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CHRISTMAS
IS A TIME FOR FAMILIES TO BE TOGETHER
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
For many Filipinos in the United States, Christmas is when they
get together with family and friends, to share the joys of the
season and the blessings of the year about to pass. Christmas
means having bountiful meals of Filipino food, endless reminiscing
of past holidays spent in the Philippines, and exchanging of gifts.
But for some Filipinos who were forced to leave
their families behind, to pursue better opportunities in America,
Christmas becomes a reminder of an “empty life”. Without
a family, there is no reason to celebrate. 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 nightly Christmas caroling by children;
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 sumptuous home cooked meals; the parols stand out as
painful memories of Christmas celebrations.
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 have lonely Christmases, year after year, and their
Holiday "celebration" will continue to consist of that
brief telephone call back home.
They have to finally 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.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa
inyong lahat!!!
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