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Filipino's First Father's Day in 20 Years
by Anne Stephanie Cruz
FATHER'S DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Sofronio and Suzette Aquino are reunited after
11 years of separation. She arrived in the US on her birthday
last May 7, 2002, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Atty.
Gurfinkel. Sofronio will celebrate his first Father's Day ever
with Suzette in San Jose, California, where the Aquinos eside.
 On
one special day in the year, fathers are recognized. On that day,
members of a family usually acknowledge the father's hard work
and sacrifices. It does not really call for a celebration, and
normally the children's hugs and kisses are enough to take away
a father's loneliness and fatigue.
Fifty one year-old father, Sofronio Aquino, a Filipino
resident of San Jose, California, never had this pleasure. Sofronio
was a seaman, and like all seamen, he was away from his family
most of the time. For so many years, he was thousands of miles
away from his daughter, Suzette. He knew that he was giving Suzette
the best life possible, but he had missed so many important family
occasions, including Father's Day.
Add to that, Sofronio was concerned that Suzette
was growing up without his guidance. His worries were aggravated
when tragedy struck his family in 1990. Sofronio's wife succumbed
to a heart attack, and although devastated by her death, he could
not leave his work to be with Suzette, who was then only 9 years
old, as he had to keep working to support her.
Sofronio continued to work as a seaman, then left
for the US in 1992. He decided that he could give Suzette a more
stable future if he could work in the US and eventually take her
under his care. In America, Sofronio worked two jobs. Everyday,
he'd wake up at 5 a.m. and end his workday at 7 p.m. It was a
hard, backbreaking routine. His monthly remittance enabled Suzette
to enjoy a comfortable life, and good education. Through Sofronio's
sacrifice, Suzette graduated with a legal management degree from
San Sebastian College.
Sofronio also proved that he was a caring and loving
father. Despite the high cost of overseas calls, he never failed
to call Suzette every Saturday, and their conversations normally
lasted for hours. In this brief period, father and daughter would
exchange stories and anecdotes, bridging the distance and time
that kept them apart. Sofronio still puts the phone down with
a heavy heart. If only she were in America with him, then both
their lives would be complete.
Not once had he been able to experience the joy
of feeling special on Fatherss Day. And to be with his daughter
again, he needed to legalize his immigration status in the U.S.
However, in his haste to do this, he committed a grave error.
He went to a supposed lawyer who told him of a faster way to get
"work authorization".
He got this authorization, but the document turned
out to be a fake as was the lawyer he retained. Not only did it
deprive him of his hard earned money, the worst part of it all
is that he was no closer to being with Suzette than when he first
arrived in America.
In this seemingly hopeless situation, a relative
from Los Angeles advised Sofronio years later to consult with
the popular immigration lawyer Michael J. Gurfinkel, whom the
relative said was the best immigration lawyer around, based on
his "track record of success of doing what other attorneys
said were hopeless cases".
After consulting with the "Attorney of Last
Hope", Atty. Gurfinkel told Sofronio that instead of relying
on his work authorization, he should instead apply for a green
card through his employerss sponsorship (labor certification).
This sponsorship could result in a greencard for not only Sofronio,
but also for Suzette, provided she was still under 21 years of
age.
To Sofronio's joy, his employer agreed to sponsor
him, with Atty. Gurfinkel handling all the paperwork. Sofronio
was able to get his green card on March 15, 2002, But Suzette
was turning 21 years old in less than 2 months. So, Atty. Gurfinkel
needed to perform another of his miracles", as normal visa
processing ordinarily takes 8 months or more, and Suzette the
daughter would have aged out by then.
Atty. Gurfinkel contacted the US Embassy in Manila,
and was able to have Suzette immediately scheduled for an interview.
She was given her US Visa on May 6, 2002, the eve of her 21st
birthday. However, all flights to America were fully-booked, making
it impossible for Suzette to come to the US before her 21st birthday.
Ordinarily, if a child fails to arrive in the U.S. before their
21st birthday, everything is lost.
Atty. Gurfinkel did not give up. He was able to
deliver for Suzette one more miracle. Under the newly enacted
PATRIOT ACT, Suzette was given a 45-day "extension"
to get to the US. She arrived in America, and into the open arms
of her loving father on her birthday, May 7, 2002.
Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel brought father and daughter
together, after 11 years of not seeing each other, and never having
spent a single Father's Day together.
"I cried when I saw my father for the first
time after 11 years. He looked tired and he was very thin. It
seems that all these years he had done nothing but work to put
me through college. Now that I'm here I will take good care of
him. I will also tell him that he doesn't have to carry the burden
of providing for us alone, because I am here to help him",
Suzette said. Sofronio's regret was he was delayed in consulting
Atty. Gurfinkel. Had he known about the famous attorney, he would
have gone to him sooner.
For now, father and daughter Suzette are getting
reacquainted. June 16 will be their first father's day celebration
in 21 years. It will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience
for Sofronio and Suzette, thanks to Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel.
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