|  CHRISTOPHER
DE LEON CHANGES ANOTHER FAMILY’S LIFE AND FUTURE
By Anne Stephanie D. Cruz
THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER. Holding their American
Passports are Maria Ella & Maria Angela, whose U.S. citizenship
was expedited, even though the kids were in the Phil. and were
never petitioned by their American mother. With the new Americans
are their proud parents Paul (Extreme Left) and Katrina (Extreme
Right) Montenegro with Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, who also helped
Christopher DeLeon and his children gain instant US citizenship.
It’s amazing how a simple newspaper story could change
a family’s entire life.
When news first broke that multi-awarded actor Christopher de
Leon acquired "instant" US citizenship through the efforts
of Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, many of our kababayans
were left wishing that it could happen to them too.
Paul Montenegro, a businessman and a father of two, shared this
sentiment. Like most fathers, he dreamt of a bright future for
his two daughters. On his way home to Negros from a business trip
in Manila, Paul chanced upon Christopher de Leon’s story
of instant U.S. citizenship, and how Christopher’s own children
became U.S. citizens as well.
While he stared at the pages, he felt a sudden rush of adrenaline.
This could be the chance for his own daughters!
Although the Montenegros are a well known and influential family
in the Philippines, Paul thought that his daughters may someday
wish to live independently and pursue their own dreams in America.
Inspired by Atty. Gurfinkel's success with Christopher de Leon,
Paul and his wife, Katrina, called on the Law Offices of Michael
J. Gurfinkel, in the hope of reclaiming the U.S. birthright of
their two children: Maria Ella, 16 and Maria Angela, 10.
But proving Ella and Angela's American bloodline, and securing
U.S. citizenship for both of them wasn't quite that simple. Although
Katrina's father was a natural born American citizen, and Katrina
herself derived her US citizenship upon birth, Katrina never left
the Philippines and her father left for the U.S, when Katrina
was still very young.
Thus, producing relevant documents and other necessary requirements
was close to impossible. This is why they finally decided to call
on Atty. Gurfinkel. Paul and Katrina were well aware of how this
seasoned immigration lawyer had been able to come through for
many of his clients on very difficult or “impossible”
cases.
Since Katrina never lived in the U.S., she was not able to automatically
transmit her American citizenship to her children. (U.S. laws
require the American parent to live in the U.S. for a certain
time period before their child’s birth). However, Atty.
Gurfinkel, relying on little-known laws of citizenship, was able
to satisfy this requirement.
Thanks to Atty. Gurfinkel's hard work, resourcefulness, skill,
and expertise, Ella and Angela received their Certificates of
Citizenship and blue American passports in the U.S..
As for Katrina, being a mother has now come full circle: she
has been able to pass on her American citizenship to her two daughters.
This will serve as a strong foothold for her daughters' future,
wherever they decide to live.
Upon seeing the U.S. passports of his two daughters Paul said
“This is priceless, we thank Christopher for sharing his
story because our daughters’ lives and future have changed
for the better.”
Like Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, Paul and Katrina
Montenegro are living testaments that parents really go to great
lengths to give their children the best that life has to offer.
Through patience, perseverance and "the miracle attorney"
on their side, another Filipino-American family has preserved
its American birthright.
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