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DAUGHTER'S GIFT OF LIFE
By Chandler E. Ramas III
MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY WISH COMES TRUE
- Jesusa and Paterno Valdrez, pictured at the Makati branch office
of topnotch U.S. immigration lawyer Michael J. Gurfinkel (extreme
right). Thanks to Atty. Gurfinkel's help, the couple got their
immigrant visas (through their daughter's petition), after an
initial refusal by the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Jesusa was able
to celebrate her 65th birthday in San Francisco, California (and
first birthday in the U.S.) with her children, who flew from all
over the U.S. to be with her for the joyous occasion.
 SAN
FRANCISCO The most devastating news came in September 2001
for Vivien Paquia: The U.S. Embassy in Manila just denied the
immigrant visas for her parents, forever shattering her dream
to be reunited with her family in America.
The bad news was just too much to bear. Vivien fell
ill and wasn't able to eat at least for a week, and felt helpless,
because she thought the denial was final.
"I was confused. I even thought of just moving
back to the Philippines for good. I didn't know what to do until
I remembered that back in 1998, my mom sent me a newspaper article
from the Philippines about immigration Attorney Michael Gurfinkel.
My mom told me we might need his help someday," said Vivien,
a successful Filipino nurse from Union City who hurdled all obstacles
to finally earn her U.S. citizenship, her path by which to be
reunited with her parents, to whom she owed much.
Wasting no time, Vivien called Attorney Gurfinkel
at his Los Angeles office, some 400 miles away from her San Francisco
home.
"Attorney Gurfinkel clarified at the very start
that there were no guarantees for my parents' extremely complicated
problem. But I didn't have second thoughts about hiring him. After
all, he was known for taking on hopeless cases, and succeeding
where others failed or had given up," Vivien said. Interestingly,
Vivien retained Attorney Gurfinkel's services although they never
met in person. "We had regular updates over the phone, 400
miles apart," Vivien added. "I was always kept informed
about my parents' case."
Attorney Gurfinkel left no stone unturned, and resolved
the situation in record time, as he wanted to help Vivien's mom,
Jesusa Valdrez, realize her dream of spending her 65th
birthday, on April 6, 2002, in the United States. My parents have
never been to the U.S., and spending my mom's 65th
birthday here would be the perfect gift we thought," Vivien
said.
True to his commitment, Gurfinkel made phenomenal
strides, and secured Jesusa's and her 63 year old husband Paterno
their immigrant visas last March 15. The happy couple arrived
in San Francisco, alas, on March 27, 2002.
"Attorney Gurfinkel called me from the Philippines,
at about 3 a.m. California time, to break the good news since
it was afternoon in Manila when my parents got their visas. I
was shocked, a complete turnaround from what I felt just a few
months ago when I first heard the bad news of the denied visas,"
Vivien said. "It was like a dream, and I didn't mind at all,
being called at that hour."
The whole family had a big reunion, as Vivien's
younger brother Gerardo, also a nurse, flew from New York to San
Francisco, to join in the family reunion.
"We really thank Attorney Gurfinkel for everything.
When everybody was discouraging us to give up on our case, he
never lost hope. And we thought that being a big shot lawyer that
he is, with Filipino superstars as his clients, he would be difficult
to deal with," said Vivien's mother, Jesusa. "He was
so warm and friendly, that I felt so comfortable and at ease with
him."
"I don't doubt anymore that Attorney Gurfinkel
is the best. I have no regrets making the choice of selecting
him as our lawyer. Like my mom keeps on telling us, good work,
along with prayers, result in success," Vivien concluded.
"My parents sacrificed a lot for where I am now and I guess
now my turn has come. They gave me life in this world, I wanted
to give them life in the U.S., through my petition."
Vivien also attributes this triumph to hard work
and endless prayers. "My mom kept on reminding us about the
power of perseverance and faith in God. It really works."
Vivien knows now that her story is already a part
of the many successful cases handled by Attorney Gurfinkel. "When
I saw video footages of Attorney Gurfinkel's success stories shown
before the Regine Velasquez concert in San Francisco last year,
I dreamed to be part of those stories, too. Now I am happy that
I am," she mused.
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