Philippine Consulate General Hosts Community Event with Filipino Family Court Judges

Three distinguished family court judges from the Philippines spoke on the various aspects of the Family Code and family court proceedings to an audience of community leaders, legal practitioners and consular officers and staff at the 29th “Pagkikita sa Konsulado” in Chicago last Thursday.

Hon. Amy Alabado-Avellano, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 58, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Hon. Joselito D.J. Vibandor, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 199, Las Pinas City; and Hon. Angelene Quimpo-Sale, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 106, Quezon City were introduced by Mr. Nicanor Torre, Program Director, Consuelo Foundation Philippines. Mr. Torre also introduced the Philippine and Hawaii-based Consuelo Foundation which organized the U.S. Judicial Exposure Program with a view to helping the Philippine family court system enhance its sensitivity and effectiveness in handling cases that involve youth and children.

Judge Avellano explained that their very demanding exposure program included Illinois and Minnesota since these are two of only four participating states in the Family Court Enhancement Project, a federal initiative designed to improve custody and visitation processes for victims of domestic violence and ensure the safety of their children during and after court proceedings.

Judge Quimpo-Sale shared their experiences and insights from observing the Domestic Violence Court and Juvenile Court in Cook County and discussing with their American counterparts how they have adopted a system that protects the safety, privacy and wellbeing of children.

During the open forum, Judge Vibandor took turns with his colleagues in enlightening the audience on questions that touched on salient aspects and general application of Philippine family laws, including marriage, adoption, family abduction, and children in conflict with the law.

Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge welcomed and thanked the honorable officials of the Philippine judiciary and professors at the Philippine Judicial Academy for their dedication to excellence in performing a very crucial social function and their willingness to make themselves available to the Filipino community despite their tight schedule. He also thanked Mr. Joe Vicente, Area Head 3 of LBC Chicago for co-sponsoring the event. END

Seated, from left to right, are Consul Melchor P. Lalunio Jr., Mr. Nic Torre, Program Director of Consuelo Foundation, Judge Joselito Vibandor, Judge Amy Avellano, Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge, Judge Angelene Quimpo-Sale, DCG Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr., Consul Anna Ericka T. Abad, and Ms. Monina Canete of Century 21. Other members of the audience join them in the photo session, including Mr. Joe Vicente, Area Head 3 of LBC and co-sponsor of the event (standing, fourth from left) and Mr. Mariano Santos, Publisher of Pinoy Magazine and USA Central Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal (standing, fifth from left) and Cultural Officer Liezel Alcantara (standing, third from left).

 

Over 120 Asian American and Pacific Islander Immigrant Youth and Allies Participate in 2-day Mobilization Demanding Passage of a Clean DREAM Act

Washington, D.C. — Over the next two days, more than 120 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrant youth and allies from fifteen states will convene at the U.S. Capitol to demand the passage of a clean DREAM Act by December 8. After the termination of DACA on September 5, eighteen AAPI organizations came together to form the AAPI immigrant rights organizing table to organize and advocate for a clean DREAM Act.

The convening will open November 15 with a press conference and a rally followed by 30 meetings with legislators on both sides of the aisle, urging them to support a clean DREAM Act that supports a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth without harming other members of the immigrant community.

When the first DREAM Act was introduced 16 years ago, it was inspired by an Asian American student barred from attending a prestigious music college due to her immigration status. Today almost 17,000 AAPIs have benefitted from the DACA program with South Korea, China, India and the Philippines being among the top countries of origin of AAPI DACA-eligible populations.

It is Congress’ moral responsibility to ensure that a clean DREAM Act is passed before the end of the year and is attached to the spending bill to be voted on December 8. Every day we wait, more and more immigrant youth fall out of status losing their ability to work and drive, attain a higher education, and protection from deportation.

Mobilization led by the undocumented community is what won DACA in the first place. Together, we will not stop until a clean DREAM Act is passed and until all 11 million undocumented immigrants have a pathway to citizenship. For more information, go to aapidream.org. ###

 

Gov. Rauner signs tax credit bill to help property owners affected by July floods SB 403 provides credit of up to $750 for eligible taxpayers

CHICAGO (Nov. 16, 2017) — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law today a tax credit worth up to $750 for property owners in 18 Illinois counties where flood damages were sustained in July.

The bill, signed at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago this morning, creates a natural disaster credit that eligible, affected property owners may apply to their 2017 Illinois income taxes.

Included counties are Cook, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Alexander, Clinton, Jackson, Marshall, Union, Woodford, Carroll, Henry, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson and Whiteside — all of which were declared state disaster areas by the governor last summer.

“July’s severe storms pushed rivers and lakes over their banks across a wide swath of Illinois,” Rauner said. “Many home and business owners are still working to restore their properties after the inundation of water, debris and mud they suffered through, in some cases for weeks. In northeastern Illinois counties, the flooding was unprecedented. This tax credit offers a measure of much-needed relief.”

House sponsor state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, said the credit will be well-received.

“The Flood Victim Tax Credit provides immediate relief this tax year for families and small businesses who are rebuilding their lives and their livelihoods following the historic summer flooding,” he said.

State Rep. Barbara Wheeler also represents a heavily affected district and co-sponsored the bill.

“Unfortunately for many families impacted by this type of disaster, once the initial shock wears off, the reality of financial hardship caused by the devastation can be just as traumatic as the event itself,” the Crystal Lake Republican said. “In the past, state government has not always responded quickly enough to provide the relief needed for this financial stress. However, this time the governor and legislature acted quickly, and I know many of the families still trying to recover are grateful.”

State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, also was a House sponsor.

“I appreciate the governor taking quick action to sign the Flood Victims Tax Credit into law,” Mc- Combie said. “Victims of the floods this year did not receive federal assistance, so this incentive is a small measure we can take to help and be good neighbors.”

“This summer’s flooding was devastating to many northern Illinois residents,” said state Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods. “This tax credit is one more tool in the toolbox.”

“While some residents have recovered, many are still working to rebuild,” said state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “This tax credit will help ease the financial burden and help local residents get back on their feet.”

Qualified properties include a taxpayer’s principle residence or land owned by a small business, but not a rental or leasing business. The allowable income tax credit will be the lesser of $750 or the deduction allowed under the Internal Revenue Code for each taxpayer who owns qualified property in a county declared a state disaster area.

The bill provides that township assessors shall issue eligibility certificates for appropriately requesting property owners, and that assessors shall certify to the Illinois Department of Revenue listings of flood-damaged properties.

The fiscal impact to the state is estimated at $4.6 million, based on damages previously reported to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency