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CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR FAMILIES TO BE TOGETHER
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
For many Filipinos living in the United States,
Christmas is a time to get together with family and friends, to
share the joys of the season and the blessings of the past year.
Christmas means having bountiful meals of Filipino food, endless
reminiscing of Christmasses spent in the Philippines, and exchanging
of gifts.
But for some Filipinos, who were forced to leave their children
behind, as they pursue better opportunities in America, Christmas
becomes a time for lonely remembrances. Without a family to share
the joys of Christmas, they spend the day remembering past holiday
seasons with their loved ones in the Philippines - the daily trek
to and from the church for the simbang gabi (dawn masses) amid
the crisp, cool December air; the smell of bibingka and puto bumbong;
the sight of shivering and giggling girls and boys; and the romance
blossoming between teenage boys and girls under the moonlit sky;
the nightly Christmas carolling by children; the crowded malls,
with everyone hoping to get the best bargains for Christmas gifts
and clothes; the traditional Christmas family reunions with the
lolos, lolas, tatays, nanays, tiyos, tiyas, anaks, and apos, and,
of course, the ninongs and the ninangs, enjoying a meal of lechon,
pansit, dinuguan, kare-kare, and leche flan; the parols and Christmas
lights adorning every home; the noche buenas; and the overwhelming
festive spirit pervading the air.
As they recall these joyful Christmas celebrations, the Holiday
Season becomes a especially lonely and painful time for these
people. They miss their family at this time more than any other
time of the year. They wish they could do more than make a brief
telephone call to their family back home, with a quick "Merry
Christmas" to their children and other family members.
The real reason why these people are lonely and sad during Christmas
time is because they have not acted on their immigration status.
Most of them are out of status. Others may be in status, but have
not been able to bring their family members to the U.S. for some
reason. As long as they remain out of status, or as long as their
family remains in the Philippines, they will continue to celebrate
lonely Christmases, year after year. They will continue to be
away from their families, and their Holiday "celebration" will
continue to consist of that brief telephone call back home.
These people have to finally resolve to do something about their
immigration situation. For those who are out of status, they should
start moving to legalize their status. And for those who are in
status, but are still separated from their loved ones, they have
to start the process of petitioning or bringing in their family
members legally.
There are many ways to solve your immigration problems. But the
first step you have to do is go to a reputable immigration attorney
for consultation. The attorney could analyze your situation, and
give you available options to legalize your status, or properly
petition your loved ones.
My law office stands ready to assist you in legalizing your status,
and in helping bring families together. It gives my office endless
joy to be a part of our clients' joyful family reunions, to see
families together, especially during the Holiday Season.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!!!
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