FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

A NAME IS A NAME, ISN’T IT?


To the best of my knowledge and that of Google search engine, there is only one person in the Philippines with the name of GONZALO POLICARPIO who was born in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. He is my father. In fact, there are two more Filipinos with the same name, myself, as the Jr. and my son, as Gonzalo Policarpio III. both born in the same city and province.

My wife loves to watch some Filipino soap operas on the Filipino channel in our Verizon Fios cable. One time she took exception to one episode in “May Bukas Pa”(There’s still Tomorrow), a socio-politico-religious drama, by getting my attention to a mention of the name of GONZALVO POLICARPIO as one of the leading characters.

This character was a victim of violence when his parents were murdered by landgrabbers. He portrays that of a vindictive and conniving politician whose main obsession is power and money to enable him to pursue his vendetta. He also fathered a boy called Santino, the story’s main character, with a low-level woman in the barrio. Santino received spiritual gifts of healing and other powers when Jesus appeared to him.

I wonder how the writers of this story came up with the name Gonzalvo Policarpio. I have not heard of any Filipino family named a son Gonzalvo because it is the Portuguese version of the Spanish Gonzalo.

Though I would not ask the writers of the story to use a disclaimer about the use of my name, I hope this article serves the purpose. But I would still be interested on how they came up with the name Gonzalvo Policarpio.

Anyhow, here’s a reprint of an article about me that appeared in the local papers in Queens, New York:



Policarpio ran Ackerman seat race fairly


Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:15 AM EDT
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TimesLedger Newspapers
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio, who was one of my opponents in the 2008 election for U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman’s (D-Bayside) seat. Policarpio mentioned he felt hurt that the last article many voters saw involved the accusations from our election petitions dispute.

It is only fair voters should also know Policarpio ran the remainder of the race in an honorable manner. For instance, although tearing down opponent’s signs plagued many of last year’s races, Policarpio did not engage in such tactics. More importantly, while other opponents often refused to debate, Policarpio always stood willing to debate anywhere at anytime and kept his debate statements focused on important policy issues.

Thinking about this now is particularly timely. The local 2009 races are currently embroiled in petition disputes. Hopefully, we will get past this point and the remainder of the 2009 races will be honorably run, with full and fair candidate debates on the policy issues facing our community.

Elizabeth Berney

Former Candidate

U.S. House of Representatives

Bayside

FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio


SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD!


The New York Post titled its article dated August 7, 2009 on President Arroyo’s dinner with her entourage at Le Cirque, the most expensive restaurant in New York City in this way: “Eat and Drink.“

Well, there’s really nothing wrong with eating and drinking. That’s how we, mortals, live in this world.

However, when Jesus’ 13th apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians that was included in the New Testament, “If I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Reading through the New York Post heading, the letter seems to address those people who enjoy the luxuries of their worldly life without thinking of the future. Are they going to heaven or to hell when they die?

One of God’s Ten Commandments is: Thou shalt not steal. We also know that death is the wages of sin. It follows that those who would use stolen money or money that does not belong to them for their own selfish reasons of eating and drinking have already committed sin.

Sinners generally do not care where they would go after death. Most of them refused to believe that there is life after death. They just live on other people’s money to satisfy their carnal desires because they believe they will die tomorrow and that’s the end of everything for them. In short, they see no judgment for their worldly deeds before and after death.

But here’s the bitter truth: judgment will come for the sinners before and after death.

I am also a sinner but saved by the Grace of God. I hope President Arroyo and her entourage are. If not, they surely go to Hell.

End

Junpolicarpio@gmail.com

FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

GOD IS MERCIFUL AND JUST

Ever since the beginning of this world, God has worked in signs and wonders. As a Christian, I believe that by His Word alone everything under the sun, around the sun, and over the sun and the sun itself were created.

Now what do you make of a massive Filipino people presence that engulfed the funeral procession of former President Corazon Aquino a few days ago and took more than eight hours from the Manila Cathedral to the Aquino family burial ground in Paranaque, Rizal.

The first ever and even bigger people turnout in a funeral march happened during that of the assassinated Filipino Senator Ninoy Aquino, President Cory’s husband in 1983. This preceded the historic People Power Revolution that led to the downfall of Marcos the Dictator and put Cory Aquino in power to dismantle dictatorship and restore democracy in the Philippines in 1986.

I can see the timing of Cory’s death before the upcoming 2010 presidential elections in the Philippines as a glaring sign that any attempt to stop the elections and extend the presidential term of the incumbent president will spell a similar uprising that could turn to be tragic for the culprits.

Let’s now hope and pray that all the parties concerned in keeping peace and democracy in the Philippines listen to the voice of God reflected in the resounding voice of the Filipino people that justice shall reign for such is the Will of God.

End

FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio


UNCLE SAM HAS A GOOD HEART!


I have witnessed first hand tears flowing from so many alien applicants for immigration benefits either for receiving an approval or a denial of their applications to have a Green Card or to become a U.S. citizen.

As a former Adjudications Officer of the U.S.C.I.S New York District Office, it’s indeed heartbreaking for any person waiting for many years for an approval to receive the bad news of being denied the benefit of permanent residence in the United States.

I cannot forget the tears even that of one of my relatives who aged out and failed to receive a Green Card because the slow pace of the immigration process. Somehow our lawmakers had seen the light and passed the Child Status Protection Act to benefit those who aged out at the time of the adjustment interview.

Here’s the case of my 89-year old aunt, sister of my late father, Gonzalo J. Policarpio, Sr., who almost believed that she would never be able to visit the Philippines, especially her mansion in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

She was petitioned by her elder sister who was a U.S. citizen some fifteen years ago. The waiting time under this category is about 20 years to have an available visa number.

Fortunately, one of her children became a U.S. citizen about 2 years ago. Her daughter promptly petitioned her for adjustment to lawful permanent residence.

Unluckily, she could not produce her arrival document or I-94 to prove her legal entry. Her lawyer filed for an application to replace the lost document. For almost a year her lawyer was still waiting for the document that never came. She was told that she needed to produce the I-94 in order to start the application process.

Finally she decided to ask for my help in her predicament. I gave her instructions on how to file the application papers and other related documents without the “precious” I-94.

A few months after filing her immigration documents, she received her work permit or employment authorization document after being required to be fingerprinted two times. In fact, she does not need to be fingerprinted because of her old age and she does not need the work permit because she was already too old to work. What she wanted was a Green Card.

I then helped her draft a letter to a USCIS regional office requesting follow-up of her application. What she got was another letter informing that her application was transferred to another center in California for processing. After a few months of waiting, nothing happened.

So I finally decided to draft a stronger letter addressed to the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, my former employer, stating that the applicant may not be alive anymore to receive the Green Card given the long delay of the process.

A few weeks ago, my 89-year old aunt called me and ecstatically told me that she already got her most wanted document, her Green Card.

Now she plans to visit her birthplace in Cabanatuan City and celebrate her birthday there in November. I don’t know if she will invite Senator Manny Villar, first cousin of her son-in-law for a long delayed get-together.

Believe me, Uncle Sam has a good heart!

End
Junpolicarpio@gmail.com

FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio


UNCLE SAM HAS A GOOD HEART!

I have witnessed first hand tears flowing from so many alien applicants for immigration benefits either for receiving an approval or a denial of their applications to have a Green Card or to become a U.S. citizen.

As a former Adjudications Officer of the U.S.C.I.S New York District Office, it’s indeed heartbreaking for any person waiting for many years for an approval to receive the bad news of being denied the benefit of permanent residence in the United States.

I cannot forget the tears even that of one of my relatives who aged out and failed to receive a Green Card because the slow pace of the immigration process. Somehow our lawmakers had seen the light and passed the Child Status Protection Act to benefit those who aged out at the time of the adjustment interview.

Here’s the case of my 89-year old aunt, sister of my late father, Gonzalo J. Policarpio, Sr., who almost believed that she would never be able to visit the Philippines, especially her mansion in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
She was petitioned by her elder sister who was a U.S. citizen some fifteen years ago. The waiting time under this category is about 20 years to have an available visa number.

Fortunately, one of her children became a U.S. citizen about 2 years ago. Her daughter promptly petitioned her for adjustment to lawful permanent residence.
Unluckily, she could not produce her arrival document or I-94 to prove her legal entry. Her lawyer filed for an application to replace the lost document. For almost a year her lawyer was still waiting for the document that never came. She was told that she needed to produce the I-94 in order to start the application process.

Finally she decided to ask for my help in her predicament. I gave her instructions on how to file the application papers and other related documents without the “precious” I-94.

A few months after filing her immigration documents, she received her work permit or employment authorization document after being required to be fingerprinted two times. In fact, she does not need to be fingerprinted because of her old age and she does not need the work permit because she was already too old to work. What she wanted was a Green Card.

I then helped her draft a letter to a USCIS regional office requesting follow-up of her application. What she got was another letter informing that her application was transferred to another center in California for processing. After a few months of waiting, nothing happened.

So I finally decided to draft a stronger letter addressed to the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, my former employer, stating that the applicant may not be alive anymore to receive the Green Card given the long delay of the process.

A few weeks ago, my 89-year old aunt called me and ecstatically told me that she already got her most wanted document, her Green Card.

Now she plans to visit her birthplace in Cabanatuan City and celebrate her birthday there in November. I don’t know if she will invite Senator Manny Villar, first cousin of her son-in-law for a long delayed get-together.

Believe me, Uncle Sam has a good heart!

End
Junpolicarpio@gmail.com