Grandma, her abandoned grandchild, try to make it in New York

Grandma Emma Baltazar and gand daughter Yani in New York. CONTRIBUTED

BANGKOK — It was June 2015, about 11:00 p.m. Thailand time when I received a frantic call and messages from my former teacher, Emma Baltazar, who is now based in Fishkill, New York City.

She was asking for help to have the father of her grandchild, Yani Relucio, be contacted in any form of announcements, by radio or newspaper. In a few days, Yani’s visa would be released. Yani’s grandmother could not bring her to the U.S. without her father’s consent.

I made a short announcement for a missing person and sent the information to broadcaster friends in Manila and Baguio. Journalist friends also helped in the information dissemination.

We waited for a few days before we decided to contact the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines. Nothing came out of our announcement for missing person. The father, Jayson Relucio, seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Affidavit of Abandonment and Securing Visa

Yani’s father, Jayson Relucio, was AWOL from the police force. He hasn’t had contact with his family since late 2014. Thus, I advised Ayesha, Yani’s mother, to execute an affidavit of abandonment and an affidavit of witnesses (in this case, the mother of Jayson executed the affidavit) stating that they did not have contact with her husband.

After two weeks of agonizing wait, Ayesha finally got a Single Parent ID; her consent as Yani’s mother would allow Yani to travel with Emma. The girl’s visa was released on time.

Finally on August 18, 2015, Yani and Emma arrived in New York with necessary travel clearance from the DSWD, affidavit of guardianship, birth and baptismal certificate and English Proficiency certificate – to Ayesha and Emma’s relief.

“Securing a student visa was not difficult at all. First I got her admitted in a private Catholic school, St. Mary’s because the U.S. government will not support her. I paid for her application, which is nonrefundable. The school then processed her I-20; upon receiving the I-20, time to pay for the SEVIS Fee, then the MRV Fee,” Emma explains.

Yani with her science teacher at St. Mary’s in New York. CONTRIBUTED

Form I-20 is the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status” while the SEVIS — Student and Exchange Visitor Program (I-901 SEVIS Fee for F or M visa) MRV – is the visa for academic students. In Yani’s case, the Archdiocese of New York was her sponsor since St. Mary’s is under the archdiocese.

Life in New York

Yani is now a Grade 3 pupil at St. Mary School. She is a church choir member and special school chorus member. The girl has no inferiority complex. She easily adjusted in a school with a multiracial student body.

Being the only Filipina in the choir, Yani is always noticed by the parishioners. Her Filipina beauty stands out, Emma proudly says.

Emma says that she is good in Math and Science. Yani got a Novel Experiment Award for her investigatory project.

Although, Emma is already a U.S. citizen, Yani could only stay with her as long as she could afford to send the child to school. Emma is a retired teacher in New York and now working as a cashier at Home Depot. In spite of the low salary, she tries hard to make ends meet so she can continue to send Yani to school.

“There are lots of donations (to the school) aside from the tuition fees. I have to give a 10 percent of my salary to weekly tithe in the Church. She has three sets of uniforms,” Emma says.

Possibility of becoming a U.S. citizen

Emma’s two children in the Philippines, Ayesha and Fortune, are already petitioned but it will take a long time. In Yani’s case, she cannot be a U.S. citizen since she only holds a student visa, and Emma is just her grandmother. Yani might get citizenship only if Ayesha’s petition is approved and she becomes a citizen.

“For now, we are enjoying every moment together as grandma and granddaughter. I don’t think her father would contact her or create trouble. I am giving Yani a good future to help my daughter too,” Emma says.

Yani’s first white Christmas, spring, summer and fall in New York excited her so much. In the eyes of the child, her new world is New York. She may or may not think of her father, but at this time she is enjoying her childhood and her school.

“I hope to keep Yani as long as I can. I want her to have a good future. I know my effort will not be for nothing,” Emma says. “Yani is responsible and maybe in her young mind, she knows our struggle just to get her to United States. We are just lucky that we did not have to consult lawyers. Help from friends, determination and prayers were enough to surmount our problem.”