Yearly Archives: 2020
Warning when changing status on Preconceived Intent
By Atty. Crispin Caday Lozano
When a person applies for a temporary visa to the United States, a person must actually have an intention to remain in the United States on a temporary basis and be limited by the rules of that visa. Similarly, when a person enters the United States on a particular temporary visa (or visa waiver), they must again represent that they truly only intend to remain in the United States on a temporary basis and will abide by the rules of the visa. I...
Street Talk: American TNTs in the Philippines?
By Greg B. Macabenta
The term TNT refers to Pinoys in the US who are hiding (Tago Nang Tago) from immigration officials because of their illegal status. This year, TNT may also mean US citizens hiding from Philippine immigration officials because they are in the country illegally.
In this regard, US Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin should not attempt to enter the Philippines at all. President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly put the two senators on the immigratio...
As I See It: Welcome Capricorn Year 2020: A Year of Transformation
By Elpidio R. Estioko
We’ve been in the US for 22 years and yearly, my family and I always welcome the New Year as Pinoys in America. Even as we attend dinner with friends and relatives, we make it a point that our family stay together during New Year’s Eve and eat with gusto the pansitand other native dishes and delicacies my wife Delia prepares annually.
For 2020, that’s exactly what we did and with dedication and hope, we made the celebration more fun, enjoyable, and...
Bill to launch marshal service to protect judicial system
By Macon Araneta
Sen. Richard Gordon stressed that the proposed creation of a Philippine Marshal Service to protect members of the Bench would also enhance the country’s judicial system.
Gordon, who chairs the Committee on Justice and Human Rights which is conducting a hearing on the proposed bills, said the marshals will also be tasked to go after fugitives from justice.
“In other words, the Bill makes it a primary responsibility of our marshals to protect judges," ...
Many female high-school students outperform male counterparts but drop out due to early ...
By William Casis
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian cited the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) that revealed the country’s female high school students outperformed their male counterparts in basic academic performance.
The PISA 2018 report shows that girls scored 27 points higher than boys in Reading Comprehension.
In terms of performance in Mathematics, girls scored 12 points higher than boys and scored four points higher than boys in Science.
Th...
Duterte admits taking Viagra in new rant vs. illegal recruiters, billionaire businessmen...
By Daniel Llanto
After admitting he takes Viagra for erectile dysfunction, President Duterte threatened to kill illegal recruiters, jail industrialists Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Manuel Pangilinan and block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN network before earthquake victims in Davao last October and December.
The confession drew laughter from the crowd of mostly evacuees displaced by the quakes. Duterte seemed to have defused the ire of some of his constituents who may ...
Duterte threatens to require visas from US citizens in retaliation vs. ban on PH officia...
By Beting Laygo Dolor, Contributing Editor
While conceding the US has every right to block the entry of unwelcome individuals, the Duterte government reacted to its new appropriations law with a provision to bar Filipinos involved in the imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima from entering the US.
While initially expressing disbelief at the action, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo admitted over the weekend that the ban “is real.” And the Duterte administration put int...
Siargao among the world’s best holiday destinations for 2020
By Corina Oliquino
The small, teardrop-shaped island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte has been described by Conde Nast Traveleras “the tiny Philippine Island giving Bali a run for its money,” listing it among top 20 of the world’s best islands in 2020.
The magazine named Siargao as the world’s eighth best holiday destination for next year, describing, as well the tourist spike the island has seen in recent years.
“This island idyll won’t stay low-key for long – 12 fli...
Chinese nationals: PH’s top foreign violators – Bureau of Immigration
By Corina Oliquino
MANILA --Records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines resulted into them topping the list of foreign violators in 2019 with the Bureau arresting 2,257 erring foreigners in various operations from January to December.
Of the arrests, at least 1,577 were Chinese, followed by 66 Taiwanese, 45 Myanmar nationals, 25 Indian and 19 Vietnamese. The BI Intelligence Division collared 1,836 of the foreign...
Duterte’s pal, spiritual advisor Pastor Quiboloy faces rape raps
By Beting Laygo Dolor, Contributing Editor
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a close personal friend and spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing charges of rape and human trafficking.
A former worker at Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) filed rape, qualified trafficking in persons, and child abuse raps against the leader of the church, charges which were denied by his lawyer Israelito Torreon.
The alleged rape victim was identified as Blenda Sanchez Po...