Lagrimas, Hawaii's renowned ukulele virtuoso.

What: 3rd Annual Fil-Am JazzFest presented by ABS-CBN
When: December 7-9; shows at 8 & 10PM; 7PM on Sunday
Where: Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club
6725 Sunset Blvd. (at McCadden), Hollywood 90028 www.CatalinaJazzClub.com
How Much: $20-35, plus drinks or dinner
Tickets and information are available at: http://www.jazzphil-usa.com/.

FREE IMMIGRATION CLINIC

Kung kailangan ninyo ng legal advice about immigration matters, here's a chance to talk to immigration lawyers for free.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and the Southern California chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) will host a free immigration clinic TODAY, November 28, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. The event will be held at APALC, 1145 Wilshire Blvd. , 2nd Flr., Los Angeles , CA 90017 .

“The clinic offers people a chance to get accurate, up-to-date information and sound advice about green cards, visas, citizenship, etc.,” said Mark Yoshida, APALC staff attorney.
At the clinic, attendees will be able to discuss their immigration concerns with experienced attorneys, who are providing their assistance at no charge.

“We are fortunate to have attorneys from AILA Southern California volunteer for this program,” said Yoshida. “They bring the expertise immigrants often need to resolve their legal issues.”

Appointments are strongly encouraged; attendees without appointments may have to wait to talk with an attorney or be rescheduled for another clinic. Attendees should bring all records and documents relating to their immigration status.

For more information about the workshop or to schedule an appointment, call APALC at (213)977-7500 (English).

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) of Los Angeles once again joins the Asian Pacific American Legal Center , other local Asian Pacific American bar associations, APEX, and other APA community groups for our 8th Annual Holiday Toy Drive and Networking Reception, to be held on Thursday, December 6, 2007, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Holiday Toy Drive and Networking Reception will take place at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, 1145 Wilshire Boulevard (corner of Lucas Avenue), in downtown Los Angeles. PABA has selected Search To Involve Pilipino Americans as its beneficiary to receive toys from this event.

There will be a Raffle for a Pair of Round-trip Tickets to Anywhere Southwest Airlines Flies. Raffle tickets are $5.00 a ticket or 5 tickets for $20.00.

All proceeds will go toward the purchase of new toys for recipient organizations. Winner need not be present to win. Call APALC at (213) 977-7500 x 201 to purchase raffle tickets in advance.

Admission is $15 or a new, unwrapped toy with a value of at least $15, which will be donated to one of several APA charities for their respective holiday gift-giving programs. To volunteer or for more information about becoming a Toy Sponsor, please contact Cecilia Amo at camo@cochranfirm.com.

BAGYO

While we're celebrating Thanksgiving here, sadly, a lot of our kababayans back home are experiencing extreme hardships due to Typhoon Mitag. It has killed at least ten people, according to latest reports.

Mitag pounded the northern city of Tuguegarao on the main island of Luzon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, knocking out power lines and causing widespread flooding, reports said.

Another tropical storm, Hagibis, hit Palawan, where officials said a Philippine air force plane went missing while looking for 25 crewmen of a Filipino fishing boat that was sunk by the storm last week.

[photo of Albay province evacuees: CNN.com]

Gov. Schwarzenegger Appoints Pinoy; Announces Plans to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recently appointed a Filipino to a state agency that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of Californians involved with service and volunteering.

Michael Balaoing, 39, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the CaliforniaVolunteers Commission. He has served on the commission since 2000. Balaoing has worked for the Entertainment Industry Foundation since 2002, where he currently serves as senior vice president. He previously served as program director for the California Wellness Foundation from 1996 to 2002. Balaoing is chair of the board for the Liberty Hill Foundation. He also serves as board secretary for the Council on Foundations and the Ayala Foundation USA . This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Balaoing is a Democrat.

Schwarzenegger also recently announced a program to help residents affected by the mortgage crisis. Here's the press release:

Gov. Schwarzenegger Works with Lenders to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure; California 's Foreclosure Rate Twice the National Average

With California impacted more than any other state by the national home foreclosure crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger worked with loan servicers from Countrywide, GMAC, Litton and HomeEq to agree to streamline "fast-track" procedures to help keep more subprime borrowers in their homes. Together these four enterprises service more than 25 percent of issued subprime mortgage loans.

"With this type of cooperation from loan servicers, we can save tens of thousands of people from being added to the foreclosure lists. This common-sense approach does not involve a government subsidy or bailout," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Borrowers need to do their part too. If these lenders are willing to meet more than halfway, it's important that consumers don't run when they reach out. It was a two-way street that got us into this mess and it will be a two-way street that gets us out."

The agreement the Governor negotiated with lenders builds off a proposal put forward by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chair Sheila Bair that encourages lending agencies to keep subprime mortgage borrowers at their initial interest rate if they are living in their home, making timely payments, but can't afford the loan "re-set"--or jump to a higher rate. A half million Californians have subprime loans that will jump to higher rates in the next two years. Bair's proposal has been endorsed by the newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times as well as public and community leaders. Governor Schwarzenegger is the first to spur servicers to publicly commit to modifying loans in a streamlined and scalable manner.

Schwarzenegger also announced additional steps the state is taking to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Through a statewide outreach campaign, which will include public service announcements, the Governor will help reinforce the importance for consumers to reach out to their lender if they are at risk of foreclosure. The Governor will also continue to lobby Congress to raise federal loan limits so that more California families can take advantage of these secure products, rather than relying on subprime loans.

"Losing your home in a foreclosure is an emotional crash that can take years to recover from, but we don't have to sit idly by and watch the American dream turn into the American nightmare. We must take steps at both the state and federal level to make sure future mortgages are on more sound economic footing. In the meantime, by working together, we can protect the American dream and our economy without hurting the American taxpayer," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

Seven of the top sixteen metropolitan areas with the highest rates of foreclosures in the nation are in California , according to the latest data from RealtyTrac. In the Stockton , Riverside/San Bernardino, Sacramento , Bakersfield , Oakland , Fresno and San Diego metropolitan areas, there was an average rate of approximately one foreclosure filing for every sixty households in the last quarter. The Governor made his announcement this morning at a meeting with San Joaquin Valley elected, business and community leaders in Fresno , which ranked 13 on the list.

This year, Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation to increase protections for Californians who own or plan to purchase homes and to expand affordable housing opportunities. The Governor has also pledged to work with lawmakers in the coming year to take additional steps to protect homebuyers.

Earlier this year, the Governor directed his Cabinet to form the Interdepartmental Task Force on Non-Traditional Mortgages. California was one of the first states in the nation to form a task force to examine the alarming developments in the non-traditional mortgage market. The task force consists of leadership from two agencies and seven departments responsible for all aspects of this complex issue.

In September, the Governor made $1.16 million in Community Development Block Grant funds available to counties for consumer counseling and urged Congress to provide more funding for these programs in California.

The following additional resources are available for homeowners:
· The "HOPE Hotline" (1-888-995-HOPE or www.995HOPE.org), which provides free mortgage counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

· A website with helpful information for prospective homebuyers, as well as homeowners who are experiencing difficulty in keeping payments current: http://www.yourhome.ca.gov and the Spanish language version: www.sucasa.ca.gov.

THANKFUL

Here's Christine Pechera's latest public service announcement. It chronicles this remarkable Pinay's courage and eventual victory over cancer.

ASK A KABABAYAN: Small Claims Court

ASK A KABABAYAN question:

"Naloko ako. It's for a small amount but I don't want others to be victimized so I want to sue this person. May nagsabi sa akin about Small Claims Court. Ano ba yon?"

I know how you feel. The moment after you've realized na nagoyo ka by a person you trust can be devastating and incredibly frustrating. Con artists have been around since the beginning of time, unfortunately. Pero somehow, mas nakakainis when it's perpetrated by a kababayan, ano?

You can either chalk it all up to experience and say, "It's only money. I can earn it back."

Or you can sue through the Small Claims Court, and yell (like that mad woman in the picture), "No, it's not fair! I will make him/her/it pay!"

Small Claims Court is the place where regular guys like you and I can have their day in court, without a lawyer at our side, to present our case.

The fee to file a claim is from $30 to $100, depending on your situation.
The maximum award varies widely by state and jurisdiction. In California, it is $7,500.

Before pursuing the matter in court, be sure to write a "demand letter" first to the other party, setting forth the payment you expect. Mention that you will go to court if the other side does not come through.

Now, here are the caveats and things to consider before filing a claim:

- There is also a statute of limitations or time limit during which claims can be filed.

- If you win a settlement, the court doesn't collect the money for you.

- Tingnan mong maige what are the odds of collecting the judgment based on the debtor's ability and willingness to pay. Baka mamroblema ka kung yung defendants ay chronically unemployed, ang business nila ay unlicensed o wala silang assets of value.

Here are some more helpful info from an L.A. Times article written by H. May Spitz: "How much should you sue for? In Ralph Warner's book Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California, a chapter is dedicated to this important question. The amount varies based on the type of case. Do some research on the subject, since excessive claims may anger the judge. When getting ready for trial, organizing your evidence is particularly important. Photographs, receipts, bills and contracts or leases are important building blocks in establishing your viewpoint. Keep in mind you won't have lots of time to present your case; most folks are only given 10 to 15 minutes to state the situation, including presenting evidence. Be prepared to give specific dates for any details involved. Don't underestimate the importance of dressing appropriately. Although there is no formal dress code per se, the court is not a day at the beach or cocktail party. Don't expect witnesses to always be called. It can't hurt to bring the kind neighbor who saw the tidy apartment you claim to have left, but there may not be time after evidence is presented to question the person. Once both sides have presented their case, verdicts are either rendered on the spot or mailed within a few weeks."

For consumers in California, here are sites where you can get more information: www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims.
www.lasuperiorcourt.org/smallclaims

Small Claims Basics Links:
What To Do If You Are Suing
What To Do If You Are Being Sued
Mediation
Research Your Case
Get Ready for Court
Collect Your Judgment
County-Specific Court Information
Small Claims Links
Small Claims Questions & Answers
Forms For Small Claims Cases

[Source: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims/]

THE SAFEST AND MOST DANGEROUS U.S. CITIES

O.C. fans and residents, rejoice.

A new FBI study found that Orange County's Mission Viejo is the safest city in America.

Five other Southern California cities - Lake Forest, Irvine, Thousand Oaks, Chino Hills and Glendale - made it in the top 20 safest cities list.

The rankings are contained in the 14th edition of "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America," published by Washington-based CQ Press

They are based on statistics for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and vehicle theft and include about 400 cities of at least 75,000 residents that reported crime data to the FBI.

Two Northern California cities were among those named in the top 10 least safe: Oakland and Richmond.

In order of being least safe, here are the cities' rankings:
Detroit was the least safe city, followed by St. Louis, Mo, Flint, Mich., Oakland; Camden, N.J.; Birmingham, Ala.; North Charleston, S.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Richmond, Calif.; and Cleveland. Compton, Calif. was ranked 14th least safe.

FILIPINO COUPLE FIGHTING DEPORTATION

He is a 54-year-old doctor, she runs a grocery store and bakery in central Pennsylvania.

They have been Americans for two decades. Their children were U.S.-born and -educated.

But the day after Thanksgiving, they are scheduled to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office to start their deportation proceedings.

This is the life-changing dilemma being faced by Pedro and Salvacion Servano. They are, by reported accounts, model U.S. residents since arriving from the Philippines in the 1980s.

Their problem stemmed from a mistake in their visa application 17 years ago. They started the application process as single but by the time their visas were approved, they have gotten married. They didn't correct their status. It was a simple oversight, they contend.

"We love this country and this is our American dream to be here," Salvacion Servano said to AP reporter Genaro C. Armas. "We've been here for 25 years. This is our home."

Many people are appealing to the government to give the Servanos a chance, arguing that they do not fit the profile of the demonized image of deportable immigrants. Even a Department of Homeland Security official has publicly signified his support to the couple.

"I fervently believe in the ICE mission. However, the Servanos did not sneak into this country illegally, they have broken no laws, and they have not been a burden to the economy. They pose no threat. I cannot fathom how deporting the Servanos fulfills any portion of the ICE mission. In fact, I would argue the action runs counter to it," DHS counterterrorism operative Bill Schweigart wrote in a published letter.

-Yong B. Chavez, filipinonline.com

[PHOTO: The Patriot-News]

Thanks to Art Pacho for the news tip.

Balitang America's Newsmaker of the Year

The story that I did about Senator Francis Pangilinan (and Pinoy overseas voting) made him a finalist for The Filipino Channel-Balitang America's Newsmaker of the Year search.

To see the report, click on the link below, scroll down to find Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, then click on video: http://www.abs-cbni.com/programming/ba/index.html

To vote by text or e-mail, find the phone number and e-mail address info at the bottom of the page in that link.

A SHUTTERED LIFE

Filipino photojournalist Luis Sinco wrote this poignant piece for the Los Angeles Times where he works. It is a must-read.

Sinco is known as a great photographer; this article shows he's a brilliant writer as well.

In 2004, while embedded in Fallouja, he took a picture of Marine Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller [below].

That image, dubbed as "Marlboro Marine", made Miller famous and Sinco a Pulitzer finalist.

But their intertwined lives didn't end when they went home.

The article deftly shows what war does to young soldiers and to the people who care about them.

[Miller's photo from latimes.com; Sinco's photo from milkeninstitute.org]

PINOY WINS VESPA VIDEO CONTEST

Rex Hermogino, Yahoo's talent show champion, scored another picture-perfect win.

The San Diego native won the grand prize of a Vespa GTS 250 in the user-generated video contest. More than 100 original videos competed for the prizes.

Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. conducted a two-month contest, the “Go Green Vespa Video Challenge,” in which Vespa scooter owners and fans of Vespa were encouraged to develop creative videos that demonstrate their devotion for Vespa scooters and brand.

Below is Rex's award-winning Vespa video. To see and hear Rex's catchy song "Love On the Internet," click here, choose Video and then choose the song.



Here's the report I did about Rex last year when he won the Yahoo contest:

ASK A KABABAYAN:"At a Pinoy store I go to, the credit card receipt they give me shows my whole card number. Okey lang ba ito?"

No, it's not okay because there are two vital things that ID thieves can get from those receipts. Your name and the numbers can equal to unauthorized credit card charges.

It is a very unsafe practice, and illegal, too.

You should tell that store's manager or owner that since Dec. 1, 2006, all businesses in the U.S. have been required to show only the last 5 digits of a credit card number or the expiration date on receipts on electronically created receipts, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Due to escalating ID theft cases, Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act which deals with this thing. Baka di lang informed yung store, so let them know na bawal na ito.

The rules don't apply to handwritten or "imprinted" receipts, which are created when your plastic card is placed into a device used to physically transfer its numbers to a paper receipt, and the law applies only to electronically printed receipts, not to handwritten ones. It applies to the receipts the customer is given, not to the receipts the businesses retain for their own records.

Businesses who disobey are risking FTC civil actions and fines by refusing to comply with the law. Anyone can file a complaint by visiting the FTC website or calling the agency's toll-free number, (877) FTC-HELP, or (877) 382-4357.

[photo: bbc.com]

BLAZING STORIES: Hope from the Ashes

How do you recover from losing everything you worked your whole life for?

If you are John Rodrigo, you try to move on with grace and hope.

The former U.S. Navy diesel mechanic and instructor worked hard for 20 years to realize his American dream: to be able to build a home and provide security for his family.

It took a while but through backbreaking effort and perseverance that Filipinos are world-famous for, the devoted husband and father was able to do just that.

But in just one day, Mother Nature intervened and burned down his dream.

Ramona residents John Rodrigo, 61, and Jeanette Rodrigo, 62, and their grownup children lost three houses, several cars and a lifetime's worth of possessions amounting to more than 2 million dollars to the devastating Witch Fire which burned 195,000 acres in San Diego County. The fire gutted over 640 homes, damaged 250, and injured many firefighters. Heavy Santa Ana winds knocked down power lines causing the fires, according to reports.

"My children were asking me, 'What are we going to do now?' Rodrigo said.

The houses of the Rodrigo children were gifts from their parents.

"Those houses, masakit talaga na nawala kasi 'yun ang pamana ko sa kanila eh. Di bale na sana kami ng asawa ko, kaso yung mga anak ko tsaka yung mga apo ko, kawawa naman, nawalan ng bahay."

What's worse, the two houses did not have fire insurance. It was their worst-case scenario realized: They couldn't get coverage for the 24 acre-farm due to a lack of fire hydrant.

"Wala sa water district eh so we have our own water well," he said.

Rodrigo's property was full of fruit-bearing trees, a barn, lots of farm animals, and wide-open spaces where his children grew up. He said he is sad that his grandchildren won't be able to enjoy their place the way they used to.

When I spoke with Rodrigo a few days after the fire, he was at a doctor's clinic, getting his wife's blood pressure checked.

"Na-high blood ang misis ko dahil sa nangyari eh," he said.

"But I told my family that we have to move forward," he said. "We have a lot to do. We can't keep thinking backwards. I'm hoping for the best."

"Pasalamat ko lang sa Diyos, walang nasaktan sa amin," he said. "We'll be okay."

Below is his account of how this tragedy changed their lives forever.
–Yong B. Chavez, www.FilipinOnline.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Matagal na kami sa Amerika, yung misis ko, 1961 pa. Dati syang nurse sa Long Beach, ako naman nasa US Navy, 20 years ako doon.

We bought the land in 1976. Ako mismo ang nagtayo ng bahay namin. Bumili ako ng sarili kong gamit, even a bulldozer, at meron din akong kaibigan sa construction na tumulong sa akin.

In 1978, finally natapos na magawa ang bahay namin. It was on a 3,000 square feet land with 3 bedrooms, a second floor, and a full basement.

Blood, sweat and tears talaga pero sulit naman. It was a very nice place, very peaceful. We had all kinds of animals and fruits. My two kids grew up here.

Even if they have left to live on their own, they still lived near us. We gave them their houses: one has 2 bedrooms, the other has 3 bedrooms.

I'm retired, and my hobby is taking care of and fixing antique cars: a GTO 1970 and a Jeepster 1941.

We haven't experienced a fire before so when it happened, we were really surprised.

My son called me, sabi nya: "Dad, I think the fire is coming so I'll move the truck and then I'll come back."

However, once he left he was not allowed to come back anymore. Too risky daw. Sayang, kung pinabalik sya, we would have time to save the antique cars and other things.

But the fire was so fast. My wife and I evacuated as fast as we can.

Later on, we found out that all of the houses were gone.

Masakit talaga. Nawala ang bahay namin, ang mga tools ko, ang mga kotse namin, all of our trees, gone.

Pati yung mga wedding pictures namin at saka yung mga pictures ng mga apo ko, nasunog lahat. We were able to save our house deed pero yun naman we could have gotten a copy even if the original burned.

The other day was the first time I returned to the house. I knew what to expect already so I prepared myself before we went. I have to accept it. Mother Nature ang dahilan eh, so there's nothing I can do about it.

We were told not to touch anything. The water line was contaminated so I had our well repaired so that there will be good water available for our area. My neighbors also lost their houses. Only three homes were spared.

Our insurance guy is coming soon. I have to prepare a list of what we lost. It will be a long list.

Right now, we're staying at a friend's house. Another friend has lent us their RV. But after the insurance talk, I told my wife we have to look for a place to rent already.

We lost our house and we lost our sense of security. I really feel bad for our children, but I have hope that everything will still be all right."
-John Rodrigo, Ramona, Calif.

BLAZING STORIES: Two Pinoys' Reactions"What we learned from this disaster"

By Yong B. Chavez,

FilipinOnline.com

A family close to Beth Tagle - Leo and Juliet Pastor of Rancho Bernardo in San Diego - lost their beloved house to the fires. The Pastors are one of the original residents of Azucar Way, a once pristine hillside community where a ravenous fire leaped over a hill and consumed half a dozen houses in its wake.

"We were not able to visit them because [officials] won't let anyone in the area for security reasons. The smell of gas, smoke, and electric cables are still in the air and on the ground. They are still in shock and are not yet ready to face anyone. They are too hurt and devastated," Tagle wrote a few days after the Pastors' house burned down.

"They didn't have a chance to save anything except for some legal documents, everything else turned into ashes. It was 4 a.m. when a neighbor called them and woke them up to tell them they had to evacuate because a neighbor's house was already burning. They were in their pajamas so they panicked and just got some legal papers and drove their two cars out of there.

They were not able to save their wedding pictures nor the baby pictures of their two grownup children. Not her favorite dress nor favorite nightgown. All the memories of their almost 40 years of marriage are gone.

They are going to start all over again just like the first day they set foot in America more than 40 years ago."

From the Pastors' experience, Tagle, who's from Chino Hills, Calif., learned a valuable lesson:

"In just a moment, people's lives can change forever... Make everyday special, do not save anything that you like in your closet: Use it, wear it, or give it away. Let someone else be helped by it. Be always prepared by preparing ourselves spiritually so that we will always be ready to face God. We don't know when our time will come, who's next and what's next."

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Jon dela Cruz resides in Northern California, far, far away from experiencing first-hand the treachery of the Santa Ana winds whose fury fanned and transported embers, resulting in one of Southern California's most fiery days, but he felt immediate kinship and sympathy for everyone whose lives were turned upside down by the blaze.

"What a difference a week makes. One previous Saturday most people from Southern California, especially San Diego area, did what they usually do on a lazy weekend: kicked-back, relaxed, ate breakfast with their families, walked the dog, jogged by the seaside, washed their cars, watched a movie.

The next weekend, many of them woke-up and saw what was once their sanctuary: charred ruins of their homes underneath smoldering pile of ashes.

To most, the only thing they could keep were the memories. On TV, as I watched the news, the only structure you can see standing on some of the burned-down homes were the fireplaces: a special part of the home to warm themselves on a chilly winter and bond with friends and families through - what else (as Pinoys) - karaoke sessions.

This is a grim reminder that material possessions can be taken from us in a flash.

Others may contend that these earthly possessions are theirs to keep for good. Not! These are just a loaners from up above.

To the ones whose homes were spared: We pray that the Lord continue to blanket them to safety.

To the families whose homes were burned to the ground: We pray to the Lord that they will be showered with comfort and relieve them with their pains, anxiety and sufferings. We pray that they will be given the strength as they start rebuilding their lives again."

[photo: LA Times.com]

BLAZING STORIES:Action Agad from the Philippine Consulate

Responding to the community's need during the wildfire crisis, the Philippine Consulate of Los Angeles quickly sent a team led by Vice Consul Jim San Agustin to San Diego to find out where and how they could help Filipinos affected by the disaster.

While visiting the evacuation center, they met with Filipino community leaders and offered the Consulate's assistance in acting as a "clearing house for disaster relief and coordination."

The consular team was happy to know that the Filipinos affected by the disaster were getting the help through FEMA and other organizations, but they worried that there might be Filipino fire victims who were afraid or ashamed to come forward.

Not everyone might be able to get any help through traditional sources so the Philippine Consulate wanted to spread the word that all fire victims can contact the Consulate to see what type of assistance they can render.

"Major concerns are elderly, those with disability, and undocumented workers. These people may not know how to access assistance, are ineligible for assistance or have difficulties accessing assistance (language, sense of intimidation, hiya, etc.)," wrote Vice Consul Ed Yulo, who led the Philippine Consulate team when Katrina hit.

Any assistance from the community need not be coursed through the Consulate but they encourage everyone to give in any way they can in any form or manner.

Fire victims who have lost their documents, particularly for passports, can be assured of immediate assistance on this matter.

Filipinos affected by the fires may call 213-268-9990.

NOTE FROM THE CONSULATE:

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles wishes to remind Filipino associations to refrain from mentioning the Philippine Consulate General as an organizer or sponsor of fundraising activities in view of existing Philippine government regulations prohibiting Philippine foreign service posts from soliciting funds from the public in any form. Promotion materials, posters or fliers bearing the name of the Philippine Consulate General must have prior written consent from the Consul General prior to printing or distribution. However, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles can assist Filipino organizations involved in disaster relief activities in terms of facilitating the flow of relief goods and resources, recommending appropriate forms of assistance to recipient organizations, matching the resources of donors to the requirements of identified recipient agencies, and disseminating vital information during emergency situations.

[photo: Philippine Consulate website]

BLAZING STORIES: A Close Call

October 22 to 26 was the week when many Southern California homes went up in flames. Here is one Filipina's account of how she almost lost everything.

LCT of San Diego is very modest and didn't want her full name to be publicized but she generously agreed to share her story.

She originally sent a version of this letter to family and friends to let them know of their status.

LCT is not a reporter – she is a nurse by profession - but her comprehensive account of her wildfire experience showed a considerable storytelling skill.

Her care for others - including remembering to pick up a freeway driving-averse relative (all of us Pinoys have one, admit it), and volunteering her services as a nurse even when she was on the brink of losing her own house – is a real lesson in selflessness.

Breathless, real, and ultimately blessed with a happy ending, LCT's account will make you wish you have her quick thinking and strength when disaster strikes. What she did first when she came back home will make you smile: The lady obviously loves her plants.
–Yong B. Chavez, www.FilipinOnline.com


"Our house was blessedly saved from the fire. Miracles do happen. We survived the crisis.

It started Sunday for the Santa Ana weather; the wind was going 90 miles per hour. It started with two fires in the mountain but due to strong wind, the fires spread so fast and hit our place in Rancho Bernardo. On Monday, 4 a.m. I received call from 911 that we have to evacuate at once due to fire.

Got out of bed, took whatever I can: important documents, pictures and some clothes.

Of course [my husband] Ric told me not to panic.

But I wouldn't take any chances. I went out first, picked up my older sister who does not drive on the freeway, and waited for another sister in my nephew's place.

Ric finally left the house after the sheriff asked him to leave or else he will be cited. There were about 5 police cars in our street at that time knocking at every house to evacuate.

On Tuesday, the strong winds continue and the fire spread more. [We saw] our neighbors' houses burning down. The apartment they were showing on TV was just across our house.

They called this fire a tornado due fire swirling upward, kaya yun ibang bahay not affected, parang bang pinipili lang.

I did not sleep at all and continued to watch news.

Then I decided to volunteer for medical help in the shelter they asked people to go to, the Qualcomm football stadium. I am glad I did it because people there needed help and were very appreciative. My experience as a volunteer and as evacuee was so rewarding. The people of San Diego were so generous and caring. It was so organized and the evacuees were happy and comfortable, kahit na nasusunugan na, as you see in TV. They provided hot food, folding beds, blanket, tent, toiletries, day care, live band, massage for 20 minutes, assistance for insurance, Internet and Fema assistance.
Parang street fair na may give aways pa. The real homeless people from downtown, nag-fiesta nga.
Wednesday, the winds died down. We still had fire but in our place, it was contained in our place. They let the residents get in for 5 minutes to get medicines so Ric went to the site and he was escorted by police to pick up his meds.

He was in tears when he saw that the house was still intact. It's just ashes outside and in some part inside the house because I forgot that the windows were open.

It was a relief. They closed a big area in our place due to the fire so nobody will burglarize the empty houses. It was blocked by the military and police so that it was also secured when Pres. Bush delivered his speech in the affected site.

After his visit it opened to the resident na.

I was so happy to be united with our house. I checked if the inside was intact and then I watered my plants. Nag-apple picking na ako sa floor but my persimmon fruits were still intact. I was called to work that afternoon.

On my way to work, I passed by the burned down houses and started crying again up until I reached work. My director of nursing saw me crying and with my eyes so swollen, she was so considerate sent me home. I was not emotionally and physically ready to work.
It's Friday, I didn't know where to start cleaning. There is still fire in the mountain and it started to be cloudy again so I stopped cleaning.

Right now, it's like war, helicopter and police cars are making their rounds to make sure it's safe.

I am glad to be here, and to retire here. Everyone is welcome to stay in my place if you are in San Diego. I don't have a new house but a comfortable house and I will cook for you."

LCT, San Diego