Superstition almost cost this family their visas to the US! CITIZEN PINOY features "The Case of Two Birth Certificates"

SUPERSTITION AND 2 BIRTH CERTIFICATES. Citizen Pinoy hosts (left to right) Atty. Mike Guingona, Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel and Odette Alcazaren-Keeley are joined by Teresita Payawal and her daughter Maria Theresa, who share their story on how a Filipino superstition and having two birth certificates almost landed them in a case of fraud and alien smuggling. Watch Citizen Pinoy this Sunday (July 3, 2005) at 5:00 p.m. (PST) on TFC.

It is bad to sweep floors at night, because good fortune will be swept away with the dust. It is bad for a bride to try on her gown before the wedding day because the marriage will not push through. An open umbrella inside the house would cause insects to fall from the ceiling. Open windows, doors, cabinets and lights and wearing clothes designed with spots on New Year's Eve bring good luck into your home.  

These are just some of the superstitious beliefs that some Filipinos, especially the old folks, are wont to believe and practice. The Philippines, like any other country, has its share of superstitions related to people, food and other general events. One such belief is that if a child remains sick for days on end, then the parents should change the name of the child to "fool the evil spirits" so that the child could recover. This is exactly what Teresita Payawal did when her daughter was always sick as a child. They changed her name and registered a birth certificate for her in her "new" name.

This move almost cost the entire family their immigrant visas that they waited for almost 19 years. The US Embassy suspected that Teresita was trying to "smuggle" a child because of the two birth certificates with two different names for the same child. Desperate and almost hopeless, Teresita's family consulted with "Attorney of Last Hope" Michael J. Gurfinkel. Atty. Gurfinkel is married to a Filipina and is, therefore, familiar with the many customs and traditions of Filipinos, including their superstitious beliefs.

Based on Atty. Gurfinkel's presentation of documentation and explanation of the situation, the Embassy changed its mind and was convinced that the child was indeed Teresita's biological child. Watch this interesting discussion as the Payawal family recounts their agony, all the way to their happy reunion on this Sunday's, June 26, episode of CITIZEN PINOY.

This episode makes special mention on what "gimmicks" or ploys are adopted by Filipinos to extend their stay in the U.S. or go "TNT." The episode also warns about the forged documents usually obtained from C.M. Recto Street in Manila, all of which are already known to the U.S. Embassy and USCIS. The episode includes interviews with the Consul General of the US Embassy in Manila and the head of NSO, on efforts to combat document fraud on Recto Street.

CITIZEN PINOY is a one-hour talk show that provides information on the various possibilities, issues and problems regarding US immigration. --- hosted by Atty. Mike Guingona, Ms. Odette Alcazaren-Keeley and leading immigration lawyer Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel.

CITIZEN PINOY airs on TFC every Sunday at 5 p.m., with replays every Monday at 4 a.m. , and on ANC-USA every Friday at 8 p.m. (all Pacific Standard Time).    In the Philippines, the show airs every Saturday at 11 a.m. on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel).

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