Tax Exemption For RP Minimum Wage Earners Urged

By Jherlyn Meneses/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES – Despite the 7.3-percent economic growth in 2007, the continuous increase in the prices of food and other commodities exert much pressure on the consuming public. With the looming rice crisis, the consumers’ plight compound further.
To cope with the existing economic situation and to ease the people’s burden, the House Committee [...]

American Airlines Chair Apologizes for Cancellations

By Cynthia De Castro/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES — American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey took the opportunity to apologize for cancelled flights at the Oneworld Alliance in Los Angeles April 9.
” I publicly apologize for any inconvenience caused by American Airlines flight cancellations. We are doing all we can to accommodate our passengers. We have obviously [...]

Charice to Appear on Oprah

By Joseph Pimentel/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES – First, it was Ellen DeGeneres. Now, Oprah Winfrey has invited the 15-year-old Filipino singing wunderkind as a guest on her No. 1 daytime US TV show.
ABS-CBN reported that Charice Pempengco has taped an episode on the Oprah Winfrey show to air sometime in May.
“ Tapos na po akong kumanta para [...]

Consulate Assists Family of Boy Killed in Crash

by Joseph Pimentel/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES – The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles is doing “whatever they can” to assist the family of the Filipino boy, who was fatally struck by a vehicle in Pasadena.
Vice Consul Charmaine Serna-Chua said that they are closely coordinating with the deceased seven-year-old boy’s family as they deal with a grieving situation.
“At [...]

GMA Empowered to Declare Rice Emergency – DOJ

by Joel Roja/Asianjournal.com
MANILA – President Arroyo may declare rice and corn emergency if the perceived shortage in the country’s rice supply would continue.
In an interview, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez told reporters that under Republic Act 3452, which provides measures to stabilize the price of palay, rice and corn, among others, the President is empowered to [...]

‘Military Leaders Should Testify in Jonas’ Abduction’

by Joel Roja/Asianjournal.com
MANILA — Editha Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas, Wednesday sought the dismissal of the motions filed by former Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino and Col. Eduardo Ano seeking to quash the subpoenas issued to them by the Court of Appeals (CA) compelling them to testify in the ongoing hearing on the [...]

Galing Pinoy: Pulitzer Mania for a Pinoy

by Cynthia De Castro/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES – “No one really wins anything alone.”
Such is Filipino American Jose Antonio Vargas’ humble assessment for a momentous achievement like winning in the 2008 Annual Pulitzer Prize.
At 27, Vargas became the youngest and only the 5th Filipino to win a Pulitzer. The highly revered award-giving body honored Vargas together with [...]

Veteran’s Pension Budget Doubled by Consulate

By Rene Villaroman/Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES – Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon announced on Wednesday, April 9 that the Philippine government had doubled its veterans’ pension budget so that all unpaid old age pension claims could be paid by the end of this year.
Consul General Aragon made the announcement at the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan [...]