The Glory of Giving

A portion of this article was published at the Last Quarter issue (2008) of the Hawaii Paralegal Reporter.

It was four days before the Honolulu Citizenship Fair 2008 when Ms. Evelyn Gomez of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) confirmed to me that I was "in" for the volunteer paralegal work for the said event.

Ms. E as I fondly calls her, always inspires me of her big heart and generosity. I met her during the Basic Legal Training '07 sponsored by the Hawaii State Bar Association.

She introduced me to Anne Basham of the Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii, who just like Ms. Evelyn was so warm, very accommodating and so friendly.

Anne emailed to us some training materials prior the event, which gave me an idea that it wouldn't be hard at all. It was more of assisting attorneys administratively.

So came the day of May 31, 2008, of my first pro bono project, I came in late. Since, it was my first and that no one told me so, I didn't know that we, volunteers have to be there an hour before for the Fair starts.

Rushing to the elevator, I met Anne, which gave me an opportunity to have the fast chit-chat with her, at the same time eased myself from tensions for coming in late.

We sneaked in the room where briefing had already started and it was Pat McManaman of Na Loio speaking before a bunch of volunteer attorneys and paralegals.

The goal was to assist three (3) applicants each partner of one attorney and a paralegal. Attorneys will execute the interview and the paralegals have to enter the data on the adobe (pdf) form that was already pre-set and ready for use on each computer in the four allocated rooms at Building 5 of the Honolulu Community College.

I felt so lucky being partnered to one well known Honolulu immigration attorney, Mr. Gary Singh.

Our first applicant was a fellow middle-age Filipina, who had been here in the State of Aloha for quite awhile. She was initially nervous, but, Atty. Singh' sense of humor eased her eventually. The interview went fast than expected.

Our second was with Mr. Herminigildo Bardolasa, a 66-year old Filipino immigrant who had been in the Island for almost three decades now.

During the course of the interview process the three of us often times burst laughing on how Mr. Bardolasa answered. He amazed us of how keen his memory on important dates of his marriage, migration, alien numbers and birthdays of his entire household, without a "codico" on the side as he answered all questions spontaneously.

After a short while, Congressman Neil Abercrombie joined us and so with all the reporters and photographers.

Congressman Abercrombie went his way to meet all the applicants and assured them that his office, along with Na Loio would work their best to make their dream of American citizenship come true.

The Advantages of the Fair

According to the applicants themselves the fair was one such great project. It just didn't assured them of getting the citizenship, but, also they're confident that they did things correctly and legally.

My participation in the Fair (more than the administrative side of it) was the privilege of helping fellow Filipinos understand some critical terminologies of American civic and history required in the application.

I translated what Oath of Allegiance is; what does it mean by "are you willing to bear arms" for this country and some other more patriotic questions. Moreover, having a fellow who can speak their first language gave them much confidence that they can do it.

I likewise translated most of applicants' answers in English.

The Priceless Joy

Mr. Singh and I also had the chance to meet Mr. Bardolasa's two daughters, who went with their old man and applied for citizenship too.

When I got home, I felt I was floating in the air, not because, I was carrying a hefty bento, but, there's this fulfilling joy knowing that I came handy to some fellow Pinoys.

Their smiles and "THANK YOUs" are something that I will always cherish for the rest of my life.

I am proud for veteran paralegals, HPA colleagues like Elton Johnson, Juanita Warren, Joel Murukami and Cheryl Anne Satterfield who have always volunteered to most pro bono opportunities and projects of various non-profit associations and organizations here in Hawaii.

For me, intelligence is something that can be acquired or cultivated, but, our attitude, our heart; how we deal in life, how we treat others and how we unselfishly give ourselves to things that we literally won't have returns are things that only come by nature.

Most will say Pro Bono is just for those who have so much to give. Some may say, they can only give if they have a spare to share. But, what truly is nobler, is for us to give despite our limited means and not so well to do conditions. Because, it shows that regardless of what we have on our plates and how we barely we have in our hands, we can still do good deeds to others. And, I believe that the ONE up there, will always have a good accounting of it on our Heaven's account.

So, let's do Pro Bono and give back to the community even just a portion of what we have been blessed. An ample time of our billable hours could surely go along way to the lives of the ones we've touched and helped.